Myth, Symbol, Sign                                                                                      

PBDS 714

 

NOTE: This is representative of the syllabi for this course. It is not necessarily the syllabus being used in any one semester.

 

Week I

 

The Start of the Journey

 

            "Religions, philosophies, arts, the social forms of primitive and historic man, prime

discoveries in science and technology, the very dreams that blister sleep, boil up from the

basic, magic ring of myth."  --Campbell

 

 

I.          Introduction

 

                        Self and Others

                        Course Structure

                        Texts and Syllabus

 

 

II.        Star Wars

 

 

Assignments:

 

            1.         Campbell, "The Monomyth," "The Adventure of the Hero (Departure)," 3-94

                       

                        Gadon, "Introduction," xi-xv; "The Ice Age:  The Earth as Mother," 1-37

 

Morford, "Myths of Creation," 35-49; Apollo and Daphne, 172-75 (163-89 Back-

upon Apollo); Theseus, 449-60

 

 

            2.         Topics of Discussion for Week II

 

                                    What are Myths?  Symbols?  Signs?

 

                                    The Call (Accepted/Refused; Male/Female)

                                    The Hero/Hera: Male/Female

                                    Relation to Star Wars

                                    The Beginnings of the Goddess

                                    Supernatural Origins of Myth                       

                                    Varied Readings of Myth:  Even Opposing Views

                                    Contemporary Applications

 

 

Week II

 

"Dream is the personalized myth, myth the depersonalized dream; both myth and dream are symbolic in the same general way of the dynamics of the psyche." --Campbell

 

* * *

 

"Star Wars changed the way movie-makers look at film and created a new vision of ancient mythological themes that has deeply affected a whole generation . . ." †Time

 

 

"George [Lucas] has been able to hook into some very basic universal images." --Kasden

 

* * *

 

I.       Campbell's Heroic Pattern and Star Wars

 

Film's Structure and Literature

                        Civil War

                        The Call to the Hero: Herald and Summons

Supernatural Aid: Magus/ Guide

The First Threshold: The Guardian

The Belly of the Whale

Eternal Myth, Historical Myth, Cinematic Myth

Raglan's Examples of Heroes

 

II.       The Goddess

 

Paleolithic/ Neolithic/

Gaia, the Earth

The Great Mother/ The White Goddess

 

III.      Contemporary Applications

 

                        Some Advertisements: The Hero, Feet

                        The Sun Door, The Goddess, Casablanca

 

                        Other Ideas?

 

IV.       Theseus

 

Mythic Hero

Historic Hero/Crete

The Psychological Maze/Labyrinth

Patriarchy/Matriarchy

 

 

V.        Daphne and Apollo

 

Refusal

Explanation of Myth

Contemporary Connection?

 

 

 

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

 

                      1.     Reading:     Campbell, 97-192

                            Gadon, 39-56, 69-85

                            Morford, Oedipus, 380-395

                                     Cupid and Psyche, 193-197 (171-199 Backup on Aphrodite)

 

                      2.     Writing:      Short Analysis (about 500 words as a guideline but can be shorter or

                                      longer)

 

                            --Isolate, identify, and discuss the aspects of "The Call" or of "Departure"

                            in any specific contemporary context you choose (such as film, literature,

                            painting, advertising, comics, etc.).

 

 

 

 

Week IV

 

Initiation Through the Road of Trials

 

 

 

I.          Commonplace Books; Final Projects

 

II.        Return to Campbell:  Part II

 

                        The Beast, the Goddess, the Father, the Boon

 

III.       The Goddess † Once More

 

            Paleolithic/ Neolithic/ "Old Europe"

            Gaia (Gaea), the Earth

            The Great Mother/ The White Goddess

            Her "Henges"

            Some Versions of Mythic Woman

 

*****

 

IV.       Meeting the Beast:  Theseus

 

            Athenian Hero/ Historical Crete

            The Psychological Labyrinth/ The Beast

            Ariadne as Mother/ White Goddess

 

 

V.        The Way Less Taken:  Daphne and Apollo

 

            Refusal? --or Defiance

            Explanations--"Breathing Myth into the Leaves of the Trees"

            Apollo vs. Dionysus--"Know Thyself"; "Be Thyself"

            Apollo's Sister, Artemis--Her Way in the Woods

 

 

VI.       The Spirit that Dared:  Cupid and Psyche

 

            Love Seeking Soul/Soul Seeking Love

            The Renaissance Ladder

            Botticelli's Venus

 

 

VII.      The Oedipus Cycle:  A Myth for the 20th Century (if time!)

 

            The Master Tragedy

            The Oedipus Complex

            Little Antigone

 

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

 

1.         Reading:

 

            Campbell, "The Return" pp. 193-251

            Gadon, pp. 87-142

            Morford, Demeter and Persephone (233-249)

                        Orpheus (273-285)

                        Perseus (406-413)

            Barthes, "The Face of Garbo," (56-57)

 

2.         Bring in something you find relating to myth,an ad, article, reference, object, or?  It's up

to you!

 

 

 

Week-V

 

The Face of the Goddess

 

I.          Show and Tells

Papers

 

II.        "Garbo's Face" and Other "Echoes"

 

The Goddess and her Modern Faces

Some Ancient Faces

The Mystical Marriage

The Coming of the Northern Gods

 

III.       Stations Along the Road of Trials

 

Theseus and the Labyrinth

Daphne and the Meaning of Trees

Cupid and Psyche--and Aphrodite, of course

The Terror and the Beauty: Perseus and the Medusa

 

The Gorgon

The Medusa Complex

Athena's Role/ The Other

Victim of Rape/ Mother of Pegasus

Andromeda/ Woman as Virgin

 

IV.       Problems of the Return and Other Sorrows

 

What are some of the problems, and how are they solved (or even refused)?

 

Refusal

Crossing the Return Threshold

Master/ Mistress of Two Worlds

 

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

 

1 .      Next Week- We will discuss The Wizard of Oz.  Please be sure to see or resee the film.  Who is who mythologically speaking?  And what is the film--and the book, as you remember it--all about?  Be ready to discuss it in light of Campbell's quest theory and Gadon's work on the Goddess.

 

2.         Campbell: Please read on as you wish hereafter!

 

3.         Morford, Introduction, pp. -31 (*Important material--Read with care.)

 

            Antigone/ Tiresias, pp. 309-316

            Narcissus, pp. 228-232

            Jason and Medea, pp. 464-479

            Heracles, pp. 416-441 (Glance through and know about Heracles, especially as "Man,

Hero, and God," 434-439.

 

4.         Gadon, Chapter 9 (pp. 143-66) (You may want to refer and compare to Morford, 233-

249.)

 

5.         Malamud's The Natural--You may read about halfway if you wish (pp. 3-108).  You

should have the novel finished by week after next (October 9)

 

6.         *** We will have (or begin!) brief (10 minute) oral discussions of the following myths in

             terms of their inner meanings and relation to the Quest.  How does each relate to the

             monomyth?  To Lord Raglan's ideas of the Hero?  And, especially, to one or more of the

             theories of myth as set forth by Morford's Introduction?  Do you know any modern uses? 

             I'll ask two people to consider each myth.

 

            Narcissus                          Jason and Medea

            Orpheus                            Odysseus and Circe

            Oedipus                            Heracles

            Antigone                           Demeter and Persephone

 

 

 

 

Week VI

Theories of Myth and the Magical Wizard

 

I.          Show & Tells

 

II.        The Wizard of Oz

 

            Symbolic Qualities

            American Values

            Psychological Underpinnings?

            Mythic Meanings

 

III.       Theories of Myth

 

            Nature Phenomena (M€ller--Sun Worship)

            Historic Process (Schliemann--Euhemerism)

            Symbolic Statement (Cassirer)

            Recreation of Creation (Eliade)

            Ritual (Lord Raglan)

            Expression of Unconscious (Freud, Jung)                  Psychological

            Social,Legitimizing Institutions (Malinowski)        Sociological

            Structural (Ḷvi-Strauss)                                             Intellectual

 

*          *          *

 

            Revitalization (Camus)

                        "Myths are made for the imagination to breathe life into them."

            Unconscious Survival/ Conscious Revival (Levin)

            Feminist Reconstruction (Gadon)

            And, of course, The Monomyth (Campbell)

 

IV.       Or--Another Way of Putting It:  Case Studies and Problems of the Return

            Cupid and Psyche; Aphrodite; Odysseus and Circe

 

Assignments (October 16):

 

1.         Presentation of Case Studies

 

Narcissus                          Jason/ Medea

Orpheus                            Heracles

Oedipus and                      Demeter and Persephone

            Antigone                           

           

            2.         Gadon, Chapter 11

By October 23:

 

1.         The Natural:  Please read.  We will see the film and then I'll ask you to write a short

paper in which you compare/contrast the novel and film in relation to some aspect of

the use by each myth or symbol.

 

2.         Morford, "The Trojan Saga" and "The Returns"

 

3.         Look up, please:  King Arthur and the Round Table-- 

                                        The Quest of the Holy Grail-- 

 

*          *          *

 

Paper (3-5 pages) Due November 6 (4 weeks).  Look over your various bibliographies of myth and myth criticism.  Spend some time in the library looking at some of the texts, reading several articles or sections of books.  Other works than those listed may be consulted.  Then choose one myth, or adaptation of myth (novel, poem, play, film, etc.), related to Greek mythology, the myth of the Goddess, Arthurian legend, or another mythology you prefer.  Develop an essay analyzing the myth or work, perhaps showing how it uses symbolism (if it does), and discussing at least two or more interpretations.  Include your own notes and/or bibliography.  Please be prepared to discuss your findings in class.

 

 

 

Week VII

 

Theories Concerning Myth

 

We will follow up on last week's plan, concentrating on theories and your case studies.

 

ASSIGNMENTS (October 30)

 

1.         The Natural.  (which we'll see in class on October 23)

 

2.         Jung, pp. 1-94 "Approaching the Unconscious"

 

3.         Gadon, Chapter 11

 

4.         Morford, "The Trojan Saga," pp. 348-387 and if you haven't read it yet, "The Returns,"

immediately following.

 

5.         Short Paper:  Compare/contract the novel and film of The Natural in relation to some

aspect of the use by each myth or symbol (or even sign!).

 

 

 

Week VIII

 

Film--The Natural

 

ASSIGNMENTS:       Halloween Eve's Eve

 

1.         October 30--   Jung, pp. 1-94 ("Approaching the Unconscious)

           

                                    Gadon, Chapter 11

 

                                    Barthes, "The World of Wrestling,"  pp. 15-25

                                    Morford, "The Trojan Saga, "and The Returns"

                                                                       

                                    Please bring The Natural to class, and be prepared

to discuss novel and film.

 

Also, please bring a sample of a symbol (Think All Hallows Eve)

to class.  We will begin to discuss symbols both as you see them

and as Jung interprets them.

 

*  And short Natural paper due.

 

2.         By November 6--Jung, pp. 95-156 ("Ancient Myths & Modern Man")

 

                                    Gadon, pp. 226-283 ("The Way of the Goddess" and The Goddess

Within")

 

Be prepared to discuss the meaning of "Symbolism."  What was the

"Symbolist Movement?"

 

*** Longer Myth Analysis due ***

 

                                   

 

Week IX

 

"We have two lives, Roy, the life we learn with and the life we live with after that.  Suffering is what brings us toward happiness."

 

I.          Questions on Papers:  Myth and Myth Criticism

 

II.        The Natural:  Film, Novel, and Discussion

 

            What is the story of the book?  Of the film?

            How does the film differ from the book?

            Does anything in the book foreshadow the differences in the film?

            What are some of the myths behind the book and film?  How do those of the film differ

from those of the book?

What are the resemblances to Homer's Iliad and Odyssey?

What light, if any, does Barthes's "World of Wrestling" throw on the story?

 

III.       Layers of Myth Within The Natural

 

            What would Campbell say?

 

            Greek Myth:

 

                        Names and Greek Myth

                        Elements of Greek Myth

                        Homer

                        Hercules

                        The Muses / The Furies

                        Iris

 

            Arthurian Myth/Legend:

 

                        King Arthur, the Waste Land, and the Grail Quest

                        The Triple Goddess,Morgana, Guinevere, the Lady of the Lake

                        Lancelot

 

IV.       Symbolism (This Week or Next!)

 

            The Meanings of Symbolism

            Poetic Imagery,Simile, Metaphor, Synecdoche, etc.

            Symbolist Movement

            Dream Symbolism

            Personal Unconscious/ Collective Unconscious

            Archetype

            Dreams:  Freud and Jung

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

 

1.         Please be sure to be up on reading in Jung (Through "Ancient Myths and Modern Man,"

156) and Gadon (Through "The Goddess Within," 283)  Do the two seem to correlate?  If

so, how?  If not, why not?

 

2.         Essay discussing myth criticism as applied to text or texts due.  Please begin to give

serious thought to your final projects.  We'll discus further.

 

 

 

 

 

Week X

 

Symbols, Dreams, and the Unconscious

 

                        "The fact is that in former times men did not reflect upon their symbols;

                        they lived them and were unconsciously animated by their meaning."--Jung

 

 

I.          A Look Forward to:

 

            1)         Final Projects

            2)         CommonplaceBooks

 

II.        Symbolism

 

            What are Symbols?  Symbolism?  The Symbolist Movement?

            Freud and Jung

                        [Wordsworth's "Immortality Ode"  (Expression of the Collective Unconscious?)]

 

            The Archetype

 

            Dreams and Dream Symbolism [Interesting Approach,Creative Dreaming by Patricia

Garfield, 1974]

 

III.       The Tarot and "Intimations of Powers Within"

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

 

November 13:

 

1.         Please read Jung, "Symbolism in the Visual Arts," and Gadon through Chapter 15, page

339.

 

2.         Final Projects:  You will need to firm up your ideas if you haven't yet.  Please hand me a

brief statement of your proposed topic now.

 

3.         Very Short Paper:  Analyze one of your own dreams.  Think about what we have read

and discussed.  If you prefer not to discuss your dreams--or can remember none--feel free

to create an imaginary one to critique.

 

 

 

Week XI

 

Symbolic Meanings and Symbol Systems

 

I.          Further discussion: 

 

            Symbolism

            Freud & Jung,Collective Unconscious

            Dreams and Dream Theory,Archetypes

           

 

II.        Finding Symbolic Systems

 

            What are They?

            The Tarot and "Intimations of Powers Within"

 

 

III.       Transitions of the Goddess:  This or next time

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

 

1.         Reading :         Gadon, Chapter 16, pp. 341-368

                                    Jung, Complete Chapters I, II, and IV

                                    Berger and Borges Handouts

 

2.         Very Short Dream Paper,Due.  (If you prefer not to discuss your dreams,or can remember none,please feel free to create an imaginary one to critique.)

 

3.         Please  give me a title or at least the chosen topic of your final presentation next time. 

The first six presentations will be December 11, the last six on December 18.  A written

summary of the project should be handed in as part of the presentation.  I'm anticipating

some excellent topics!

 

4.         Bring to class:  Gadon, Jung, and Barthes texts, please, as well as two handouts

 

 

 

 

Week XII

 

Dreams, Symbols, and Signs (At Last!)

 

"The symbol is an object of the known world hinting at something unknown."  --Jung

"The semiotic mind asks not what signs mean but how they mean."  --Blonsky

 

* * *

I.          Final projects:  Order and Dates

 

            (Please give me a title or a working title of your project today.)

            Other Concerns

            And how about your dreams?

 

II.        Symbolic Forms

 

            "The Circular Ruins" and Other Symbolic Circles

            How does form affect symbol?

            Consider:  The spiral, Labyrinth, Square, Stone, Mandala etc.