Mythology and Folklore 2020

    For this StoryLab assignment, I watched three videos from the YouTube Channel Crash Course (the Mythology series) about the definition and theories of myth, and also t he concept of "the Hero's Journey", or the monomyth .  I've been a subscriber to the channel since my freshman year at OU, but had never explored the mythology series. These videos were a great introduction not just to the channel, but the entire field of mythology in general. There are so many definitions of myths, including those that correlate myths to lies or falsehoods. I think that's a usage that's pretty common in the West, especially in America. If someone references some news headline making some ridiculous or extravagant claim, they are sometimes met with the response, "That's just a myth." As in, "That isn't true." The purpose of the video series is not to determine whether certain myths are true; the host, Mike Rugnetta, leaves that up to the viewers...

Saint Cecilia of Rome Notes: I was drawn to this story for obvious reasons. My name is Cecilia, too, and my parents actually named me after a Simon & Garfunkel song that is apparently a reference to Saint Cecilia being the patron saint of musicians. It's about how creative whims come and go, and it's actually a really interesting allegory (click here if you want to read more about the song's origins, and here for a link to the song itself). So, that being said, I was drawn to this story for that reason, and also because I was a musician when I was younger, and I was later told by my boyfriend's family that because I shared her name and practiced music, Saint Cecilia must be watching over me. Not sure if I believe that or not, but it is nice to think about. Living in a majority-Catholic country for so long, I actually heard more references to the saint than I had ever heard growing up in the States. My landlord actually threw a small party for me on her feast da...

Saint Margaret of Antioch Notes: I just want to preface all of this by saying that I'm not particularly religious myself, but I respect all faiths and will try to show that here. That being said, I lived in Mexico, a majority-Catholic nation, for a year, and my boyfriend and his entire family are part of that faith, so I do have a closer connection to the Catholic religion on that level. I've always found the stories behind the different religions to be fascinating, and the saints of Catholicism especially, since I'm named after one (keep an eye out for Part B to see my notes on Saint Cecilia). Obviously, these stories are all centered around these individuals being prepared to endure incredible suffering and die for their faith. Being a martyr, according to Merriam-Webster , is "a person who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty of witnessing to and refusing to renounce a religion." The term martyr  is often linked to sainthood and canonization , though ...