Descriptif

Americana:  Myth and Representation

The ancient myths of Greek, Roman, and Nordic cultures tend towards the epic, the heroic, the extraordinary. Yet myths – big or small, wondrous or mundane, ancient or modern – are simply a form of discourse that projects a culture’s beliefs and ideals. Myths give meaning to the surrounding world and convey a sense of cultural unity.  American myths – the Wild West, Hollywood, individualism, Detroit muscle cars, pragmatism, business, the founding fathers and the Constitution, WASP values, junk food,  the “land of opportunity”, and Blues, Jazz and Rock n’ Roll, among others –  and their various representations in popular culture will be the focus of this class.