In your group discussion, you will have the option to dive more deeply into understanding the psychological or contemporary theories about myths that surround the hero or heroine’s journey. Please watch this Crash Course on the Theories of Myth, Links to an external site. which will examine the evolution of theories over time starting from the Greeks, jumping to the Europeans, navigating through anthropology and psychology, and finally landing in contemporary perspectives.
In your group discussion, you will have the option to dive more deeply into understanding the psychological or contemporary theories about myths that surround the hero or heroine’s journey. Please watch this Crash Course on the Theories of Myth, Links to an external site. which will examine the evolution of theories over time starting from the Greeks, jumping to the Europeans, navigating through anthropology and psychology, and finally landing in contemporary perspectives. In your self-selected group discussions, please discuss the following: First, contemplate the major theories of myth from the Crash Course video in order to situate and frame the specific theory you selected. Summarize the theory, highlighting sections that were especially interesting to you. Be sure to speculate about not only how cultural values influence the interpretation of myth but also how the theoretical ideas can apply to the hero’s journey. Incorporate information from the "Engage Mythology" section into this discussion. I chose the heroine journey Read The Heroine Journeys Project. Links to an external site. This resource provides a summary of how Murdock’s work on the heroine’s journey updates Campbell’s foundational framework. The key aspects of the heroine’s journey are identified and summarized. Maureen Murdock's article The Heroine's Journey Links to an external site. explains how Campbell’s model for understanding the hero’s journey changes when the main character is female. This examination of the heroine’s journey indicates how gendered assumptions in culture affect the heroine’s journey. In addition, these cultural shifts based on gender provide a framework for understanding how heroines challenge those biases. Read Chapter 6: The Mythical Hero, Transgressor of Borders Links to an external site. (12 pages). This article offers a more detailed comparison of the ways in which Campbell’s notion of the hero’s journey can be viewed from the perspective of a heroine. This deeper exploration of the way gender bias informs the hero’s journey provides a basis for understanding how different heroic figures are not only possible but important when considering the role of myth in society. In your self-selected group discussions, please discuss the following: First, contemplate the major theories of myth from the Crash Course video in order to situate and frame the specific theory you selected. Summarize the theory, highlighting sections that were especially interesting to you. Be sure to speculate about not only how cultural values influence the interpretation of myth but also how the theoretical ideas can apply to the hero’s journey. Incorporate information from the "Engage Mythology" section into this discussion. (please let me know if you are having trouble finding the crash course video for mythology)
