Work: English 4.09 MUSEUM

Ideas of Greek Mythology in Popular Culture

4.04 Allude to the Past

The hero's journey is told in the Star Wars (1979) as it was in the Iliad and the Odyssey.

The film the "Matrix" (1999) by the Wachowski brothers re-tells a philosophy of the "Analogy of the Cave" from Plato's book the Republic.

The movie Psycho is loosely based on the myth of Persephone and myth of Cupid.

The Greek mythology of the Titans in a modern film.

4.05 Scope out the Stars

1) Daedalus and Icarus

Source: Encyclopedia Mythica

• Daedalus is said to be inventor of images.

• He creates a wooden cow for the queen of king Minos.

• The queen gives birth to the Minotaur.

• Minotaur is confined to the Labyrinth built by Daedalus.

• Theseus come to kill the Minotaur and falls in love with the kings daughter.

• Daedalus helps Theseus escape and then Daedalus and Icarus, his son, are banished king Minos.

• Daedalus tries to escape banishment by creating wax wings to fly off the island of Crete.

• Icarus' wings melt because he flies to close to the sun and falls to his death.

• Eventually king Minos seeks out Daedalus to seek revenge but Minos is killed in a bathtub.

BBC News Viewers Weather Pictures Competition, "Icarus" by Mike Kirkup. 2006.

In the film "Pan's Labyrinth" the myth of the Minotaur is combined with the myth of Persephone in this scene.

2) Echo and Narcissus

Source: Ovid's Metamorphoses

• Is a mythology of science

• Echo was cursed Hera to repeat herself.

• Echo falls in love with Narcissus.

• Narcissus loves only his reflection.

• Echo fades away and is scattered around the Earth.

Stunning 3D Street Art by Kurt Wenner, "Echo and Narcissus" 2007

4) Stars
Source: Multi-Media Tour

The mythology and constellation of Pegasus is used as a logo for Tri Star Films.

4.o6 Choose Your Muse

1) Nine Muses
Source: Mythograph

• Muses are inspiration influencing:
• Theory and Practice in learning
• Music
• Languages
• Human senses

2) Lord Byron "Farewell to the Muse"
Source: Mykeep

• Apathy destroys inspiration

"The Muses Parade" at Mardi Gras, New Orleans 2009

3) Pygmalion

Source: Encyclopedia Mythica

• Aphrodite brought what he loved to life.

The mythology of Pygmalion can be seen in a different way in the story of Pinocchio. 1940.

Woody Allen's Mighty Aphrodite (1995) is a look at the mythology of Aphrodite.

4) The Police "Wrapped Around Your Finger"

Source: Dave McNally

Pink Floyd and their song entitled "Sisyphus" is an abstract telling of this myth

4.07 Preserve a Physique

1 - 2) Evolution and History of the Olympic Games

Source: About.com

The Olympic games where first held in Athens in 776 BC and said to be created by Heracles a Roman god who was the son of Zues. Games where banned in 393 by the Roman Emperor, Theodosius, as they were thought to be pagan. The Games are reborn 1500 years later 1896.

Shawn Kangas

3) Modern Olympic Games

Source: About.com

Flag of the modern Olympic Games created in 1914. Each of the rings represent a continent and the friendship between all countries of the world.

4) Artemis

Source: Messagenet

Diana was the Roman name of Artemis, the goddess of hunting. The above image is a photo of the statue "Diana" by Saint Gaudens. 1892 - 1893

4.08 Bolster Business

1) King Midas

Source: Greeka

Modern computer art "The Midas Touch" by Peter Sharpe. 2001.
The Midas myth relates to society today because people are greedy. In the myth King Midas was obsessed with gold the same way people are with money today. A lot of people today think that money is more important than anything else. King Midas found out that what he thought was a gift was really a curse. I think the moral of the story is you should think before you act.

Shawn Kangas

FTD Florist using the mythology of Mercury for their logo.