The Myth Process

    Learning about mythology has definitely been a process. When the subject of mythology is referred to, I initially think about Greek mythology. I suppose that this is due to the focus on Greek and Roman myths in junior high and high school. Although I was aware of world mythology, I was not really familiar with any other myths. Therefore, our group projects and presentations really widened my perspective and understanding of other types and forms of mythology. 

     My familiarity with Greek and Roman mythology definitely influenced the writing of my own myth, however. It felt most natural for me to somewhat imitate that type of style in my writing. It was hard to feel comfortable and branch out of that familiarity since world mythology outside of the Greek and Roman culture was so new to me. Having realized this, I believe that world mythology should be introduced much earlier throughout the secondary education system. 

     The exercise of actually writing a myth was, however, helpful in my understanding of the fundamental aspects of mythology. I think that the set up of our mythology section would be beneficial to students, for the most part, as well. If I were teaching mythology, I think that formal instruction would be necessary about the general types of myths (ie: creation, male and female divine, etc...) and then the projects on the various topics would reinforce ideas rather than teach them. Once the students had learned about the myths and had worked together to present a type of myth to the class, I think that writing their own myth would act as a wonderful culmination to the section. 

Writing vs. Writing About Poetry

     There is a huge difference between writing poetry and writing about poetry. First of all, the creative process involved in writing poetry is much more rewarding. Oftentimes, introspection and self-evaluation are necessary in writing creatively. Writing GOOD poetry takes inspiration, talent and motivation. 

     Although writing poetry is much more rewarding, it can be harder than simply analyzing someone else's work. Because poetry requires such inspiration, more time and energy are needed to complete a good piece of literary art. If the creative juices are not flowing, writer's block can be frustrating and discouraging. The freedom that goes along with poetry is also rewarding. Any idea can be turned into poetry. The beauty and thought that poetry provokes can be as rewarding as the writing of the poem itself. As a whole, the process of writing poetry can be difficult, but the final result is usually worth the struggle. 

     Writing about poetry is much more simple in many ways. For the most part, analysis is more structured, with specific points of consideration. Much of the time, analysis is based on the formal structure of the poem, rather than interpretation of a poem. Writing about poetry can be easier from a formalist perspective. Inspiration in analysis is not really necessary as this aspect of poetry is ingrained into the minds of English majors. Analysis can be learned, whereas inspiration and creativity are more innate. 

     Even as I write this, I find that it was easier than writing the creative poetry, but it is not nearly as enjoyable. In my opinion, the difference lies in the process. The process of writing poetry, although more difficult, is more rewarding. In contrast, the process of writing about poetry is easier, but is not filled with inspiration and creativity. 

Blog #1: Media in the classroom

Hi everyone! So apart from being a senior here at CSUN, I am also an L.A. City lifeguard and a synchronized swimming coach for a U.S. level club team. In my “free” time I also teach private swimming lessons at private homes. Needless to say, I spend a large majority of my time in pools teaching kids ranging from 3 to 17 years of age. I am challenged every day to engage the kids in the lesson and to keep their attention for 30 to 60 minutes at a time.

 

 I know that this challenge is the same in the classroom setting. I’m sure many of you would agree that kids these days are overwhelmed with technology and media on a daily basis. So in order to maintain a teenager’s attention, different mediums are needed to engage students. This can be both a problem and an opportunity. Teachers should not feel oppressed by conventional teaching norms and should utilize media such as websites, movies, video clips, music, powerpoints etc. in their lesson plans. But the “tried-and-true” methods should not be replaced by new technology. Television should not replace the reading of a good book. Therefore, it is up to teachers to instill a love of literature in their students in such a way that television cannot substitute the joy that reading brings!

 

Perhaps I am an English major idealist, but reading a good book can be so much more rewarding than having a television show constantly spoon-fed into my brain! I think the best way to integrate different media outlets into a classroom would be to find a balance between conventional and new materials. The way that teenagers process information is changing. Therefore, teachers need to adapt their methods to meet the needs of the students while continuing to impart a love for traditional literature.