Week Two: Famous Last Words

I think I honestly had more fun doing my storybook assignment (which just included brief ideas) than the main storytelling/reading assignment. I think when I first chose Bible Women I didn't realize the length of all of the stories and how much the language might throw me off from the plot line. The beginning paragraphs that outlined the story were very helpful, but in the end, reading 20 stories written in old English was difficult and made enjoying the stories harder. I still got the gist of what happened and liked reading about how women were portrayed in the Bible, but might have enjoyed another folktale more.

Doing the storybook assignment was fun because I got to see a lot of topics that I was interested in. I read plenty of stories while looking for ideas and was surprised that I liked so many. Especially the mermaid tales, they were really interesting. Through that assignment I got to read other Beauty and The Beast stories, a story about Hades and the creation of winter, mermaid myths and more of the many Aesop's fables.

(Hades and Perseph)

I enjoyed reading all of these stories and I know there are many more on each of these topics. I was especially drawn to the story of Hades and Persephone, because I like how the story ended with something that still exists today: winter. I know many Indian folktales end like that, and I always enjoyed reading about these alternative reasonings. I think stories about astrology and the stars are always fascinating because they have similar ideas and concepts. I think the storybook assignment will turn out to be really interesting and fun to write.

I have also gotten to read some past storybooks and have enjoyed seeing others' work. Everyone I've seen has been so creative and interesting. I really liked seeing how people used old myth and folktales to apply to modern context. I've seen Aesop's fables applied to Mean Girls, inside Tinkerbell's mind in Peter Pan and mermaid tales. All of them have impressed me, so I think making my own will be pretty cool.

Week One: Famous Last Words

This week I did something in this class that I have never done before. I have never rewrote a story or folktale in my own words and honestly, I had trouble starting it. Even though I write a lot for my major and on assignments, I haven't done a whole lot of creative writing. Maybe some in high school, but it's been a long time. I started the assignment multiple times and switched stories a few times before being satisfied. I think this also comes from my inner perfectionist with my work. However, I realized that it wasn't that difficult to write once I started. I learned that staring at a blank page can be the hardest thing, and just getting words on the paper helps to keep the story flowing. In the end I was happy with my story and glad to finally have figured out a way to start writing.     

          (mouse)


        (elephant eating)

As I completed some of the assignments for this week I read quite a few Storybooks written by other students. I noticed the ones I liked the best related pop culture or modern aspects to older folktales or stories. I enjoyed seeing the connections authors drew between two seemingly different subjects. I know at the end of the course I will have to write something similar, so I hope to find my own connections between some story I enjoy today and a historical one featured in the class. I think it makes assignments more enjoyable and entertaining to read.

As far as my other classes, they have just started. I'm not sure any of them relate to Mythology and Folklore, at least not directly. I am in Business Finance, Public Relations Publications and Mass Communications Law. I'm excited about my classes this semester, maybe less about Finance, and think they can really help me further my knowledge and understanding of public relations. Other than that I moved in to my apartment (with four other housemates) and am still in the process of unpacking. I think this semester is off to a great start!