Rhetorician Kenneth Burke's theory of identification usefully demonstrates how (and where) communities are able to engage with difficult, opposing viewpoints as they develop or maintain a sense of shared identity. Identification, "establishing a shared sense of values, attitudes, and interests with [an audience]," is promoted…

Raises the question of the use of mythology as historical material. In an oral tradition, such as was Hawaii's, folklore materials may be the only available access point into a culture. (Editor)

Shows how "The A-Team" is a purveyor of myth through its re-working of hero and plot motifs and its reaffirming of a positive American self-concept. (EL)

A study of the mythological elements attendant upon professional baseball reveals the complex social and cultural beliefs contributing to the current American world view. (LH)

Examines the obsession with gruesome, nightmarish situations in Victorian children's literature. (SRT)

Child and family policy often has been based on myths of childhood and family life instead of on empirical evidence. As a result policy tends to reflect irrational bases and conflicting goals. Psychologists can act as advocates by clarifying these myths for policymakers in family law. (Author/VM)

The life of a primary mythical character of the Hupa culture unfolds in this story, which was translated from a version told by an 82-year-old Hupa. The introduction summarizes the story plot explaining that the hero of the story is born under strange circumstances (dug up by a girl who ignores the warning not to dig potatoes with two leaves) and…

While folklore, fairytales, and fantasy vary in definition, they possess the common elements of supernatural beings, strange locales, and imaginative content. Folk tales, originally intended for all ages, were meant to convey lessons about moral behavior and group values; good was rewarded and evil punished. In contemporary literature, high…

This paper describes the use of MTV (Music Television Network) videos as "condensed mythologies" in a college English composition class. A videotape consisting of several "classic" videos was shown to the class over a period of three days, and each video was discussed. Handouts of song lyrics were provided for student reference…

Maintains that a difficulty in teaching humanities survey courses is coordinating data from the various disciplines of cultural history. Recommends the use of creation stories as "windows" on the cultures of the Egyptians, Mesopotamians, and the Hebrews. Provides an overview of each culture's creation stories and a bibliography of…

During her lifetime Mary Ground, whose Indian name is Grass Woman, has experienced extreme changes in the life of Blackfeet Indians. Born in 1883, she remembers the travois and teepee days as well as the change to reservation life when the reservation was a fenced compound patrolled by the U.S. military. She has seen the decline in the use of…

The history and culture of the Blackfeet people are reflected in the 10 tales that comprise this volume. Because George Comes At Night already has had considerable experience as a writer, little editing was needed for the book and the stories are almost entirely in the words of the 61-year old author. He states that he has written the stories as…