Clash of the Titans (Conclusion); Creation Myths

By -
Clash of the Titans (conclusion)

Clash of the Titans (1981)--produced and designed by Ray Harryhausen. Directed by Desmond Davis. Starring: Laurence Olivier as Zeus, Maggie Smith as Thetis, Harry Hamlin as Perseus, and Burgess Meredith as Ammon.
Use mythic criticism to review (in writing or as a podcast or vlog post) Clash of the Titans. Take notes during the film to help you prepare your review.

Myth Criticism asks:
1. How does the story resemble other stories in plot, character, setting or use of symbols?
2. Are archetypes presented, such as quests, initiations, scapegoats, descending, or withdrawals and returns? [Use your handout/notes to help!]
3. Does the protagonist undergo any kind of transformation (such as movement from innocence to experience) that seems archetypal?
4. Are there any specific allusions to myths that shed light on the text? 
Mythology: Creation Myths Presentation

Types of Creation Myths (cosmogony):
  • Creation ex nihilo (out of nothing): creation from nothing
  • Earth Diver: a "diver" (aquatic) animal digs up the earth from the abyssal depths of an ocean.
  • Emergence: the world appears from the body of a primordial being or through metamorphosis or passes through other "worlds" to come into being.
  • Cosmic Egg: creation from a cosmic egg
  • Order Out of Chaos (creation from chaos): order/the world is created from primordial chaos
Greek Mythology Creation Myth

Research: Choose a cultural creation myth to present to the class:
  • Chinese
  • Japanese
  • Norse
  • Incan
  • Aztec
  • Mayan
  • Australian Dreamtime
  • Maori
  • Oceania
  • Egypt
  • Zulu
  • Iroquois
  • Hindu
  • Inuit
  • Navaho
Writing Tasks:
  • Read The Mahabharata. There will be a test on the book Friday. As you read, notice archetypes used and apply myth criticism to the text. See your notes for help.
  • Write an epic adventure or quest or heroic story. You may also like to make a comic book (6 Free Sites for Creating Your Comic Book) or use one of the storytelling programs to write a children's picture book, film, or story. Use the hero character you created as a start:
  • Write a poem that alludes to or involves a part of The Aeneid, The Iliad, The Odyssey or The Mahabharata.
  • Write a review of the film Clash of the Titans. You may also create a podcast to review the film (work with up to 2 other students from this class), or you can create a vlog post review (record a video of your review and post it to Youtube, then send me the link.)
  • Write your very own (creation) myth.
    • Pick a topic (common topics might include: how humans came to be, where animals came from, how the world came to exist, where did gender come from, who created love (or any feeling) and why, why is there death or mortality, why is there good/evil in the world? Etc.)
    • Consider its origin: how did it become a "thing"?
    • Tell that story.
    • To help you: How to Write Myths (video)
All assignments should be included in your portfolio for MP2.

HOMEWORK: Write something. Prepare your workshop. Read "The Mahabharata"--test & discussion on this Friday.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Namesake Analysis/Discussion Chp. 1 & 2; How It Feels To Be Colored Me

By -
Image
Let's go back to examining  The Namesake , Chapter 1 this morning to continue examining the writing style going on here. Take a closer look at these passages: Pg. 3 (1st full paragraph) to 4 (end of 1st full paragraph): How is Ashima's character compared/contrasted with the American women in the hospital? What do you notice about the sentence structure of this paragraph? What does the use of dialogue in this paragraph provide for the reader? What literary devices do you notice? Can you find figurative language/metaphor/alliteration or other elements of imagery? How are the sentences similar to a contraction (the action in the scene)? Pg. 10-12: how is Ashoke's character presented? How does his story parallel or contrast with his wife's? How is Ashoke different from the other American men in the waiting room? What details do we learn about him?  Pg. 13-14: Nickolai Gogol and the short story "The Overcoat" is alluded to here. Just notice it for now. This al...
Read more

How It Feels to Be Colored Me & Writing Prompts

By -
Image
"How it Feels to Be Colored Me" is an essay by  Zora Neale Hurston . Take a moment to read a bit of information about Zora Neale Hurston, then we'll read the essay in class. Look closely at how the article opens (the hook, lead-in, thesis), and how it develops (the body, topic sentences, argument), and notice the sentence structure (length, diction, syntax). After studying some of these elements respond to the article in writing. ESSAY PROMPT: What defines you? What single physical, mental, emotional trait defines you? Why? What is the significance of this trait?  ESSAY PROMPT: Think about your own educational experience. How multicultural has your experience been?  ESSAY PROMPT: Is there value in having a common culture (for example stressing the idea that we are all 'Americans' over fragmenting our culture)? Why or why not? ESSAY PROMPT: Does this idea of multiculturalism need updating? Is this issue still important--and, if so, why? ESSAY, PLAY, or M...
Read more

Mythology Prezi Projects

By -
Myths. Watch the following short videos concerning mythology. W hat makes a hero ? Anti-hero of One's Own A Host of Heroes Due at end of class , please complete your mythology Prezi project.  You should know the major gods/goddesses of your chosen mythological subject. Create a slide or two where you discuss/list who are the major gods/goddesses in your chosen mythology and what they represent You should know the creation myth that goes with that tradition. In a few slides tell the story of that creation myth through videos, pictures, text, etc. [note: most cultural mythology traditions have more than one creation myth. Pick the one you'd like to use.] You should identify key cultural traditions/beliefs that are represented in the myths of this culture: for example: arête (strength) is a common cultural quality examined in many hero myths. Find examples of some others. At least one slide should include the cultural tradition--note that this slide could come before ...
Read more