Mythology

1. Popular cultural uses of the term myth

a. Myth is commonly used to mean something that is not factually true, such as in the phrase, “it’s just a myth”.

1) This usage is widespread in popular culture and the media referring to commonly misunderstood concepts.

2) Examples: Myths about the causes of cancer, myths about retirement, myths about investments, myths about exercise, and diet myths

b. The word myth has also been used to dismiss another culture’s sacred stories (chuyen than thoai, than thanh) and beliefs, as if the dominant culture’s sacred stories and religion are superior or truer than another’s is.

c. Myths are also often thought to refer to primitive (co xua, nguyen thuy) or fantasy-based children’s stories (and thus, inferior).

d. Cultural myths are often popular concepts that are common beliefs but are not necessarily factual, such as, “only the good die young,” and “good men are hard to find.”

2. Academic definition of myth

a. Myths were originally used to describe stories from preindustrial cultures to account for happenings that were mysterious or inexplicable.

b. A myth is an explanatory narrative. Myths are ways to explain why the world is the way it is.

1) Myths may use stories to illustrate how people should act.

2) Myths may use stories to attempt to explain the origins of the social order, or to attempt to justify existing social order.

3) Myth may refer specifically to a sacred story, which is honored as self-evidently true.

4) Myths, in the form of sacred stories, are at the heart of many religions.

5) Myths often use stories to encourage a common culture or belief.

c. Myths are generally collectively authored.

1) There may be no single author of any myth.

2) Myths are often spontaneously created by a society or group.

a) Tribal myths

b) National myths

c) Religious myths

d) Communal myths

e) Organizational myths

d. Myths are generated through oral tradition.

1) Myths are told and retold over time.

2) As a...