Abstract
Several definitions of “myth” are offered, and the ideas of Mircea Eliade on the role of camouflaged myths in contemporary societies are discussed. The role of myths in popular culture is explored. The way discourse analysis can be used to analyze myths and the important role of language in myths is considered.
Application A model in which the way myth informs contemporary culture and society is offered. This model is based on speculations by the author in the 1970s and is found in a book by the author, Media, Myth and Society published in 2013. Myth of Oedipus is run through the myth model as an example of how a myth informs cultures. A learning game in which readers are asked to trace a myth through the parts of the model is provided.
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References
Danesi, Marcel. 2002. Understanding Media Semiotics. London: Arnold.
Eliade, Mircea. 1961. The Sacred and The Profane: The Nature of Religion. New York: Harper & Row.
Patai, Raphael. 1972. Myth and Modern Man. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall.
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Berger, A.A. (2016). Myths: The Myth Model. In: Applied Discourse Analysis. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47181-5_10
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47181-5_10
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Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
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