Studies in Mythology

Catalog description

This writing-intensive course acquaints students with the mythos of classical Western and/or non-Western cultures. Students will study myth as represented in both traditional and contemporary texts and evaluate the place of myth in modern society in an effort to articulate how myth constructs cultural identities and connects us, more broadly, to our shared humanity. Specific topics will vary by instructor and may include the study of classical Greek/Roman and Norse mythologies; world mythologies; theories of mythologies; and fairy tales, tall tales, urban legends, and/or other contemporary myths. Course work will include discussion and research of relevant cultural and historical matters, frequent written analyses of course texts and contexts, sustained analytic essays, and student-led discussion and/or class presentations.