Pick one choice of the following Current Events, and tell a mythical story using the elements we've discussed in class: goals, objectives, obstructions, monsters, resolution, morals, etc.... The topics were chosen from those submitted by the class.
Between 5 and 20 pages, double spaced, 1 inch margins, 12 point Times New Roman, Black print, Left aligned text. End notes and a bibliography citing class topics and materials used (not to be included in the minimum 5 pages.) If footnotes are used as well minimum number of pages must be 6, maximum is 25. Reminder, plagiarism is grounds for a failing grade.
Each violation of the above printing rules will subtract half a grade (or 5 points for numeric) from the final grade. I am willing to review preliminary drafts, and acknowledge limited artistic needs for text. Final paper due the day before Holiday Break in December.
Remember most myths give some moral or lesson needed to function and survive within the current society's moral structure.
Topic Choices:
1. Star Wars
George Lucas creates an entire universe, technologies, language, and philosophy in a story using ancient elements and methods of story telling. He creates new technologies to show us this story and make it believable.
The effects are far reaching into global culture, from Pez dispensers to a Global Military Defense Strategy (SDI); changing the way we think and act.
Mythos: A story teller somehow learns of a new legend, and is granted the power to make his stories felt by the soul, inspiring others to extremes, for good or ill. There are unexpected and undesirable consequences. Are they balanced by the good, and where is the responsibility?
2. Martin Luther King
Martin Luther King starts the Civil rights movement in the U.S. during the 60's, using a similar oratory style as Hitler, and current televangelists. While emphasizing the equality of all people, his message makes more conservative and reactionary elements in American Society nervous.
He gives his famous "I have a dream..." speech, which iconizes King in the eyes of Civil Rights Movement. He is assassinated not too long after.
Mythos: A man is given a vision to right a perceived wrong by one Power, (one which wishes to usurp the established and balanced Powers) and starts to gather a following. An established/threatened Power gives a normal every day man a vision of the future if the usurping Power is not stopped. The normal man does not wish this destiny and fights it seeing the needed act as evil, while the first prophet embraces his destiny for the good of his/her fellow humans not realizing the evil intent behind it.
3. Atom Bomb
USA in a race against allies and enemies alike develops the Atomic Bomb. Instead of invading Imperial Japan and having to fight hand to hand street by street, the government decides to drop the bomb, scaring the meshugana out of the Nippon Empire.
The remainder of the millennium is spent trying to balance the power of the atom through Mutual Assured Destruction, the belief that no one would use their weapons knowing that if they do, everything would be destroyed. A new Arms Race human kind has never conceived of commences that colors generations.
Mythos: A bargain with a devil to stop the war; or the discovery of an artifact that may help solve one problem but will cause other more deadly issues; the release of that power and the inability to stop it, putting the proverbial genie back into the bottle.