Summer SAVY Session 4, Day 1, From Myth to Modern Legend (Waxman)
Day 1: We had a wonderful first day in Greek Mythology: Myth to Modern Legend! Throughout this week, we will be focusing on course goals that revolve around the following questions:
- What makes something a myth?
- Why are myths so interesting and pervasive?
- How and why do myths change over time?
- How are myths interconnected with storytelling and perspective?
- How do myths reflect modern culture?
We started our exploration of these questions by brainstorming mythical allusions in modern culture. The students came up with an exceptional number of allusions; Nike shoes, Starbucks, and the eagle were some of my favorites! We also did a deeper study into the myth of Daedalus and Icarus. Students first drew their own representations of the myth, then we looked at some famous paintings to see the similarities and differences in perspective!
In the afternoon, we started to review the most famous Greek gods and goddesses, and we ended the day by creating our own versions of Greek gods/goddesses in modern day! The students blew me away with all of their creativity.
Some key takeaways from today include: myth and storytelling are all about perspective; interpretation and perspective are both essential in creating myths and understanding how they prevail across time; myths and stories are “alive” and constantly shifting.
Some dinner table questions:
- What mythical allusions in modern culture did you find most surprising?
- Which myth are you most excited to learn about this week and why?
- Which Greek god/goddess did you create and why?
- Have a great evening!
Warmly,
Ms. Waxman and Mr. Knight