You will work in small groups to research and present foundational myths from a wide array of world cultures. Your objective will be to discover the "how" and "why" of the commonalities these various myths share and the universal archetypes they present.

"...we have not even to risk the adventure alone, for the heroes of all time have gone before us. The labyrinth is thoroughly
known." – Joseph Campbell

"Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens." – J.R.R.Tolkien

"...even the lover of myth is in a sense a philosopher; for myth is composed of wonders." – Aristotle

"Imagination is of more importance than knowledge, for knowledge is limited while imagination embraces the entire world." – Albert Einstein

Step One: After choosing one of the project options in Step Two, please visit the sites below to gather material to complete your assignment. You should research various foundational myths from at least 5 different cultures, taking complete notes using the following guidelines. You don't, however, need to limit your scope to these guidelines! Be sure to provide the URL (Web address) for each reference or image you include.

Guidelines

  • Summarize the myth.
  • Name the culture and time period associated with the myth.
  • Identify the figures and objects included in the myth. In what ways do they represent archetypal models?
  • What purposes does this myth serve?
  • What questions about life does this myth address?
  • What does this myth tell about human nature (what lesson does this myth tell)?
  • What do the events in the story imply about how the storyteller perceives the way the world works?
  • Find examples of art related to the myth.

Resources
Step Two: Each group will choose one of the two project options below to present to the class.

Option One

Overview: You are a member of a project development team that is about to market an eductaional software package about world mythology. Several of the classic myths have already been chosen, but your boss wants to include other kinds of lesser-known myths from various cultures. Your team has done its research and has five PowerPoint slides and five minutes to present one worthy myth for inclusion.

  • Goal: to find a worthy myth that is accepted for the software package; to earn a bonus
  • Role: members of a project development team
  • Audience: your boss and other development teams
  • Scenario: you must convince your boss that your myth is worthy of inclusion based on its theme, characters and representation of typical or atypical patterns
  • Purpose: to persuade; to "sell" your project
  • Standards: professional looking presentation of a viable myth

Resources

Evaluation: You will be evaluated based on a rubric handed out in class.

Option Two

Overview: You and a partner are designing a school year calendar (September - August) with a mythological theme. Your task is to find twelve different world mythological allusions in art and create a calendar using publishing software such as Microsoft Publisher or Adobe InDesign.

  • Goal: to create a calendar with a mythology theme that includes informative captions
  • Role: members of a design team
  • Audience: a calendar publisher
  • Scenario: each month must depict a different allusion to mythology in art (consider also architecture, scupture, advertising); bonus for seasonal topics
  • Purpose: to "sell" your project
  • Standards: professional looking calendar with accurate captions

Resources

Evaluation: You will be evaluated based on a rubric handed out in class.
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