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?
Hello Perla,
ReplyDeleteAfter creating my own myth I also began to see them differently and appreciate them more. I think you're right when we’re reading a myth we're trying to dissect the meaning and what it could possibly be about but we don't consider what goes into actually creating a myth. Personally I found it a little difficult because of how I had to incorporate the character but also stick to what my myth was about. I love how you said that storytelling shapes identity. I think we often forget that these myths were mainly told orally so they had to be engaging enough for the audience to fully understand what the myth was trying to teach them. I too am Mexican and you mentioning the stories that they tell reminded me of all the myths I had learned about as a kid. Since I've known about them for so long I never gave them much thought, but now I think of them as so much more that just a simple story.
Hey Perla!
ReplyDeleteFirst, I loved your myth! It was so unique, and I can see the elements you discussed that you learned and implemented in how you wrote your myth. I definitely connect with you on the fact that when analyzing a myth, you learn the interlocking of tradition and seeing it more than a “random” wise tale, but a history of a culture and a people. Your point about “how storytelling shapes identity” was very deep and made me think because that is something true, but not something always talked about with myths. I have a book of myths that I was given when I was little, and it means so much to me. Not because I believe in them as a religion, but it's part of the small connection I have to that part of my heritage. Stories are so much a part of my life, I think I knew that as a writer now, but I think I didnt see it as much until now. We had an assignment just like this in high school, now that I think about it, and the story I wrote for that was one of my favorites and really had me fall in love with writing and crafting my own story. As we can see, that impacted my life so much because, beyond being a teacher, I chose to be an English teacher and a now author because of assignments like that.
-Anahise B.
Hey Perla, I like how you addressed that myths are more than old stories. I definitely agree, especially when you taken into consideration that myths are stories that have been told and passed down from generation to generation, as far as the culture had began. It is a view into the past and reflects their mental processes. I love that fact of history. I also agree with you that teaching creativity and how to implement creativity is important in writing stories. I struggle with this aspect but it is always something to work on. Great blog Perla! I hope to read more. - Jackie C.
ReplyDelete