STORYLAB: CRASH COURSE

This StoryLab: Crash Course was a lot of information at once. However, I took away a lot of beneficial information, therefore broadening my understanding of myths, mythology, and the theories of myths.

Mythology is a Slurpee, a combo of science, history, sociology, anthropology, religion, psychology and literature

·      Myths are many different interpretations,

·      Not necessarily facts. Myths can be read and understand in a number of ways

·      Line between myth and religion is blurry

Mythology is a Slurpee

A working definition for myth: story that is false and not to be taken seriously

However many people take myths very seriously; the systematic studies of myths

“A myth is story, but it’s a special kind of story, that for the purposes of this series has two primary characteristics: significance and staying power” (staying power means surviving centuries)  

Mike gives an example of Persephone myth that explains the seasons the cycle of planting and harvest to the actions of the immortals.

In summary, he told the story of Zeus’s daughter being taken by her Uncle Hades. Because she ate six pomegranate seeds she had to live in the Underworld for six months out of the year. Therefore creating winter. This explains the seasons and cycle of planting and harvesting.

I mentioned earlier that some people do not take myths lightly and rely on them as a credible source. Tylor was a scientist who used myths has science and believed that they are all historical facts.

I believe you have to take each myth with a grain of salt. Meaning that some are interpretations of original myths and some can be completely made up and false.

Myths originated mid 500 bc in Greece and Plato was the one that insisted myths including gods and super heros were irrational. He had a bias however and believed his myths were the only ones rational and true.