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CLAS230
Classical Mythology
Department of Classics
Monmouth College
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Classical Myth in
the Modern World
SCHEDULE
of Topics and Activities
FALL Semester 2015
Note: There are no
required textbooks for this course. All required readings are
available on the internet or will be provided as handouts.
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Week |
MONDAY
Weekly Writing Assignments Due |
WEDNESDAY
Quiz Day |
FRIDAY |
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1 |
Important References
On
Myths and Sisyphean Tasks
Web of Myth
Greek
Pantheon
The Pantheon
The Major Gods
Genealogical Tables
Chronological Overview
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Oct.
21
Powerpoint: What is Myth?
American Heritage Dictionary
definition
Greek Mythology in Popular Culture
Greek Mythology Today
Greek Myths in
the Modern World
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Oct. 23
Greek Myths in
the Modern World Cont.
Ovid's Metamorphoses
Phaethon in
Ovid's Metamorphoses
(Be sure to click NEXT at the bottom of the page to read to the end
of the story.)
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Writing Assignment due Oct. 26
Suggested Topic: Choose one of the images, videos, etc. show in
class on Wed or Fri and discuss how the myth is used. In particular,
answer the following questions:
What cultural
Insights does the use of this myth tell us about modern
society? What
Roles does this myth play in modern society?
What Functions
does this myth play in
modern world?
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2 |
Oct. 26
Phaethon: From Antiquity
to the Present
Phaethon and
Folktale Themes
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Oct. 28
Ovid Metamorphoses Book I
Focus on Daphne
Study
Sheet / Powerpoint
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Oct. 30
Daphne Cont.
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Writing Assignment due Nov. 2
Suggested Topic:
Choose a "modern" (i.e., 1850 date or later) representation of
Phaethon or Daphne and discuss how the modern interpretation is
similar and/or different from that of Ovid. |
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3 |
Nov. 2
Ovid
Metamorphoses Book
2
Focus on Europa
Study Sheet / Powerpoint
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Nov. 4
Europa
Cont.
Ovid Metamorphoses Book 3
Focus on Echo and Narcissus
Study Sheet /
Powerpoint |
Nov. 6
Today we created an ecphrasis of the Rape of Europa in class. Here
are images (1 /
2/
3) and a
video (!) of this
ecphrasis.
Echo and Narcissus Cont.
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Writing Assignment due Nov. 9
Write an
ecphrasis of any modern (post 1850) representation of Europa and the
Bull. Your ecphrasis should be a detailed description of the representation for the benefit of someone who cannot see this
representation due to blindness or even just lack of access to a
photograph.
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4 |
Nov. 9
Echo and Narcissus Cont.
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Nov. 11
Ovid Metamorphoses Book 4
Focus on Pyramus and Thisbe
Study Sheet / Powerpoint
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Nov. 13
Ovid Metamorphoses Book 6 (but also look at the end of
Book 5)
Focus on Arachne
Study Sheet /
Powerpoint |
Writing Assignment due Nov. 16
Use either the myth of Echo and Narcissus or the
myth of Pyramis and Thisbe to discuss how the use of different media
affects the way the myth is portrayed and interpreted in the modern
world. You should consider various media, including artwork, written
work, films, music, cartoons, performance art, etc. |
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5 |
Nov. 16
Arachne Cont.
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Nov. 18
Arachne Cont.
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Nov. 20
Ovid Metamorphoses Book 8
Also read:
http://www.theoi.com/Titan/Pasiphae.html
Focus on Pasiphae and the Bull
Study Sheet /
Powerpoint |
Writing Assignment
due Nov. 23
Use a modern image of the Arachne myth or a modern
image of the Pyramis and Thisbe myth to illustrate how a modern
person understands and interprets the myth. |
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6 |
Nov. 23
Ovid Metamorphoses Book 8
Focus on the Minotaur
Powerpoint |
Nov.
25
No class
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Nov. 27
No class
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No
Writing Assignment
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7 |
Nov. 30
Minotaur
Be sure to read for today these two articles on
the Minotaur (also linked in the Powerpoint):
Picasso and the Minotaur
Martin Ries.
Art
Journal, winter, 1972/1973, XXXII/2
POWER AND TENDERNESS IN MEN AND IN PICASSO’S MINOTAUROMACHY
By Chaim Koppelman
Reprinted from the Journal
of the Print World
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Dec. 2
Ovid Metamorphoses Book 8
Minotaur and the Labyrinth
Theseus and Ariadne
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Dec. 4
Ovid Metamorphoses Book 8
Daedalus and Icarus |
Writing Assignment due
Dec. 7
Discuss the transformation of the Minotaur from his
appearance in Ovid’s
Metamorphoses to his emergence in the art and literature of 20th-century
artists. Be sure to use the
articles by Ries and Koppelman to inform your discussion.
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8 |
Dec. 7
Bernstock,
Judith E. “Classical Mythology in
Twentieth-Century Art:
An Overview of a Humanistic Approach.”
Artibus et Historiae
14 (1993): 153-183
Bernstock.Part1
Bernstock.Part2
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Dec. 9
Bernstock Cont.
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9
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Monday Dec. 14
Final Meeting 6:30-8:30 P.M.
Here is
the topic for your take-home final exam:
Discuss the ways that
myths in Ovid’s Metamorphoses are transformed in the modern world. Be sure to use a
variety of myths and artistic media as points of reference. Your
essay should make direct reference to Ovid’s poem and to specific
features of modern adaptations of the myth. You should discuss how
these modern adaptations are similar to and different from Ovid’s
version. In your conclusion you should reflect on reasons why these
myths continue to be attractive to modern artists.
This essay is due at the final meeting, but if you hand it in by
noon on Sunday, December 13, you will know your course grade at the
end of this meeting.
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Class Presentation at Final Meeting:
At the
final meeting you will each give a ten-minute summary of the
conclusions you made in your final essay. For this presentation you
should choose one modern adapation for each of three myths from Ovid
to use as points of reference for your discussion. Be sure to send
Prof. Sienkewicz any images in advance so they can be shared with
the class. |
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Ovid Metamorphoses Book 9
Focus on Hercules
Ovid Metamorphoses Book 10
Focus on Pygmalion and on Venus and Adonis |
Ovid Metamorphoses Book 11
Focus on Midas and Orpheus
Ovid Metamorphoses Book 12
Focus on Centaurs |
Ovid Metamorphoses Book 13
Focus on Ulysseus
Ovid Metamorphoses Book 14
Focus on Polyphemus |
