Sylabus
Introduction to Course: Syllabus, learning outcomes, assessment
The Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell, with Bill Moyers
“The Power of Myth” PBS documentary series (available on YouTube & other platforms): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE8ciMkayVM https://www.religion-online.org/article/the-power-of-myth-lessons-from-joseph-campbell/
Campbell: History and background
Series by Bill Moyers
The Hero-Quest Myth
Classical Heroes & characteristics
Heracles, Odysseus, et al
Beowulf
Arthurian legend
George Lucas, Star Wars & The Hero with A Thousand Faces
Star Wars: https://jcf.org/notes/star-wars-and-the-hero-with-a-thousand-faces/
Star Trek: https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/105/article/641633/summary
Creation & Origin Myths
Genesis
Narnia
Fables/Just-so Stories
Maui & Aotearoa
Mucha’s Slavic EpicLibuše
Myth of Patriarchy: “One good man”
· Beyond Power: Women, Men and Morals by Marilyn French
· The Creation of Patriarchy by Gerda Lerner
Challenges to Patriarchal Myths & Tropes
· Women, BIPOC, LGBTQI: Alternatives to white male cis-het heroes: Black Panther, The Woman King, Sense8, Xena Princess Warrior,
· Anti-heroes: Robin Hood, Batman, Annalise Keating, Tyrion Lannister, Tony Soprano, Omar Little, V for Vendetta/Anonymous
Goddess, Madonna & Whore/Maiden, Mother and Crone: Myths of the Feminine
Goddesses by Joseph Campbell
When God Was a Woman by Merlin Stone
The Madwoman in the Attic by Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar
The Chalice and the Blade by Riane Eisler
Myth of Happily-Ever-After: Faery tales, love songs and Rom-Coms
Women who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes
The Little Mermaid
Romeo & Juliet
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Field trip: Opera or other theatre production
Myths of War, Peace and Liberation
LOTR
The Last Battle
War mythology
Black Panther
Game of Thrones
Death and Rebirth
Ancient, Christian/Abrahamic, Other (non-Western)
Human transformation
Human plus supernatural: Vampires, Werewolves, other supes
Androids, replicants, Borg, etc
White Walkers, Children of the Forest, Giants, Wargs
Mythology of Magic
Witches, Wizards, Sorcerers & Mages
Harry Potter
The Magicians, et al
Conspiracy, dystopia & apocalypse: Myths of Endings/Radical change 1984, Brave New World, The Handmaid’s Tale, MaddAddam, Brazil (Gilliam film)
Mad Max, Waterworld, The Day After Tomorrow, Parable of the Sower
Sense8, Orphan Black, Stranger Things
Myths of New Beginnings: Utopias, New Age, Reclaiming/Rediscovering/Redefining
The Sparrow and Children of God by Mary Doria Russell
The Chalice and the Blade by Riane Eisler: Alternatives to dominator culture (aka patriarchy)
Anotace
This course will examine and analyze various popular culture products and how they incorporate, reinforce, challenge and/or reinforce cultural mythology at the foundation of human society. Familiarizing themselves with the work of Riane Eisler, Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Joseph Campbell and other mythographers, students will develop an understanding of mythology, and how popular art (literature, music, film, television, visual art, social media, et al) both reflects and influences our understanding of the mythologies under which we live.