Is Myth Dead?

[Sciborg_S_Patel]

Is Myth Dead?

To anyone who winces at the thought of a story being just fiction, the relegation of myth to the status of untruth should appear unfortunate. The modern definition, “a commonly accepted but untrue belief,” is not at all what we mean when we say “myth” within this project. However, the common definition tacitly defines a predominant myth of our times.

The value that myth provides is demonstrated in the fact that it has been with us since the birth of civilization. In fact, it is because of myth that we were able to birth civilizations. The myths, art, and religions of antiquity sprung into existence together, and were a way for us to relate to one another as populations grew beyond small wandering tribes. The earliest artistic artifacts are religious, or is it the other way around? It is hard to say. Myth and art, still nearly inseparable terms, provide a distorted mirror for us to regard ourselves in. We see ourselves in a new light, the best artists showing us existential truths through the distortion or even complete abandonment of empirical truths. Thus artists, and the myths they weave from their own lives, direct our eyes inward, both as individuals and as a culture, in a new way.

It is a self evident fact that myths speak to our humanity. They convey meaning...

 

[gabriel]

The rehabilitation of myth to its proper status used to be a hobby horse of mine, but it's a losing battle (rather like decimation, meaning to execute 1 in 10) and even the dictionaries seem to have given up on its proper meaning. It's one of a number of words, like scientific "fact", that have become Humpty Dumptified for political reasons. Or plain ignorance. Fact vs Myth depend on whose mouths they've been in.

 

[Brian_the_bard]

I value myth very much as a set of models of reality that have inspirational value to mind and spirit. Myths are not about physical or historical truth but about our psychological/spiritual relationship with everything else. Myths teach us what the physical sciences can't. Actually I think I am just repeating what has already been said in the OP but its a very interesting subject to explore and I'm glad I found this thread.