THEO 205-01 Myth and Culture/CLAR 208-01 World Views
Fall 2014
Course description (Theo 205): Why do myths play such an important role in human culture? This course
introduces students to a variety of methods for understanding the role of myths in religious communities and
in modern secular culture. The bulk of the course is devoted to an examination of the major classical and
contemporary theories of the meaning and interpretation of myths (anthropological, structuralist, etc.), with
examples drawn from a variety of cultures both ancient and modern. 3 credits
Course description (Clar 208): An interdisciplinary introduction to major issues in various world regions,
with special atention to global diversity of experiences and perspectives. 3 credits.
Program learning goals: http://www.sbu.edu/academics/departments-majors-minors/core-curriculum(clare-college)/goals-objectives
http://www.sbu.edu/docs/default-source/Clare-College-documents/core-areas-of-clare-college-and-theirobjectives.pdf?sfvrsn=2
Instructor: Dr. Oleg Bychkov
Office location: Plassmann E8
Office hours: MW 1:30-2:30PM or by appointment
Telephone: 2443
e-mail: obychkov@sbu.edu
Text (available at the SBU book store, other texts provided on class website):
Barthes, R. Mythologies. Translated by A. Lavers.
Website: http://web.sbu.edu/theology/bychkov/myth2011.doc
Schedule: MW 2:30-3:45PM
Location: Plassmann 201
Grading:
Attendance and class participation (discussions)
30%
Quizzes
20%
Short papers
25%
Final Exam
25%
Academic Honesty Policy:
http://web.sbu.edu/friedsam/governing/academic_policies/academic_honesty_policy.pdf
Students with Disabilities
http://web.sbu.edu/friedsam/governing/academic_policies/students_with_disabilities.htm
2
Proposed Course Schedule
*A student needs to write six of the 8 short writing assignments.
M Aug. 25: General introduction; idea of the course
W Aug. 27: What is a “myth”? Problems of definition. Readings: Malinowski, “Myth in
Primitive Psychology,” pp. 78-89. Study guide.
M Sept. 1: Short paper due (defining myth). Discussion: defining the term “myth.”
Stories for: Group1; Group 2; Group 3; Group 4; Group 5
W Sept. 3: Anthropology I: Malinowski’s approach to myth. Video: The Trobriand
Islanders of Papua New Guinea. Readings: Malinowski, “Myth in Primitive
Psychology,” pp. 89-100, 109-116. Quiz
M Sept. 8: Discussion: Malinowski’s anthropological approach to myth; the Trobriand
society.
W Sept. 10: Anthropology II: Malinowski’s approach to myth. Readings: Kula;
Malinowski, “In Tewara and Sanaroa—Mythology of the Kula,” pp. 3-39. Video:
Off the verandah. Quiz
M Sept. 15: Short paper due (Trobriand mythology). Discussion: mythology of the
Kula.
W Sept. 17: Structuralism I: Levi-Strauss’ approach. Main priciples of structuralism.
Readings: Structuralism. Video: Native Americans: People of the Northwest
Coast. Quiz
M Sept. 22: Discussion: structuralism; North-Western native American tribes.
W Sept. 24: Structuralism II: Levi-Strauss’ approach. Interpretation of the story of
Asdiwal. Readings: Levi-Strauss, “The Story of Asdiwal,” pp. 1-21, 29-33, 40-43.
Oppositions in Tsimshian life. Chart of oppositions in Asdiwal.
M Sept. 29: Short paper due (story of Asdiwal). Discussion: structuralist interpretation
of myths.
W Oct. 1: Structuralism III: Levi-Strauss’ approach. Contemporary applications. Video:
Jaws. Script of Jaws. Quiz
3
M Oct. 6: Short paper due (Jaws). Contemporary anthropology I: Australian. Australian
aboriginal society. Reading guide. Readings: D. Turner, “Hunting and Gathering:
Cree and Australian” (sections: “the Australian alternative,” “Aranda”). Video:
Australia’s Aborigines. Quiz
W Oct. 8: Contemporary anthropology II: Australian. Australian aboriginal social
organization. Reading: D. Turner, Australian aboriginal social organization
(charts). Video: The Last Wave. Quiz
Midterm break
W Oct. 15: Short paper due (The Last Wave). Discussion: Australian aboriginal social
organization.
M Oct. 20: Contemporary anthropology III: Australian. Australian aboriginal mythology.
Readings: D. Turner, Australian aboriginal social organization (texts of myths); D.
Turner, Life Before Genesis: A Conclusion, pp. 68-75.
W Oct. 22: Short paper due (Australian aboriginal mythology). Discussion:
Australian aboriginal mythology. Myths for: Group1; Group2; Group3; Group4;
Group5
M Oct. 27: Contemporary anthropology IV: Cree. Maps. Reading guide. Cree social
organization. Readings: D. Turner, “Hunting and Gathering: Cree and Australian”
(sections: “The Cree alternative,” “Shamattawa”). Additional readings (Turner):
part 1; part 2; part 3. Video: Cree Hunters of Mistassini. Quiz
W Oct. 29: Discussion: Cree social organization.
M Nov. 3: Contemporary anthropology V: Cree. Cree mythology. Readings: D. Turner,
“Windigo Mythology and the Analysis of Cree Social Structure”; Life Before
Genesis: A Conclusion, pp. 25-33. Video: Ravenous.
W Nov. 5: Short paper due (Cree mythology). Discussion: Cree mythology; comparing
Australian aboriginal and Cree social organizations and mythologies.
M Nov. 10: Contemporary structuralism I: Barthes. Introduction. Readings: Barthes,
“Myth Today,” in Mythologies, pp. 109-131.
W Nov. 12: Contemporary structuralism II: Barthes. Advertising. Readings: Barthes,
“Soap-powders and Detergents”; “Wine and Milk”; “Steak and Chips”;
“Photography and Electoral Appeal,” in Mythologies, pp. 36-9, 58-65, 91-4.
M Nov. 17: Contemporary structuralism III: Barthes. Wrestling. Readings: Barthes, “The
World of Wrestling,” in Mythologies, pp. 15-25. Video: WWF wrestling. Quiz
W Nov. 19: Short paper due (Wrestling video). Discussion: mythology of a
contemporary Western society; advertising and wrestling.
M Nov. 24: Present-day mythology I. Readings: Science as mythology; K.J. Sharpe, From
Science to an Adequate Mythology; D.F. Noble, The Religion of Technology.
4
Thanksgiving break
M Dec. 1: Present-day mythology II. Discussion: mythology of a contemporary Western
society.
W Dec. 3: Present-day mythology III (continuation). General review session before
final exam
F Dec. 12: final exam, 10:35 AM-1:05 PM, same room