humanities project
Discussions
Requirements: See intructions
WEEK-1
Part A: Scavenger HuntWhat is Myth?
In two to three sentences, identify something specific (a story, belief, understanding, value) that has been called a myth,?but that is not considered a myth?according to how we define myth in this class.?
Use these items from the Required Learning Materials to make sure you know how myth is defined in this class:
Part B: Discussion Question
Choose one of the following options.
Option 1Dimensions of Myth
Based on William Doty’s working matrix to define myth (17 characteristics on pages 33?34), identify?two dimensions?you find most interesting, read their full section in Doty’s book (from Chapters 2?3), explain what you think each dimension is about, and discuss whether it addresses material or nonmaterial culture.
Option 2Mythologists
Choose?one of the thinkers?about myth (mythologists) in the Required Learning Materials and conduct some further research on them using resources in the UMGC library. Then, summarize?two of their ideas?which might help your classmates interpret and analyze myths and their relationships to nonmaterial culture (beliefs, values, norms, customs, traditions etc.). Avoid talking about the person’s biography. Focus on their ideas.
Some of the mythologists you could choose include: Giambattista Vico, Johann Gottfried von Herder, Jacob Grimm, James G. Frazer, Georges Dumézil, Sigmund Freud, Alan Dundes, Carl Gustav Jung, Lord Raglan, Joseph Campbell, Emile Durkheim, Bronislaw Malinowski, Claude Lévi Strauss, Vladimir Propp, Mircea Eliade, William Doty, and Wendy Doniger O’Flaherty.
WEEK-2
Part A: Scavenger Hunt – Origin Myth Image
Find an?unique?image on the internet that depicts either 1) a category of creation myths (sacrifice, earth diver, cosmic egg etc.) or 2) a creator motif from the Required Learning Materials.
Avoid using one of the first images that comes up in your search. Dig deeper for something unique.?
Following?, embed the image in your post, provide a citation for the image, and write a one-sentence caption for the image which identifies which category or motif the image depicts.?
Part B: Discussion Question
Choose one of the following options.
Option #1 – Creation Myth
FIRST -?choose?one?of the creation myths from the Required Learning Materials and discuss in which category or categories of creation myth you think this myth belongs, using specific examples from the myth. If there is a creator in the story, you can talk about which creator motif applies, using specific examples.?
SECONDLY -?Do some research on the society or culture this cosmological myth is from?in the UMGC library or on a reliable website?and identify and explain?two to three?forms of nonmaterial culture (norm, belief, practice, tradition, ritual or conception of humanity) specific to that culture that may have been influenced by this myth. Explain why you are making this connection.?
Option #2 – Categories of Creation Myth
FIRST – choose the category of creation myth that you find most compelling and explain why. Select?three creation myths?from the Required Learning Materials that you think fit into this category and, using specific examples from each myth, explain how they relate to this category.?
SECONDLY -?compare and contrast the three myths, describe their similarities and differences, and explain their differences using specifics from the myths and/or information you learn from researching the myths’ cultures or societies?in the UMGC library or on a reliable website.
WEEK-3
Part A: Scavenger Hunt – Eschatological Themes
Name a film, work of literature, television show, video game etc. that has an eschatological theme and identify which cosmic catastrophe scenario you think it presents (flood, fire, war), providing a few very brief details to support your choice.?
Part B: Discussion Question
Choose one of the following options.?
Option #1 – Comparative Mythology
Please do the following based on the Required Learning Materials
Briefly describe each of the three methods of comparative mythology:
diffusion
the archetypes
the Laurasian novel?
Mention at least?one advantage and disadvantage?of each method,
Decide which method do you think is?best?for discussing?flood myths and explain why.
Choose?two?of the flood myths from the?Required Learning Materials and show how the method you chose can be used to compare and contrast the two myths.
Option #2 – Laurasian Novel
FIRST -?briefly summarize what Witzel claims the Laurasian novel is. Please see more on how to summarize?.
SECONDLY – choose two myths from the??and use either?diffusion, the archetypes, or this idea of the Laurasian novel?(or another method, but you must describe it) to compare and contrast the myths and explain their similarities and differences. Please do additional research if needed, and there may be resources in the Supplemental Learning Materials that can help as well.
WEEK-4
Part A: Scavenger Hunt – Common Archetypes
Choose three of the common archetypes (fathers, goddesses of life, wise figures, hero/heroine, the other) in the Learning Resources and identify a character from film, literature, art, television, video games etc., that you think is a good representation of each.
Follow?and embed a picture of each into your post and provide a citation for each image. Write a one-sentence caption for each image with a list of 3 adjectives or adjectival phrases that show how they align with the archetype you think they represent.
Part B: Discussion Question
Choose one of the following options.
Option #1- Aligning Characters
FIRST -?identify and briefly describe?two divine beings?from specific myths, noting which common archetype (kings & judges, mothers, sons, goddesses of death etc.) with which they most align. You may use examples from this week’s Required Learning Materials, or you may find two examples outside of the course readings in reliable scholarly resources from the UMGC library. At least one of these examples?should be a goddess or other mythological female figure.?
SECONDLY -?briefly summarize one myth or scene from a myth for each of these figures.?
FINALLY -?identify which culture(s) each figure comes from and explain what societal roles you think each figure exemplifies, exploring whether there is a relationship between each figure, their myth, and gender roles and/or status in the culture(s) out of which they come.
Option #2 – Proposing a New Archetype
FIRST -?find?three characters?from the myths in the?Required Learning Materials?that you think?do not?fit neatly into any one particular archetype or that can fit into more than one archetype.
SECONDLY,?for each character do the following:
Using specifics from the character’s myth, explain why they do not fit into any one archetype or why they can fit into more than one.
Identify which culture(s) the character is from, explain at least one specific value, belief, or practice you think this character represents from this culture and tell us what led you to this conclusion.
FINALLY -?for at least one character,?propose a new archetype?that you think better fits this character than the ones in our?Required Learning Materials.?
WEEK-5
Part A: Scavenger Hunt – Hero, Trickster & The Other
Identify?three characters?from film, literature, art, television, video games etc., that you think is a good representation of
a hero
a trickster
the other
Embed a picture of each into your post, using??and provide a citation for each image.
Then, for each image, write a one-sentence caption that lists three adjectives that describe the character in terms of the archetype they represent.
Part B: Discussion Question
Choose one of the following options.
Option #1 – Hero or Trickster
FIRST -?identify and briefly summarize the story of a hero or heroine or the story of a trickster. You may use examples from this week’s Required Learning Materials or find examples outside of the course readings. Be sure to use a reliable resource for your myth and cite it in MLA style in your post
SECONDLY -?explain how this character’s story aligns with the heroic monomyth or displays characteristics of the trickster. Use the resources from this week’s Required Learning Resources on the heroic monomyth and the trickster to demonstrate this.
FINALLY -?explain what qualities, values, beliefs, norms or practices (types of nonmaterial culture) you think someone could learn from the hero or trickster story you choose. Why?
Option #2 – Hero and Trickster
FIRST -?explore the relationship between the hero and the trickster by finding a character from a myth or popular culture that you can call both a hero and a trickster.?
SECONDLY -?provide a specific example from the plot of the myth or story that demonstrates elements of the hero archetype or monomyth, and provide a specific example from the plot that demonstrates elements of the trickster. Make sure to use the resources from this week’s Required Learning Resources on the heroic monomyth and the trickster.
FINALLY – explain what qualities, values, beliefs, norms or practices (types of nonmaterial culture) you think someone could learn from a character that embodies both archetypes. Why?
WEEK-6
Part A: Scavenger HuntMaterial Culture and Symbols
Identify an item of material culture or a symbol that you can specifically relate to a myth from any culture that is appropriate for a general audience. Embed a picture of the item with a citation for the image. Write a one-sentence caption for the image that names the related myth and links to a version of the myth you can find in our Required Learning Materials,?UMGC library, or on the Internet.?
Part B: Discussion Question?
Choose one of the following options.
Option 1Research
FIRST, identify an artifact, symbol or form of iconography by conducting research in?reliable, scholarly resources from the UMGC library.?Include a picture of your choice embedded in your post, if possible.?
SECOND, explain the relationship of this artifact, symbol, or form of iconography to
the culture that it belongs to,
a specific myth (origin, historical, folktale) from that culture, and
the specific element(s) of nonmaterial culture you think it represents.
Make sure to consider its creation, use or location, as well as how this item has evolved or appeared in other cultures in various forms to talk about its significance. Also, be sure to explain how you came to your conclusions.?
FINALLY, briefly note something specific from the Required Learning Resources from this week that you think can relate to this piece of material culture and explain how it relates.
For example, in America, Southern Baptist culture uses the purity ring as a symbol of chastity before marriage. This value is derived from Christian beliefs about premarital sex that are justified largely through the writings of Paul of Tarsus, as well as other Old Testament passages. This could then be related to some discussions about fertility in the readings on the tree symbol.?
Note: Try to find something unique that has not been mentioned in class yet. Items like the Christian crucifix and Jewish Star of David fit this assignment, but try to find something less common.
Option 2Built Environment
FIRST,?identify an artifact, symbol, or form of iconography in your local built environment related to a specific culture or group of people. The built environment is the human-made structures, features, and facilities included in the environment where people live and work. Be sure to include a photograph of your choice.?
Some examples could be:
A shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in a park
A red cross on a building
A Masonic symbol on a gravestone
SECOND,?conduct some research about your choice in local history in reliable, scholarly resources?from the UMGC library if possible?and explain the relationship of this artifact, symbol or form of iconography to:
the culture or group to which it belongs
the history or stories from that culture or group
the specific element(s) of nonmaterial culture you think it represents for that culture or group
FINALLY,?briefly note something specific from the Required Learning Resources from this week that you think can relate to this piece of material culture and explain how it relates.
Be sure to consider its creation, use or location, as well as how it might appear in other localities in your discussion. Also, be sure to explain how you came to your conclusions.
WEEK-7
Part A: Scavenger Hunt – U.S. Culture
Identify a secular or sacred place, holiday, or ritual in U.S. culture. Provide a link to the place’s website or a link to a description of the holiday or ritual. In a few sentences, identify the cultural story (or stories if there is more than one group associated with it) connected with this place or ritual.?
Part B: Discussion Question
Choose one of the following options.
Option #1 – Sacred Place
FIRST -?identify and briefly describe a?sacred place?in a world culture or religion. Use a reliable and credible source from the?Required Learning Materials?for this week or from the UMGC library. Embed a picture of this place in your post using?
SECONDLY -?for this sacred place, please do the following:
Use at least one specific concepts or theoretical method from the Required Learning Materials for studying sacred place, describe how you think this sacred place developed and what function it serves in its culture.
Explain if it has a strong connection to specific myths from the culture or not.
Discuss if this place has different meanings to different groups and/or if the meanings of this place have evolved over time.?
Identify any relevant material culture at the site and its relationship to nonmaterial culture, if appropriate.?
Option #2 – Ritual
FIRST -?Identify and briefly describe a specific?ritual?in a world culture or religion. Use a reliable and credible source from the Required Learning Materials for this week or from the UMGC library. Include a picture of this ritual in your post.
SECONDLY -?for this ritual, please do the following:
Use at least?one?specific concepts and methods from the Required Learning Materials for studying ritual and describe how you think this sacred place developed and what function it serves in its culture.
Explain if it has a strong connection to specific myths from the culture or not.
Discuss if this ritual has different meanings to different people who are involved in the ritual, and if the meanings of this ritual have changed over time.
Identify any relevant material culture or symbolic actions that are used in the ritual and their relationship to nonmaterial culture, if appropriate.?
WEEK-8
Part A: Scavenger Hunt – Historical Myth
Identify a foundational myth or important cultural myth from the history of a country?other than the United States, provide a citation with a link to the story, and list?three?national values you think the story is conveying.
Part B: Discussion Question
Choose one of the following options.
Option #1 – National Values
FIRST -?summarize a cultural story or describe a common historical or cultural character from the United States that you think conveys specific national values.?
SECONDLY -?identify?three?specific values and point to specific parts of elements of the story or character that help reinforce those values.?
FINALLY -?explain something specific that might be lost in history by the story’s mythologization process or character you chose.?
Option #2 – What You Learned
FIRST – choose one of the myths we have covered this semester from a culture that is not your own and that you did not already talk about in any other assignments and briefly summarize it.?
SECONDLY -?explain?two things?you think you learned about that culture from this myth. These can be things like societal structures, attitudes towards different genders, the relationship between the human and the divine, moral values, what is considered humor, etc.?
FINALLY – compare and contrast what you have learned about that culture from the myth to your own culture. Identify some similarities and differences and explain how you drew these conclusions.?
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