Myths and Symbols
Hey all,
I think I'm going to have an opportunity to teach a class on myths and symbols next quarter. I'm thinking about doing some stuff with contemporary American myths and symbols. Though I haven't really made any decisions yet, I think I'd like to do something that discusses/critiques the intersections between myth and history and myth and reality. In the past, people have looked at Jungian archetypes and ancient myths. Do any of you have suggestions for stuff I should read to prepare, course texts, subject matter? It's a sophomore-level Gen. Ed class.
Brad
I think I'm going to have an opportunity to teach a class on myths and symbols next quarter. I'm thinking about doing some stuff with contemporary American myths and symbols. Though I haven't really made any decisions yet, I think I'd like to do something that discusses/critiques the intersections between myth and history and myth and reality. In the past, people have looked at Jungian archetypes and ancient myths. Do any of you have suggestions for stuff I should read to prepare, course texts, subject matter? It's a sophomore-level Gen. Ed class.
Brad
posted by Brad Smith @ 2:54 PM
4 Comments:
At 7:02 AM,
William said…
Brad,
You might look at some writing on mythos and especially on sophistic concepts like nomos ... Jarratt does a nice job of talking about cultural nomoi in Rereading the Sophists, one that I think speaks well to how rhetorical myths are, how they function, particularly now, as cultural commonplaces ...
Also, it seems you'd have to do something with urban legends/myths and how technologies like the Internet function in the late 20th century and today to proliferate certain myths, even as it words to undo them. Also, that great show Mythbusters on TV would be fun to watch in class ... :-)
Good luck ... sounds like a fun class!
Will
At 6:04 PM,
Lori O said…
I second Will's comment...sounds like a really fun class. Can I take it?
I like local stuff...especially WINE, so I loved your postings on ya'lls wine tour here and at your site...but that's off topic.
You're probably already planning this, but local folk lores are cool...here's a site I found on MI (and they do other states) for my comp II http://www.americanfolklore.net/folktales/mi2.html
There are these fabulous pow-wows in the UP (I'm dying to go to one)...maybe find out how to get the students out of the classroom to really interact with the myths? Yes? No?
Keep us posted on what you do so I can steal your ideas :)
At 12:30 PM,
Brad Smith said…
Excellent ideas, Lori and Will. Thanks for the help. : )
Jen and I had a great time on the wine tour. The best time was at the barn winery, where the owner's buddy walked in drinking a beer and asked if he could help out. The owner asked him to pour drinks, and the friend filled the glasses almost to the brim. It turned into a wine swilling more than a wine tasting. It was fabulous. : )
At 6:19 AM,
Lori O said…
My favorite vienyard down state is the Round Barn...your comment reminded me of it...and its delicious, delicious late harvest white (practically an ice wine).
Maybe the Killarneys crowd should do a wine tour to a different state each year?...I'd love to come out to Washington...good camping, good coffee, microbrews...& ya'll are welcome here anytime.
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