Treesong's Courses

We Can Be Heroes:
Pop Culture as Modern Mythology

Course Description:

Many people think that myths and legends are ancient works of fiction that may or may not have any relevance in the present day. A myth, however, is a living story that weaves a narrative about the nature of the world and our place in it, offering insights and inspirations that often cross borders of time, space, and culture.

What are our modern myths? How do they inspire us to discover our heroic role in the modern world?

This course offers an introductory exploration of mythological narratives in popular culture. We will examine these narratives through the lens of the Hero's Journey, exploring the ways in which works of popular culture shape our understanding of what it means to be a hero.

Our modern tales of superheroes, action heroes, warriors, vampires, and other larger-than-life characters serve many of the same roles in our society that classical myths and legends served in ancient societies. They explore the heights and depths of human nature, speak to our greatest hopes and fears, and show the consequences of heroism, villainy, and everything in between.

By examining and discussing these narratives, we may transform ourselves from a passive viewer into an active participant, taking the first step in our own Hero's Journey of personal empowerment and heroic action.

Course Outline:

• Week One: Introduction. Introduce ourselves and our interests in mythology and pop culture. Discuss course outline, the nature of mythology, and the Hero's Journey, thus setting an analytic framework for discussion of content in the remaining sessions.
• Week Two: Classical Mythology. Ancient Mythology: Clash of the Titans, Hercules. Old Gods in Modern Times: American Gods, Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
• Week Three: Fantasy. Wizard of Oz, Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia, Dark Crystal, Never-Ending Story.
• Week Four: Science Fiction. Sci-Fi Mysticism (Star Wars, Matrix) vs. Sci-Fi Hypertech (Star Trek).
• Week Five: Vampires. Dracula. Interview with a Vampire. Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Twilight.
• Week Six: Superheroes. Comic book superheroes. Heroes (TV Show). Superheroes as modern gods. American Warriors (Rambo, 24).
• Week Seven: Interactive Mythology. Role-playing games (RPGs) as interactive mythology. Dungeons & Dragons. Mage: The Ascension. Ultima.

Tuition: $75 for full course. You can also drop in for $12 per session. To register, contact Dr. R. Michael Fisher, Director of the Center for Spiritual Inquiry and Integral Eduction. Phone: (618) 529-1166. Email: rmichaelfisher@gmail.com