World Mythology - Monday, January 14th - 2th Period

[atreideslioness]

Monday morning found Ghanima happy, perky and ready to teach.

Sans hangover.

Sometimes, having all the talents of the Bene Gesserit was awesome.

"Good morning, class.  Rather than start chronologically, as many classes would, today we start geographically, with the myths to be found in the Native American cultures.”

Ghanima grabbed her handouts from the front desk and began walking up and down the rows, dropping papers on desks.  “For me to try and cover the history and mythology of every tribe in a single day would be impossible, not to mention insulting to the cultures involved.  A thoughtful, anthropologically sound approach to these stories would take up an entire semester, not a class period.”

"Among all tribes there is a strong sense that behind all individual spirits and personifications of the divine, there is a single creative life-force, sometimes called ‘the Great Mystery’, which expresses itself throughout the universe, in every human, animal, tree and grain of sand. Every story, too, is a working out of this life-force."

"One aspect of this outlook is the major role played in the stories by animals, who often speak to humans and assist them. Most tribes thought of individual members of a species as expressions of the spiritual archetype of that species, which in turn embodied a particular spirit power."

"Another key feature of the Native American spiritual outlook is found in the powers ascribed to the Four Directions, which occur either literally or in symbolic form throughout the stories. These are often represented by particular colours, or by animals."

"The Four Directions have to be in balance for all to be well with the world, and often a central point of balance is identified as a fifth direction; for example, four brothers represent the outer directions, and their sister the center."

"Native American myths include all the types found worldwide, such as stories of creation, and of heroic journeys. However, they are particularly rich in ‘trickster’ myths. Notable examples are Coyote and Iktome. The trickster is an ambiguous figure who demonstrates the qualities of early human development, both cultural and psychological, that make civilization possible, and yet which cause problems. He is an expression of the least developed stage of life, which is dominated by physical appetites."

"On your desks, you have a copy of Woman Who Fell From The Sky and a version of the story of Sedna.  Read over them, and we will discuss the differences, similarities, and how they relate to other creation myths you may know."

"There is also a syllabus on your desk.  You will notice that there is one day currently left open.  If there is a subject you feel needs to be discussed, please feel free to suggest it.  You might also have noticed the disclaimer.  I will randomly pick from the syllabus at the end of each class the topic for the next week's discussion.  Consider it a lesson in Destiny." 

"Speaking of which, Mister Kessler?  If  I may see you after class?  You are the new TA."


[ooc: wait for the ever-popular  OCD up, have fun.  Information taken from Wikipedia and the internets, so I apologize if I got anything wrong.]

Comments

Discussion: Sedna

[atreideslioness]

How does it differ from the first story? If so, why do you think that is?

Re: Discussion: Sedna

[itsjustlanguage.livejournal.com]

"It's kind of vicious, isn't it? Dumping Sedna in the middle of the ocean like that?" asked Hoshi, visibly disturbed. "But in both stories, women became the source of food, and if I was an Inuit, I'd probably be a vegetarian."

Re: Discussion: Sedna

[atreideslioness]

"Vicious? Perhaps. But what were her parents to do? She was eating everything in the land, and would eventually starve out the other Giants unless she was abandoned," Ghanima said. "It can also be read as a metaphor for childbirth in both stories. They could be held up as the first examples of 'girl power'. Not only do they both strive against the odds, but they are responsible for creating the world, something that the men in both stories were incapable of doing."

Re: Discussion: Sedna

[palestshadow.livejournal.com]

"It's ... strange," Naminé said. "They fear this Sedna, and exiled her to what seems to be a watery grave, to keep her from destroying everything they had. And yet they pray to her bounty for food, and thank her for her blessings."

She looked at the pages again. "It seems a simpler story; fewer people, less happens, and the details are sparse, in comparison. I wonder what that says about the two cultures."