From Studying Myths to Creating One
After studying myths, I have discovered that creating my own myth is a very different process and experience. When studying myths, the analyzer typically focuses on key themes, symbols, archetypes, and cultural meanings that are embedded within the story and its characters. In addition to studying the myth itself, we also focus on how the myth has been shaped and interpreted over time, influencing other stories and creations as time progresses. However, when I began the process of creating my own myth, I also began to become aware of the creative and cultural process that goes into creating these types of stories. Not only did I focus on the message I wanted to convey to my audience, but I also had to figure out how to use different characters and settings to portray the elements of my story best to make it meaningful to myself and the reader.
Understanding the Human Purpose of Myth
Through creating my own myth, I realized that myths are more than just old stories, they are ways people explain the world and express values. Writing my own myth made me appreciate how myths arise from real human needs, and are a way to depict values and traditions to the reader. Additionally, writing my own myth made me become aware of how storytelling shapes identity, and how it arises from human needs, such as the need to explain the unknown as well as teach lessons. As I was inventing a myth from something familiar to me, eating conchas and coffee every day with my Mexican family, I understood how older myths were made from people trying to make sense of their environment and what was familiar to them.
Lessons for Teaching and Life
In terms of teaching and life, creating my own myth helped me understand the power embedded in creativity that came from crafting my own story. Personally, I also learned that storytelling, such as creating my own myth, was a powerful tool and process to establish my ideas and emotions, which allowed me to convey my personal ideals and beliefs into my story. In a classroom, asking students to create a myth rather than simply analyzing one can help them internalize these concepts at a deeper level. In the future, whether it be through teaching or creation, I would like to use mythic thinking, seeing meaning and connection in stories, to inspire creativity and imagination.
Check out my Myth! ----> Why do Mexicans Love Eating Conchas With Coffee?
