The Mythic Life: The Oral Tradition of Myth, Folklore, and Fairy Tale

Why in the twenty-first century do many of our most acclaimed and popular stories  carry narrative forms that are thousands of years old? Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, Titanic,  Batman—all are deeply informed by ancient myth, folklore, and oral traditions. One reason is  that the deep stories of myth and folklore act as a bridge between our personal lives and the  profoundest aspects of the human condition—they offer a way to understand our lives and how  to live them. 

This course offers an in-depth study and experience of myth and folklore, the roots of modern  story and the roots of our own stories. You will hear these myths live, as people have for  thousands of years—from Trickster folk tales to the Greek epic of the Odyssey. You will also  draw from these epics to create and tell a mythic story of your own. This will give you an  appreciation for myth as a living principle, not just something from a long time ago. It will also  help you become a good storyteller by developing your memory, improvisation, and image based thinking. This ability to tell a story well is at the root of authentic leadership and helps us  bring a powerful, embodied perspective to championing a cause or just debating over coffee. 

No prior familiarity with myth, folklore, or oral traditions is necessary—just a healthy appetite for deep stories.

Instructor: Martin Shaw.