What is a myth?
"Myth is the facts of the mind made manifest in a fiction of matter" (Maya Deren)
Myth, part of human nature
Legend is part of human nature; mythic narratives that speak of the creation of the world and of humanity’s earliest times exist, therefore, in every culture. These stories define and justify the world and situate humanity in relation to creation. As civilization consolidates, the myths that served to create it may gradually lose their original importance and become mere superstitions or pastimes—though they will retain the inherent force of the time in which they were created. Mythologies treasure all the poetry and passion of which the human mind is capable.
Etymology of the word 'myth'
The word "myth" derives from the Greek mythos, meaning "word" or "story". A myth will hold a different meaning for the believer, for the anthropologist, or for the philologist. That is precisely one of the functions of myth: to consecrate ambiguity and contradiction. A myth need not convey a single, clear, and coherent message.
Mythology is nothing other than an alternative way of explaining the world, one that draws on metaphor as a creative tool. Thus, narratives adapt and transform according to who tells them and the context in which they are transmitted. Myths are not dogmatic and immutable; rather, they are fluid and open to interpretation.
Structure of the mythic narrative
Mythological time differs from chronological time because it is a kind of "time outside of time". This implies a very particular structure, one that refers to a golden age or primordial time. Mircea Eliade would say that it is a cyclical time, and he calls it "the myth of the eternal return".
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How to interpret a myth?
The ambiguity of mythic discourse, unlike that of the fable, proposes an allegorical reading that is far more difficult to objectify. Yet this apparent difficulty of interpretation is, in fact, a great opportunity when it comes to proposing a moment of reflection: the fascinating richness of the characters and the worlds described makes them especially appealing.
We can analyze myths historically, studying their significance according to what they represented within their own tradition at the height of their influence. But we can also propose a new reading, an updating, using them as a pretext for approaching a problem from a new angle, for revisiting conclusions, for discussing and exchanging ideas.
Mythological content inspires, motivates, and awakens. We propose, among other things, using myths as an original didactic resource that fosters reflection and debate.
Mythic narratives
Pan Gu and the creation of the world
The creation of the world in the Eskimo tradition
The cyclical universe of India
The struggle of good against evil: the Persian legacy
The Lay of Grímnir: the myth of the world tree
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