Uses and abuses of mythology

[seluecus]

I’ve been thinking and talking recently with ploratrix about the use (and misuse) of mythology in geek culture and popular media, so I thought I’d post something about it and ask for feedback from the community

Comments

[phoenix_anca]

I don't have anything good to add, but Frank is staring at me. D:

[seluecus]

Sorry. Just fixed the links, if that's what you're referring to.

[phoenix_anca]

It was, and I just checked them out. That's a good WW story! And those are really beautiful pictures.

First thing coming to mind now is Saint Seiya. Weird weird take on things in that series.

[bakersgames]

The worst recently misused mythos would be the Hindu myths in Sanctuary, end of season II. I am not very familiar with most Hindu myths, but even what I know of Kali, Ganesha and the rest it was horribly done (not even counting the horrible Bollywood singing they did).

Best use of Mythos: Honestly I can't name one at the moment. I know they are there, but I will have to post back about that.

[seluecus]

Ouch! I saw only a little of Sanctuary and wasn't impressed, so I haven't followed it, but that sounds a little sad.

[korinna]

Not really geeky, but I generally love playwrights' use of Greek mythology, from Eugene O'Neill's Mourning Becomes Electra to Sarah Kane's Phaedra's Love.

more spoilers here for SPN and Jacqueline Carey Universe

[mythrai]

Yeah. YEAH. Between that episode, the one about the Whore of Babylon (uggh not a literal whore, fuck you kripke, arseways) and the episode where the Trickster is revealed to be an angel as well, I am just kinda done with Supernatural.

Apparently this season aims to get back to the urban legend hunting stuff, but it seems like they've crossed a weird ass line and trying to get back to that now would be really hard. Not to mention since Castiel is such a fan favourite, and the creators are all about pandering to fans, and I just can't see how it's gonna work.

Another treatment in media recently that kind of pissed me off was in Naamah's Curse; the main character Moirin travels through Russia and Northern India, and it's implied that she's meant to kill a sorcerer and sorceress and rescue a Bodhisattva who was captured by them, but it's like.. a non-existant thing, and I think the Bodhisattva gets all of one "thank you" in. It just seemed really unnecessary to the plot, like it was just to add some ~Indian flavour~ in.

Re: more spoilers here for SPN and Jacqueline Carey Universe

[bakersgames]

We love Supernatural (wife and I) and even barring the mythos issues (I just tell myself Americans are stupid and can't handle the richness of the real myths) I am not sure how they are getting back to the monster of the week hunting without jumping the shark.

Its a shame, I loved the monster of the week format before they went on an "end of the world" arc. Why does everything have to be bigger, badder and "more" every season.

Re: more spoilers here for SPN and Jacqueline Carey Universe

[orange_gamer]

Ugh! That's so sad to hear! I'm currently on season 1... bit of a SN newb, but I really like the "monster of the week" format.

Bah!

Re: more spoilers here for SPN and Jacqueline Carey Universe

[seluecus]

Hah! Earlier today, ploratrix was telling me about the Whore of Babylon thing they did and my first response was, "Umm - the Whore of Babylon's metaphorical, not literal." Isn't it wonderful when people do absolutely no research on what they're using? Though, in this case, I'm guessing it's just as much about getting an excuse to do more of the gratuitous T&A which "Supernatural" has always done. I didn't know that they turned the Trickster into an angel too, but I should have known :p

[etoilepb]

I spend a lot of time going, "whut?" when playing the God of War games. Admittedly, they're consistently more or less Greek. And in the originals, the gods really are kind of just that dickish.

Where I see things that make me *facepalm* are more in the realm of legend than of myth... If I see one more dan-brown-level Templar-driven game out there I may just start throwing jewel cases out of windows.