Course Schedule and Catalog

Long Title: MODERN CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY (MCMURTRY)

Department: College Courses

Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

Language of Instruction: Taught in English

Course Type: Seminar

Credit Hours: 1

Description: From video games to ballets, classical mythology has vastly influenced 21st-century entertainment. In Modern Classical Mythology, students will gain a basic understanding of original Greco-Roman myths and will be introduced to a multitude of pieces from the 21st century based on classical mythology. We will look at everything from comic books to movies with weekly discussions on the reception of these pieces as well as their accuracies and inaccuracies. As such, this course seeks to answer the question: does the medium in which we encounter classical mythology affect our interpretation and understanding of these myths? No prior knowledge of classical mythology is required. This course will cover widely known myths and figures (e.g. the fall of Icarus, Hercules’ labors, the story of Arachne, etc) and pop-culture portrayals of them. The course will have a midterm project and a final project– the purpose of which is to inspire students to think creatively about mythology and present accurate receptions of classical myths.