The Art of Being Human

1. The Art of Being Human Chapter Three

2. Chapter 3 Objectives: • Describe the meaning of mythology and explain how it relates to the study of the Humanities and the theory of Carl Jung. • Outline features of the archetype of the hero in myth. • Distinguish major archetypes in myths including magic, word power, the circle, the journey, and the garden. • Illustrate the concept of myth as explanation regarding areas such as creation, the natural world, and human suffering. • Explain mythic elements in fairy tales and relate the study of myth and the archetypes to fairy tales and stories in your own life.

3. Carl Jung • Believed that all people are born with an instinctive knowledge of archetypes • The Hero • The Wise One • The Trickster or The Underdog • The Villian • Carl Jung Archetypes youtube video (1:48)

4. Joseph Campbell • You tube video – 4:34 • What do you have in common with the Hero? • You leave your “comfort zone” and • “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.”

5. Archetypal Heroes • Birth of the Hero—unusual/wonderous • Early Recognition of Hero • Hero’s Great Deeds • Hero’s loss of Power • Hero must prove him/herself • Fairy Tales– happy ending • Myths – lots of tragedy • Archetypal Heroes – youtube clip 13 min

6. The Hero Today – Anti-hero? • Anti Hero: Usually fairly “normal” person, who strives to do the right thing, but has many failings. • Wolverine of the X-men • Willy Loman Death of a Salesman • Draco Malfoy, or what about Snape? • Napoleon Dynamite • Edward/Jacob -- Twilight • Usually more interesting than traditional Heroes—often does things/has a personality that causes problems – therefore is partially/completely at fault for his/her problems/failings.

7. Components of Myth • Magic • Power of Words • Power of Numbers • The Circle • The Journey • The Garden • Gods as human beings (Greek gods)

8. Myth as Explanation • Creation • The Natural World • Human Suffering • Cursed by Fate

9. Myths of Childhood • Need for reassurance • Importance of being rich and attractive • The Importance of Names • The Dark Side

10. Popular Mythology • We continue to create and perpetuate myths • Common Sayings

11. How Myths influence Humanities • Many times, myths and archetypes underlie a given work. • “Leda and the Swan” by Yeats is much more powerful if you know about Zeus who disguised himself as a swan. • Frodo in Lord of the Rings leaves Middle Earth at the end and goes to a very “green” type of paradise – much like the Elysian Fields for brave Greek warriors, in Greek Mythology. • If you have a broad knowledge of myths, you can look for the similarities in modern literature, film, art, etc.

12. East vs. West—the Myths that mystify • The World vs. My World (DevduttPattanaik – 20 min) • Every culture is trying to understand itself and each culture comes up with its own explanation. • Different cultures come up with different explanations • “My World” is always better than “Your World” – the reason we have strife and warfare, etc. • Don’t live a life that is boring – be SPECTACULAR!! • The Circle—what comes around, goes around. • Cloud Atlas – the same life is lived over and over until you get it right.

13. The next time you meet a stranger: • One request: Understand that you live in the subjective truth and so does he. • Have empathy. • DevduttPattanaik

14. Key Terms: • Archetype • Collective unconscious – Jung’s phrase for the universality of myths among different cultures • Gender Roles • Karma • Monomyth – myth found in every culture -- hero • Mythology • Myths