Ernst Cassirer: Language & Myth (1946)
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(5 pp) Philosophers are always asking themselves questions. What a philosopher is trying to do, is figure out the way in which people understand the world, or their sense and place of reality in the world. The German philosopher, Ernst Cassirer (1874- 1945) felt that we use mentally created symbols to understand our current reality. It was Cassirer's idea that scientific laws, theories of religion and the unique qualities of a given language were all symbols, which we as humans create to facilitate understanding the world. The logic of understanding then is to give some sense of order in the chaos of the world that we face on a daily basis.
Filename: BBcassir.doc

Fairy Tales: Now and Always
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(10pp) Since the time that someone rubbed two sticks togetherto make fire, people have loved a good story. It may loosely be called a legend, a story, or a tale, Joseph Campbell links most of them together with a thematic approach called the "hero's adventure." We will test some current fairy tales ("The Princess Who Stood on Her Own Two Feet," Jeanne Desy; "Prince Amilec" Tanith Lee; and "Petronella" by Jay Williams) to see how they fit the traditional model. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Filename: BBfrytls.doc

Fantasy in Contemporary Cinema: Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and Harry Potter
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A paper which looks at the function of fantasy in contemporary cinema, with particlar reference to myth in film, as evinced by Lord of the Rings, the Star Wars series and Harry Potter. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Filename: JLcinfan.rtf

Here Be Dragons!
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(5 pp) No single continent or culture has an exclusive claim on dragons or dragon lore. The animals have survived in time and imagination. Just as an adventurer might claim land for his sovereign, a wise traveler would also know when dragons would be about, and then, even whisper to himself, "here be-- dragons." This discussion will allow the reader to learn of these marvelous creatures, so he too can learn to recognize them, and the places where they live. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Filename: BBdragon.doc

James Churchward and the Lost Continent of Mu
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This 8 page paper discusses James Churchward’s claims that the “lost continent of Mu” once existed in the mid-Pacific, and sank when gas filled chambers beneath it collapsed. The paper argues that Churchward’s theory is not supported by scientific evidence, but notes that people still seem to enjoy debating it. Bibliography lists 8 sources.
Filename: HVCrchwd.rtf

Jan Brunvand’s Works on Urban Legends, “The Vanishing Hitchhiker” and “The Baby Train”: Development of Changes in Format and Presentation
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This is a 5 page paper discussing the differences found in Brunvand’s “The Vanishing Hitchhiker” and “The Baby Train”. Jan Brunvand’s text “The Vanishing Hitchhiker: American Urban Legends and Their Meanings” (1981) introduced a generation to contemporary American urban legends, their origins, their development, and contained detailed accounts as to the depth of research in understanding the legends. Twelve years later, Brunvand released his fifth volume of urban legends entitled “The Baby Train and Other Lusty Urban Legends” (1993). The format of his presentation in this volume changed somewhat to include shorter narratives and less accompanying explanatory statements about each legend. Instead, Brunvand focused much more on the typing and cross-referencing of the legends contained and on the international contexts many have reached. The reason for this change in format was mostly due to the fact that the field and the interest in urban legends had grown a great deal since his original text and because of this Brunvand was able to contain less explanatory text in regards to the research involved and thus avoid repeating himself and offering instead his readers a chance to see the extent of the field and the extent to which the knowledge of urban legends has reached on an international basis as well as an American one. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Filename: TJBrunv1.rtf

Joseph Campbell & Michael J. Harner / Ritual Compared
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A 5 page paper comparing and contrasting the ideas of these two theorists about the function and importance of ritual. Joseph Campbell was a well-known writer in the areas of mythology and ritual, and frequently drew analogies between established religious practices and long-forerunning mythological beliefs. He maintained that ritual was an important part of any religious practice as a way of setting the practice apart from daily routine, working to keep it within the realm of something outside, yet part of, the individual. Michael Harner teaches shamanism to Westerners for incorporation into holistic healing practices. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Filename: Ritual.wps

Joseph Campbell & The Mythic Image
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A 5 page paper discussing 'The Mythic Image' by Joseph Campbell. The author uses many types of art to illustrate many differences, but mostly similarities, in the ways of myth. He addresses issues of religion, enlightenment, and dreaming among others. His work is highly detailed and intriguing.
Filename: Mythima.wps

Joseph Campbell And The Functions Of Mythology
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A 5 page research paper that examines mythology as interpreted by historian Joseph Campbell. According to Campbell, mythology represents ancient intuitive understanding of certain archetypal or "elementary ideas" that still speak to the human condition even in modern times. The writer demonstrates how this fits in with the ideas of Carl Jung and Adolf Bastian. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Filename: Campyth.wps

Jung's Theory of the Attempt to Find Personal & Spiritual Wholeness
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This 3 page essay discusses the validity of Jung's belief that mental or emotional disturbances are attempts to find wholeness. The writer notes that such a theory can be applied beyond the individual and to American society in general. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Filename: Jungtheo.wps

Male Myth of Power in Literature
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(5 pp) A part of the nature of myth is that it continues to stay alive and active as long as there are people to believe it. Men have perceived themselves to be in power and they have acted from that belief. The second part of a power myth is that it is a one up and a one down relationship, in other words someone is superior to another. We can see examples of this is two literary works: in the character of Torvald Helmer in Ibesen's A Doll's House, and in Edward Rochester in Bronte's Jane Eyre.
Filename: BBmlmyth.doc

Mythbusting
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This 3 page paper investigates the modern myth that police investigate all crimes and proves it to be false. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Filename: HVMyths.rtf

Mythology & The Mythopoetic Mind
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A 4 page paper discussing the existence of the mythopoetic mind as defined by Mircea Eliade. To Eliade, all mythology was created as a bridge from the human to the divine. Mythology, in his belief, was sacred history, and no matter what the culture, myths provided answers to the deep philosophical questions of who we are, why we are here, and what perspective, based on sociology and culture, defined existence Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Filename: Mythpt.rtf

Narrative Forms Of Myth
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An 8 page paper discussing the narrative style of myths in different cultures. There are differing views among scholars and anthropologists concerning the structure of myths. The writer explores these disparities in great detail. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Filename: Dundes.rtf

Phoenix Rising As Metaphor
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An 8 page paper. The focus of this paper is women who become divorced in midlife years and using the concept of the rising phoenix as a spiritual metaphor for their recovery. The paper begins by discussing the myth of the phoenix and its meaning in ancient Egypt and in the early days of Christianity. The phoenix rises anew from the ashes of destruction, destruction that is of its own making. The writer discuses and describes how the symbolism of the mythical phoenix can be applied to women who suddenly become single in their middle age years. The paper also comments on the effects of such a divorce on young and adult children as well as the negative consequences of midlife divorce on the woman's health. The paper leads up to concluding the concept of the mythical phoenix can be used as a spiritual metaphor for these women. Bibliography lists 10 sources.
Filename: PGphnx.rtf

Psychoanalytic Understanding and Myths, Folktales, and Narrative
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This 10 page report discusses the fact that modern psychoanalysis is a multifaceted discipline that depends on classic Freudian explanations as well as more contemporary empirical practices. Social scientists, researchers into human psychology, writers, and even “pop psychologists” have demonstrated an affinity for the mythological and heroic aspects of the human psyche. Individuals have been able to gain a better understanding of and appreciation for their own capabilities through their association with a particular culture, classic mythology, or spiritualism. As it is used and referenced in the practice of psychoanalysis, cultural myth and narrative serve to offer greater insights into collective human thinking. Bibliography lists 9 sources.
Filename: BWpsymth.wps

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