Without any doubt, when people read a myth for the first time, its characters and plot may already be familiar. For example, it is difficult to find an individual who has never heard about Hercules famous for his strength and courage or Icarus, who dies while escaping imprisonment. Although myths are often regarded as funny, made-up stories, they play a crucial role in humans’ perception of the world. However, many people severely underestimate their presence and importance in modern times. To be honest, while identifying, researching, and developing the project, I discovered much information and realized the great significance of myths nowadays.
First, it was challenging to identify a unique and specific way in which I see a myth influencing contemporary culture. I learned about the connections between Greek myths and brand names several months ago. I had never recognized before that Nike and Amazon were named after myths’ characters. It proved that mythology shapes humans’ lives in numerous ways, and most of them do not even notice it. Therefore, the research area was vast and exciting.
Second, while conducting research, I learned useful information, which largely contributed to my understanding of myths and contemporary culture. Johnston refers to mythology as the kind of fiction that, if consumed under particular conditions, can alter people’s beliefs (23). This statement undoubtedly proves that myths can be observed externally in brand names, logos, pop culture, and art and internally in the ways people perceive the world. The process of research took much time, as the topic was extremely engaging and broad.
Third, after conducting in-depth research, developing the presentation was not challenging. I clearly understood that “mythology is one of the most crucial sociocultural phenomena the study and analysis of which offer a clue to a comprehension of many events of the spiritual life of society at different levels of its development” (Ponizovkina 648). While working on the presentation, I filled the gaps in my knowledge and analyzed the newly acquired information. In general, identifying, researching, and developing the project was an engaging process resulting in my presentation.
What is more, I learned about myths’ presence and importance in modern times, which I had considerably underestimated like many other people. Numerous individuals never recognize that some brand names, logos, plots of films have a connection to mythology. Besides, it also explains humans’ experience and dictates different moral principles. The understanding of myths and their link to the modern world is crucial, as it helps to broaden horizons and see many events from a different perspective. Ponizovkina noted that myths, which trace its roots to ancient times, demonstrate their phenomenal survivability and revivability (649). Certainly, they significantly influence contemporary culture in different ways, even though individuals do not recognize it.
In conclusion, identifying, researching, and developing the project was an exciting and productive process. Each step contributed to my understanding of the presence and significance of myths in the modern world. Honestly, I had not realized the power of mythology in the 21st century before the project, though I was gravely mistaken. Indeed, myths shape the world around as well as our perception of it. Myths are everywhere, ranging from logos and brand names to moral principles. It is essential to realize it to look at the present from a different angle and broaden one’s mind.
Works Cited
Johnston, Sarah Iles. The Story of Myth. Harvard University Press, 2018.
Ponizovkina, Irina. “Social Myth in Modern Society.” Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, vol. 40, 2017, pp. 648-653.