Week 1: My Take on the Un-Textbook

First of all, I am really excited about the possibility of choosing the material that interests me the most for this course. Mythology and Folklore is such a broad, sweeping topic that offers one of the best scenarios for the Un-Textbook to flourish. I'm really looking forward to picking and choosing the units that I want to study! This is something close to my plan...

Block 1 (Wks 2-3)

I've always, since I was a little kid, had a fascination with Classical lore. Movies like Troy sparked an interest in the the incredible epics of the Trojan War and Odysseus' long journey home. That is why for week 1 I would do Homer's Iliad, and for the second week I would do Homer's Odyssey. The ancient heroes of Achilles and Odysseus are fascinating.

Block 2 (Wks 4-5)

I know little to nothing of Middle Eastern or Indian mythology, but I do recognize the name Sinbad. So it would interesting to get a deeper understanding of The Voyages of Sinbad. On the Indian side, you've shown that the stories of Raja Rasalu go well with the tales of Sinbad. I have absolutely no preconceived notions of these stories so it will be interesting to see them with a fresh perspective.

Block 3 (Wks 6-7)

 The hero figures of every society reveal so much about its culture. Japanese society, with its renowned focus on honor, should have heroes that embody this quality. That is why Japanese Mythology and the tales of the Monkey King are so intriguing. I think the hero narrative is universal, and I want to gain a better understanding of Japan's take on it.

Block 4 (Wks 9-10)

Being from Oklahoma, Native American culture has been omnipresent. Maybe I'm just fascinated by the mythology of heroes, but I want to delve into what it means to be a hero in Native American Tradition. The Hero Tales and the tales of the Blackfoot Tribe look very compelling.

Block 5 (Wks 11-12)

Some of the British folk heroes are people I have heard of, or seen Disney movies about. However, I would like to explore the basis of some these modern interpretation of heroes like King Arthur and Robin Hood. These are classic examples of the hero archetype and I want to see where they came from, and how they compare to their modern counterparts.

Block 6 (Wks 13-14)

Dante's Inferno has to be a staple of any study of mythology and folklore. Its topic is too spectacular to overlook. Then I feel like I have to include the iconic stories of Cinderella and Snow White of the Grimm stories, because they have shaped so much of what modern fantasy looks like, thanks to Disney.

After this preview, I'm really excited to start using the Un-Textbook!