Creating a myth differs immensely then reading a myth because it requires analyzing and taking into consideration the world, people, and common questions that we may all share. Although it may seem like myths are just whimsical pieces of story telling, in my opinion, all of the myths we read in class from Myth and Knowing did touch on questions we all share. These myths delved into who we are and how we came to be, or why certain human characteristics occur or are common. Thus, embarking on finding a question that we may all share was actually hard. At times, I wondered if the question(s) I had, were only ones that came to my mind or if others wondered them as well. Yes, myths have been passed on for generations, but how did the creators of these old myths that we read today know which questions to answer? This went on in my mind as I was creating my individual myth. In addition, it also enhanced the study of myth because it strengthened my knowledge of various myths, and their purpose.
Most importantly, I learned that in order to educate yourself on a topic you need to approach it from every angle. I connect this theory to a job, for example, if you want to be a professor, then you also have to be a student first to not only gain knowledge but to know what teaching style is best, and then you can become a professor and present your knowledge. Had I not learned how to create a myth, I never would have learned that mythology plays a significant role in culture, in society, and pedagogy. In my future teachings, I will definitely implement a hands-on learning experience akin to this so that my students get a full understanding of what a myth is and what factors in to creating them.
Hi Viktoria,
ReplyDeleteI really liked what you said about myths being something that connects all humans together. I think that you're absolutely right about them being something that is relatable to the reader no matter who you are. In my post, I wrote about how I think that myths are timeless and that is what makes them stand apart from other forms of writing. A lot of the time literature is created because of a writer’s personal experience that they want to share with the world. While anyone can read and enjoy this work, it will probably only deeply resonate with those who have experienced something similar. But with myths I think that there is something unique about the fact that anyone could read it and also relate to it. That’s why I completely understand your struggle to write a myth that you felt would answer a question that all humans have had at one point or another. I think that myths that are able to connect all humans are what make it so special.
- Clarisa Rodriguez
Hi Viktoria!
ReplyDeleteYou make an excellent point when you state that creating a myth forces us to think about universal questions. I think it is a lot harder than it seems to choose something that other people also wonder about, even though on the surface it seems really easy (I hope that makes sense) For exmaple when it came to creating our own myths I actually had a hard time thinking about what exactly I wanted to do even though the idea itself seemed so easy when we first were told about the assignment.Reading myths definetly shows us their purpose, but writing one really emphasizes just how much thought goes into making them meaningful. I also agree that it helps us understand why myths matter to culture and teaching. Your idea about using hands-on activities in the future is so smart because I think it makes mythology feel alive instead of just something from the past and it can make students understand that mythology is immensely present in modern day and it kind of surrounds us in everyday life if we look close enough. Great post!
-Kukie Antoun
Hello Viktoria! I definitely feel like the distinction of myth from story answers a fundamental human question. I also love that these older myths also reflect what the people were thinking at the time. The history of the myth may go even further than being written, and may have been orally passed down. I find that so cool! Perhaps the creators of the myths had set out to answer the most pressing issues. I say this with a little certainty, for example, my assigned myth was the Hawaiian fire goddess. I think the story behind this myth is to tell the origins of the Hawaiian volcanic island chain. I think the history and culture of respecting the land are also some important moral lessons.
ReplyDeletereply by Jackie Chen!
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