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 Epic

Libuše

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)