Crash Corse

Extra Credit Week 13 Crash Course Myth: Monsters, Horses, Dragons

Monsters. They’re Us, Man

Mythical Horses

Serpents and Dragons

The first video discusses mythical creatures, namely monsters. When considering what makes a monster one must think about the definition of monster. A monster is a being that is outside the bounds of acceptable appearance and behavior. Furthermore, a monster must transgress some kind of social boundary. Monsters often eat people for example, but sometimes it is the people’s fears that make something monstrous. Joseph Campbell has a theory describing the repetitive cycle of hero versus monster: monster comes to a formerly peaceful place, a hero agrees to kill the monster, the hero kills the monster only to have another monster or kin of the original monster come back to the place and repeat the cycle.  The video also spoke at length about the monster, Wendigo and played a tale involving the monster. It is important to consider that monsters, like Wendigo, do not reproduced, but are in fact a product of humans going “wrong.” All humans have the potential to become monstrous and due to that fact monsters and the fear of becoming make them perfect characters in myth.

The second video discusses mythical horses. Horses are domestic animals that have served many purposes to humans for a long time. There exists a ton of mythical horses in tales. Some horses in mythology have human features. Centaurs are mythical horses that are more animal than human. Pegasus is a winged white horse and a central character in some tales. For example, The taming of Pegasus. Unicorns are another type of horse. The unicorn changed throughout mythology, from its original odd design to its representation in art and allegory as a majestic horse. Horses and their mythical relatives are depicted in mythology as representing humans  worst impulses to companions to people. Their importance in our lives makes them a perfect character in stories.

The topic of the third video was serpents and dragons. The most popular beasts in mythology is dragons. However, a dragon conversation must begin with snakes. Snakes were seen first in stories, but they began to morph into dragons. A creation story from Asia sheds light into the beginning of dragons and of humans. Throughout the world, there are many variations in describing dragons. Dragons can range from symbols of royal power with kings hoping to harness the power of dragons to kind beings. Differences in the portrayal of dragons can be reflected in how the East and west dragons. The west depicts dragons as being more violent, it is considered a rite of passage to kill one. However, in the east, a dragon is still powerful but benign and is benevolent in that it brings rain and is a symbol of goodness.

Dragon
Dragon

ImAGE of a dragon or snake

Growth Mindset

Growth Mindset: Sal Kahn Elicits Curiosity

Growth Mindset & Feedback

Extra Credit

Sal Khan interviews Carol Dweck Mindset Kit | Sal Khan interview with Carol Dweck

Khan Academy
logo

I have grown up using Khan Academy as a reference, supplement, and complement to my existing classwork, especially during high school. Sal Khan’s now legendary voice has echoed in my head through hours of Chemistry homework. Without a doubt, his simplicity in explaining difficult topics and ability to work through grueling problems saved me on homework and tests more times than I can count.

I did not realize that he purposefully utilized growth mindset statements within his mathematics videos. Although I have watched the beginning video with Carol Dweck and I did read the three articles criticising growth mindset, and its subsequent grouping with grit, I am curious to see how it would be fully implemented into an educational setting. I am in complete agreement with the shift in focus on praise and love the “not yet” approach to failure and can see its application in mathematics, I want to learn more about its implementation in terms of curriculum and age related outcomes. I recently sat in on a few middle school classes as a class assignment. I was amazed how disconnected, unengaged, and disrespectful the students were toward, not only the teacher, but learning itself and wonder if somehow the positive affirmations given to students regarding their academic abilities is flawed. Very thought provoking content...I am beyond curious.

Wikipedia Trails

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Mayan Pot
Ceremonial pot

Wikipedia Trails Week 11 From Xibalba to Mayan ceramics

Xibalba

Xibalba - Wikipedia

Roughly translated as “place of fear,” it is the name given to the underworld in K’iche’ Maya mythology. The underworld was ruled by the Maya death gods and their helpers. Traditionally the entrance was thought to be in the vicinity of Coban, Guatemala. However, cave systems in nearby Belize have also been referred to as the entrance to Xibalba. The Milky Way is viewed as the road to Xibalba in some Maya areas. Described in the Popol Vuh as a court below the surface of the Earth. It has twelve gods or powerful rulers known as the Lords of Xibalba. The structure of Xibalba was of a large place with five or six houses that served as the first test of Xibalba and the Xibalban ballcourt. It is believed to have been a great city.

Maya Hero Twins - Wikipedia

The main characters in the K’iche’ document called Popol Vuh. The twins are called Hunahpu and Xbalanque, complementary forces - life and death, sky and earth, day and night, sun and moon. The myth in the Popol Vuh says that the twins were ballplayers and from the seed of their dead father, who was sacrificed in the Underworld. To avenge their father, they defeated the lords of the Underworld in a ballgame. They eventually were transformed into the sun and moon, signaling the beginning of a new age

Popol Vuh

Popol Vuh - Wikipedia

The Popol Vuh is a creation narrative telling the history and mythology of the K’iche’ people prior to the arrival of the Spanish people in the region of Guatemala. Its stories were preserved through oral tradition until it was recorded in 1550. It is believed to be the 18th century Dominican friar Francisco Ximenez made a copy of the original text in Spanish. The title is translated as “Book of the Community” or “Book of the People.” The book includes the Mayan creation myth, including the Hero Twins Hunahpu and Xbalanque.

Mayan ceramics

Maya ceramics - Wikipedia

Produced in the Pre-Columbian Maya culture of Mesoamerica. They have varying shapes and purposes. Used in daily life were bowls, plates, cylinders. The decoration upon the vessels ranged from monochrome to polychrome slip paint depicting scenes, supernatural figures, storytelling, and simply reflecting the contents of the vessel. They were often given as gifts, which explains how they are found in various regions and also used in religious ceremonies.

Growth Mindset

Growth Mindset: Sal Kahn Elicits Curiosity

Growth Mindset & Feedback

Sal Khan
TED talks

Sal Khan interviews Carol Dweck Mindset Kit | Sal Khan interview with Carol Dweck

I have grown up using Khan Academy as a reference, supplement, and complement to my existing classwork, especially during high school. Sal Khan’s now legendary voice has echoed in my head through hours of Chemistry homework. Without a doubt, his simplicity in explaining difficult topics and ability to work through grueling problems saved me on homework and tests more times than I can count.

I did not realize that he purposefully utilized growth mindset statements within his mathematics videos. Although I have watched the beginning video with Carol Dweck and I did read the three articles criticising growth mindset, and its subsequent grouping with grit, I am curious to see how it would be fully implemented into an educational setting. I am in complete agreement with the shift in focus on praise and love the “not yet” approach to failure and can see its application in mathematics, I want to learn more about its implementation in terms of curriculum and age related outcomes. I recently sat in on a few middle school classes as a class assignment. I was amazed how disconnected, unengaged, and disrespectful the students were toward, not only the teacher, but learning itself and wonder if somehow the positive affirmations given to students regarding their academic abilities is flawed. Very thought provoking content...I am beyond curious.

Learning Challenge: The Time You Have

Learning by H.E.A.R.T, week 9

The Time You Have (In Jelly Beans)The Time You Have (In Jelly Beans)

Jelly
Beans

Perspective. This video provides an interesting look at life and time through the paradox of a jelly bean. One bean equates to one day. Being that I just made dinner and feed my dogs, showered and did some homework, I feel satisfied, but I certainly took up some of my precious time. However, I also walked outside on this beautiful summer day, I noticed the green grass sprouting, the buds forming on the trees, and the awakening of spring...more time. I guess the beautiful thing about time is that it is ours - or is it? So many things we do out of necessity, so in realizing the small amount of time that is optional is scary, humbling, wonderful. Not one word emcompasses my reaction to the video. In fact, my reaction is quite mixed.  I think about the things that make me feel alive, satisfied, and make me smile. Those are the things that I am going to do with my jelly beans.

IMAGE of jelly beans

Reading notes: Crash Course Myth: Mythical Places

Cave
Cave

Crash Course Myth: Mythical Places

Video 1: Mythical Caves and Gardens

The video presented an interesting perspective on setting. Too often the focus is on characters and the symbolic value of setting is forgotten or completely overlooked. This video explored the meaningful settings of gardens and caves. In terms of the origin of humanity, three stories were discussed: The Garden of Eden, a Zuni myth, and Plato’s Cave. The latter two reflect caves as physically dark and denote ignorance and infancy. Emergence, in these examples, to the surface is equivalent to enlightenment or growth. However, in the Garden of Eden, the story begins with perfection and that perfection is degraded by human actions. From Eden, humanslive in the current world as punishment and seek to re enter paradise. Whereas, the other two stories, humanity is living in paradise.

Video 2: Mythical Mountains

Considered mysterious and dangerous, mountains are the perfect setting for myth. Especially considering that they reach toward the sky making them a perfect home to the gods. Mountains in myth are the homes of monster, gods, and treasure. Two stories are discussed in this video; one from China and one from Japan. In the first video, the mountain is a setting for treasure. The video is about Ko-li and the 10,000 Treasure Mountain. The honest and hard working Ko-li struggles to find food for his mother and himself. Upon seeing an old man with a gray beard, he gives him food and carries him back up the mountain to his home. The grateful man rewards Ko-li with earrings from his beautiful daughter. One gold, to enter the door of the mountain full of 10,000 treasure and one silver, to exit the mountain. Ko-li, not being greedy, takes a white stone grinder from the mountain. It produces corn and he shares it with his village. The king finds out and sends his official to take the magic grinder, but when the official touches it, it crumbles. Next, Ko-li takes a yellow stone mortar which produces white rice. The same thing occurs with the official. Last, Ko-li takes a hoe which makes giant corn stalks appear. This time, the official takes Ko-li. Ko-li tells the king about the gold earring and before he can finish, the king takes the gold earring to the mountain. He gets in, but without the silver earring cannot get out. Ko-li returns to the old man and apologizes for losing the gold earring; he is so impressed with Ko-li’s honesty, that he gives his daughter in marriage to Ko-li. In the second story the mountains take on a kami and fight each other to see which is taller. The story shows that elements of the natural world can represent gods, too.  

Video 3: Tree Myths

I hadn’t really given a lot of thought to tree in myths. This video presented several examples of how trees embody not only the whole of humanity, but since they live longer than humans are excellent examples of longevity and a retreat for humanity. Aside from the well known Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden, the Norse, Yggdrasil and the Indian, Aswatha are both tree myth stories. Trees in myth also often symbolize personal transformation. The story of Daphne and Apollo is told as well as a story from Viet Nam telling the story of Lung, Tun, and Tao and how their story is woven into what is now a traditional wedding tradition in that culture.

Video 4: Cities of Myth

Cities in mythology can be real, fictional, and metaphorical. Cities are tricky because they are not of the natural world - manmade. Examples of cities in myth: El Dorado, Troy, Jericho, Jerusalem, Sodom & Gomorrah, and Rome. The video discussed two stories on the founding on Rome including the story of Romulus and Remus and how Rome became populated with women. Many stories involving cities are origin stories and many gloss over terribly violent actions that led to their founding through myth.

Famous Last Words

Famous Last Words: Stomach bug & Riddles

Stomach Bug
stomach-bugs

This was a very hectic week. Sketchbook check in art therapy class for 63 sketches for the semester. Needless to say, I was a little beyond and played catch up, but did get them all complete. Goal: stay on top of sketches for the rest of the semester. I did complete the head project and wrote the artist notes for my studio project which is due after Spring break.  I am looking forward to the week off and intend on getting ahead in this class as well as beginning my book for my final presentation in Capstone class. It is hard to believe the semester is winding down.

This week in this class, I finished the Native American unit. I absolutely loved all the origin stories. They are my absolute FAVORITE! I also enjoy when animals are the main characters of the story. The focus on living in harmony with nature including flowers, animals, and weather was a common theme and very interesting to read.

I also started the Nursery Rhyme unit. I really anticipated rereading stories from my childhood, however I was shocked by how few of the nursery rhymes I felt any level of familiarity. I also was struck by how violent the content was. My favorite section, thus far, has been the riddles. Oftentimes on trips, my family will embark on riddle challenges, although I found some new material in this unit, many of the references were obviously very dated and referenced people and items that were unfamiliar. They were still fun to read and guess the answer.

Lastly, althoughtI have avoided the flu; I did subcomb to the 36 hour stomach bug beginning Tuesday night. Not fun! Luckly, I was able to drag myself to class, just didn’t have a lot of stamina and was greenish enough that two of my professors sent me home. After rest and fluids, I am much better and ready for Spring break.