Modern Myth?

Question

My syllabus says:
Write a 700 word paper that identifies a contemporary myth prevalent in North American society. Describe how this particular contemporary myth has shaped your values, practices, and worldview. If the myth has not shaped you directly and personally, analyze how it has affected the society around you.
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So is my instructor asking to just talk about any modern myth that we hear today, like the tooth fairy or something?

Any ideas? Please help!

Thanks! I appreciate everyone's help!

Answer 1

"A myth is, of course, not a fairy story. It is the presentation of facts belonging to one category in the idioms appropriate to another. To explode a myth is accordingly not to deny the facts but to re-allocate them."

-Gilbert Ryle British Philosopher

try a search for "urban legends" or "modern myth"

Answer 2

I agree with HCwilkinson71. Bigfoot is a myth/legend, in the same way alien abductions is. The values shaped are usually some kind of prejudice that only people who are lower income, less educated are the ones who have some kind of experience with them. Society views people who make these claims as ignorant and make jokes about them. How about people who claim to be psychic or have a sixth sense. They can be educated, but are never taken seriously.

Answer 3

Another "Modern Myth" that has found an increasing audience is the "Moth Man" (It's not just a movie). Many people believe in it's existance and has shaped entire communities belief systems.

Answer 4

Maybe the instructor means a myth such as 'The American Dream', something pertinent to society.

Answer 5

Myths are created in every country that holds elections. You can even browse the Internet and find myths being created about candidates and their programs at this very minute.

Answer 6

well i dont believe in the easter bunny but i do kind of but he never comes to my house not even once but i do believe in the toothfairy because each time when i lose a tooth then i do the normal thing and then i set up a spy camera in my parent`s room then i go to sleep then when i wake up i check my camera than under my pillow and about Santa Claus my arms are hurting right now so sorry am im telling the truth.

Answer 7

Maybe you should document the modern myth of American "freedom" and how much the government wants to use TERRORISM to scare us into letting them listen to our phone conversations and dig through our trash as a matter of so-called "national security". Those who are willing to sacrifice thier freedom for -security- deserve neither and lose both.

Answer 8

What I would write about is bigfoot, a legend everyone has heard about, and it has affected the society by driving everyone who belives in it ballistic to prove it exists.

Answer 9

you could try toothfairy, santaclause, easter bunny , etc etc. i' personally would try with christianity itself because religions qualify as myth but it's not young enough.