HUM 115: Multi-Cultural Mythologies

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2022
Credits: 3
Total Contact Hours: 54
Lecture Hours : 54
Lab Hours: 0
Hours Arranged: 0
Outside of Class Hours: 108
Strongly Recommended: ENGL 101.
District General Education: C2. Humanities
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: Yes - Approved
Grading Method: Standard Letter

Catalog Course Description

An introductory survey course in comparative mythology. Students will read, discuss, and write about basic myths as they have appeared in different civilizations. Basic myths, such as those dealing with creation, earliest times, the flood, tales of love, tales of heroes, journeys to other worlds, and an examination of the concept of myth itself, the theories used to understand myths, and the value of myth in today's society will be explored. 54 lecture hours.

Course Objectives

  • Demonstrate knowledge of the multi-cultural myths and the primary ideas they represent.
  • Identify primary similarities and the most significant differences found in multi-cultural myths.
  • Distinguish key terminology connected to theories analyzing multi-cultural mythology.
  • Relate understanding of principles and terminology of theories associated with analyzing multi-cultural mythology as well as the contents of various myths and how they correlate to the student's personal views both orally and in writing.
  • Respect diversity - multi-cultural values, traditions, ideas, and value contributions of other cultures.

Major Course Content

  1. What is mythology:
    1. Etymology,
    2. purposes in studying mythology,
    3. great authorities;
    4. sources of/for myth
  2. Methods for mythological analysis:
    1. Archetypes: Jung, Frazier, and Frye
    2. Monomyth: Campbell
    3. Formal Criticism: Aristotle’s Poetics
    4. Psychoanalytic Criticism: Freudian Analysis
    5. Social Criticism: Marxist Theory
  3. Epic poems:
    1. Gilgamesh (Babalonian),
    2. Elder (Cross-cultural),
    3. Edda (Icelandic),
    4. Iliad (Ancient Greek),
    5. Odyssey (Ancient Greek),
    6. Aenead (Roman),
    7. Divine Comedy (Renaissance Italian)
    8. Other sources:
      1. Ancient Greek Drama
      2. Ancient Roman Drama
  4. Current use of mythology:
    1. days of the week,
    2. months of the year,
    3. seasons,
    4. holidays,
    5. vocabulary,
    6. allusions,
    7. reference
  5. Creation myths:
    1. cross-cultural comparisons:
      1. India,
      2. Greece,
      3. Mexico,
      4. South Africa,
      5. American Indian
  6. Early Stages:
    1. myths from earliest times of different cultures:
      1. Bible,
      2. Mexico,
      3. American Indian,
      4. India,
      5. Greece
  7. Flood Myths:
    1. Bible,
    2. Utnapishtim-Babylon,
    3. Aztec,
    4. Inca
  8. Tales of Love:
    1. Scotland,
    2. Ireland,
    3. American Indian
  9. Heroes:
    1. Odysseus,
    2. Hector,
    3. Hercules,
    4. Siegfried,
    5. King Arthur,
    6. Queteacoatla
  10. Life and Death:
    1. Earth Mother
    2. Lord of Death
  11. Journeys:
    1. Ulysses,
    2. Aeneas,
    3. Istar,
    4. Marwe,
    5. Baldr
  12. Apocalypse:
    1. Bible,
    2. India,
    3. Persia,
    4. Islam,
    5. North American Indian
  13. Myth in Everyday Life:
    1. Myth in Music
    2. Myth in Art
    3. Myth in Advertising, Pop Art
    4. Myth in film
  14. Myths in Modern Times:
    1. faith,
    2. religious practices,
    3. symbols,
    4. archetypes
  15. Parallels across cultures
    1. Comparisons & Contrasts

Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook

Students will read and research mythologies not covered in the assigned readings.

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

Students will write a 4-6 page comparative essay in which they demonstrate their ability to analyze and draw meaning comparisons from two traditions of mythology.

Examples of Outside Assignments

Students will provide analytical discussion papers on the assigned readings which will provide the basis for in class discussion.

Instruction Type(s)

Lecture, Online Education Lecture

IGETC Area 3: Arts and Humanities

3B. Humanities