Blog 27

11.20.2019
Serena Low Period 1
Blog 27

Creation Story Presentation Day 2

Aztec Creation Story presented by Team Trojan War

Background: 

The Aztecs were also known as the Mexicas. Indigenous inhabitants of the southern Mexico region, the Aztecs established a huge empire by the 15th century centered at their capital city, Tenochtitlan. Their calendar followed the solar schedule, with 365 days. 

Their religion focused on nature and balance. The Aztecs believed strongly in balance. An imbalance in society would lead to a natural disaster. There was a constant battle between light and darkness. In addition to their strong sense of balance, they also believed in human sacrifice; the sun, central to their religion, would need blood to rise daily and, therefore, human sacrifices occurred on the daily. 

Like other religions, the Aztecs believed that there were levels in the Underworld and heaven. While a soldier who died in battle would be stationed on the highest level of heaven, a person who drowned accidentally would stay on the lowest level in the Underworld.

The Beginnings:

It started with a dual god, the supreme creator, Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl, who was both male and female. Much like the Three Pure Ones in the Taoism/Daoism Creation Story, the supreme creator gave birth to four powerful gods: Tezcatlipoca (South), Quetzalcoatl (East), Tlaloc (West), and Chalchiuhtlicue (North). These gods, along with the Aztec empire itself, was considered the center of the universe. 

There were four worlds before the current one, each requiring a sacrifice of a god to create a sun and therefore a new world.

1. The Jaguar Sun (Tezcatlipoca)

• Tezcatlipoca was sacrificed, but only became a half sun
• Humans of this world were gigantic in size and ate acorns
• The world lasted 676 years and ended in a fight between Tezcatlipoca and his brother, Quetzalcoatl
• Quetzalcoatl knocked the sun Tezcatlipoca sacrificed himself for out of the sky and angered Tezcatlipoca
• Tezcatlipoca, enraged, sent jaguars to kill of the humans

2. The Wind Sun (Quetzalcoatl)

• Quetzalcoatl took over for his brother as the new sun for the second world
• Humans of this world were normal-sized and ate pine nuts
• Became corrupt
• Out of revenge and spite, Tezcatlipoca turned the humans into monkeys
• In return, Quetzalcoatl blew away the monkeys with a hurricane
• The survivors retreated to the treetops and became modern day monkeys
• The world lasted 676 years and ended in hurricanes and rainstorms

3. The Rain Sun (Tlaloc)

• Tlaloc, the rain/water god, became the new sun of the third world
• Humans ate seeds that grew out of the water
• Tezcatlipoca, like a jerk, stole Tlaloc's wife, Xochiquetzal, and in his grief, Tlaloc didn't let it rain even though he continued to shine as the sun
• Drought spread and the suffering ended when Quetzalcoatl rained fire onto the world and ended it after 374 years
• In another version, Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl fought again and fire and ash rained down from the sky
• Humans were turned into dogs, turkeys, and butterflies

4. The Water Sun (Chalchiuhtlicue)

• Chalchiuhtlicue became the fourth sun
• Humans ate maize
• Full of jealousy, Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca struck down the sun
• Opened up the sky and water flooded the world, ending it at 676 years old
• Humans turned into fish
• Between the time of the fourth and fifth suns, Quetzalcoatl descended into the Underworld to bring up the bones of the dead.
• During transport, he dropped them and the bones cracked
• Used to explain why humans come in different sizes
• The bones would be used to bring to life the humans in the final world

5. The Earthquake Sun (Tecuciztecatl and Nanahuatzin)

• The proud god, Tecuciztecatl, offered himself as sacrifice, but the other gods preferred the humble god, Nanahuatzin, instead, who was weak and diseased, ready to die
• Both ended up jumping in and two suns rose
• Two suns were too much for the world so a rabbit was thrown at Tecuciztecatl and he became the moon
• Ehecatl, the god of the moon, blew fiercely at the sun and put it into motion
• This is the current world that we're living in at the moment
• The Aztecs believed that the world would end in earthquakes

Relations to Math/Philosophy/...:

• Modern-day Big Bang Theory: the Aztecs cultivated their ideas off of the elements, which is what scientists suspect the universe started from
• Evolution: as the worlds progressed, so did the humans, going from eating acorns to everything and from being humongous to being normal-sized

Unlike modern theories, the Aztecs believed that they were the center of the universe, which has been proven to be wrong. The Earth is but a small speck in the universe.

The Artistic Portion:

The group created a visual representation of the five worlds with shapes and colors protruding from a starry sky.

Egyptian Creation Story presented by Team Hydra

The Beginnings:

There was essentially nothing else but the dark, chaotic, and infinite waters, known as Nun. Out of Nun came Atum, the first god. Atum, the god of creation, created himself from his thoughts and the power of will. In some stories, he merely "uttered" his name and sprung forth; in others, he appeared suddenly on top of a hill.

Atum was lonely all by himself and out came Shu, the god of air, and Tefnut, the goddess of moisture, from his shadow. They are known as the twin lion gods. Egyptians believed that without Shu, there wouldn't be life and without Tefnut, Egypt would dry and burn under the sun.

Shu and Tefnut produced children named Geb, the dry land, and Nut, the sky. Shu lifted Nut up to become the canopy under which Geb rested. Geb and Nut produced four offspring, much to the discern of their grandfather, Atum: Osiris, the god of order, Seth, the god of chaos, Nephthys, and Isis. During the day, Nut and Geb are separated, but each evening, Nut comes down to meet Geb, causing night darkness. Every night before dawn, Nut gives birth to the sun which dies by sunset.

Humans were created from the tears of the Eye of Re/Ra or wedjat (eye of wholeness). While Shu and Tefnut went on a journey, Atum missed his children a lot, so he sent his eye out to look for them. When Shu and Tefnut returned with his eye, Atum cried tears of joy and out came men and women.

The Gods in Depth:

Egyptian gods are usually in beast form, unlike the gods from Greek mythology. They have duality, light and dark sides.

Atum: 

• Name means to complete or finish
• Later on, Atum combines with Ra to be one entity, the ruling god
• The first and most important Ancient Egyptian god

Mut:

• "mother" of all pharaohs

Shu:

• Also the god of punishment in the land of the dead
• Killed off corrupted souls
• Known as one of the twin lion gods, but is not necessarily shown with a lion head like his counterpart
• Wore a Maat, a feather that formed the principles of life for all time and brought order from chaos

Tefnut:

• Almost always shown as a lioness
• Also the goddess of absence of moisture (aka dryness)
• Later on, Atum combines with Ra to be one entity, the ruling god

Osiris: 

• The incarnation of good and one of the poles of morality
• Administrated the world efficiently, co-ruling with his sister-wife Isis, and decided where the trees would best grow and the water flow most sweetly
• Kept all things in balance, acting in accordance to Maat
• God of the underworld

Seth:

• The incarnation of evil and chaos and the other pole of morality
• God of war, chaos, and storms

Anubis:

• God of funerals who helped prepare the soul for the Afterlife

Geb: 

• God of the Earth

Horus:

• God of the sky

Thoth:

• God of writing and knowledge

Hathor:

• Goddess of love and joy

Relations to Math/ Philosophy/...:

Similar to other creation stories, it all started with nothing, chaos, and infinite darkness.

• Life forms from water: like how scientists believe that life cannot survive and/or thrive without water, the Egyptians thought similarly, with the birth of Atum from water and humans from tears
• "Primordial Soup": first theorized by Alexander Oparin in 1924; stated that there are certain elements that need to be present in order to create lifeforms, elements present in water

Art Aspect:

The group created a comic panel demonstrating the chronological process of creation on a trifold board, with hieroglyphics and different gods and their names decorating the sides.

Reflection:

There are many creation stories, each differing and surprisingly similar to one another. Even though these ideas sprang from peoples in different parts of the world at different times, they all end up coming from one notion: that the world started from nothing. Team Trojan War didn't have much on their slides, but they made it up by explaining thoroughly, keeping the audience from gluing their eyes to the board and instead attentively listening. Team Hydra did a great job. Loved them. The best. They could work on group work, but overall did a decent job. The different artistic aspects of the projects were interesting. Every project was unique.

Blog #26

Blog #26

Gordon Liang | Period 1                               

November 19, 2019

Today we presented our projects for the Mythology Creation Project.

First to present is Team Ares.

They presented Taoism/Daoism using an illustrated piece and slides presentation.

TAOISM/DAOISM CREATION STORY

Yin and Yang

Background

- originated in China around 4th or 3rd century BCE

- attributed to Lao Tzu

- official religion under Tang Dynasty

- Daoism is a complete philosophy of life reaching into religion, social actions, health

Yin Yang Symbol

- Yin = dark and shadows

- Yang = light, passion, growth

Major Gods

Three Pure Ones

- Three Pure Ones are highest gods in Taoist religion

- Tao produced one, one produced two, two produced three, and three produced all things

Eight Immortals

Eight Immortals

- They have the ability to transform into different creatures and objects, 

- controls people, animals, and objects through control of qi

How the Universe Came

- Similar to the Greek creation story, everything started with chaos, but the Chinese

further compared it to an egg

- Pan Gu was the first man to come from chaos (an egg) with two horns, two tusks, and a hairy body.

Important Concepts

- simplicity, patience, and compassion

- talks about daily problems mankind faces

- "when nothing is done,  nothing is left undone"

--------------------------------

Next to present is Team Zeus

They presented Hinduism using a sculpture of a god and a slides presentation

HINDUISM CREATION STORY

Team Zeus’ Creation

Background

- oldest religion, 4000+ years old

- no consistent structure- Vedas, Brahmans, Puranas

- nothing is fixed

- dharma- code of living that emphasizes morality

- henotheistic- worship single deity but recognizes other gods and goddess

Creation

- believed in periodic cycles of creation

- Hindu Trinity- creation and destruction of the world

- Brahma: creator, Shiva: destroyer, Vishnu: sustainer

- Lotus Creation Story: lotus sprouted from Vishnu navel with Brahma seated in it

- Cosmic Egg Story: Brahman created seeds that transforms into golden egg which Brahma sprang

Deities

Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva

- Brahma

       - 4 heads recites four Vedas: rosary( meditation), Veda books (knowledge),

holy water (origins of the universe), lotus lower (nature and fertility of life)

- Vishnu

      - goal is to preserve and protect the universe

      - keep balance of good and evil

      - 4 arms holds conch (sound of creation), discus (mind), lotus (existence and freedom),

mace (physical and mental strength)

- Shiva 

      - goals was to destroy the world

      - 3 eyes third represents wisdom and insight

      - cobra necklace: power over over of the most dangerous creature

master of dance.  Tandav dance: cosmic dance of death

- Ganesha- remover of obstacles and new beginning

- Rama- often called before before death

- Hanuman- strength and energy

- Krishna- divine music

VS Modern Day

- Big bang- one cycle of any and before Brahma nothing and darkness, infinite cycle and prayala

- Multiverse theory- universe is one of many

- Twin paradox- Purana

---------------------------------

Reflection

The two groups presented excellently today and their projects were very creative and engaging. I learned a lot about two religions: Taoism and Hinduism. It was very interesting to learn about different people’s perspective on how the world came to be and similarities to today’s theories on the creation of the world. Team Ares did well on explaining the concepts and background of Taoism and Team Zeus did well on comparing Hinduism beliefs to modern day. It was really notable to have this project showcasing other religions and cultures.

How do the Greek Gods act like humanity? Post #25

Blog #25                                                                                         11/11/19
Junhong Li                                                                                         Period 1

Today we discussed how the gods in Greek mythology were similar to humans in class. 

We discussed some traits which these immortals share with us mortals. We talked about how the gods are jealous and they quarrel with each other. The gods are not all-powerful, they are subject to the fates as well as Cupid's arrow. The gods are very arrogant but they punish humans for their hubris. They have no empathy and are very selfish, they very often act on instinct and interfere with people's lives without consideration.

Some examples include: 
Hades and Demeter, who both love Persephone
The competition between Arachne and Athena (Minerva)
Hera, her marriage to Zeus, and her many punishments to Zeus's lovers
Zeus and his transformations and tricks to seduce women


Some other things which were mentioned:
Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.
The existence of the Olympic Sports and Hyacinthus's death due to Apollo.
Pandora, although not a god, and her curiosity which gave humanity suffering and hope.
Rhoecus, although not a god, hurts a bee due to ignorance and gets blinded for life.

We then moved on to present 2 stories of our choice to the class. We took whiteboards and drew these stories out, but ran out of time in the end.


We did not reach the last slide.

Some additional notes:
Ms. Peterson will be absent on Wednesday the 13th.
There will be a test on Thursday the 14th. It will be an accumulative test on all that we have learned so far.

Modern Mythology 2020

Angel Li
11/7/2019
Period 1

The Divide of Women

Think, Pair, Share: Compare the characterization of Danae and Andromeda against Medusa and her sisters. What is their plight?
         In Danae's case, her father was told the prophecy that his grandson (Danae's child) would kill him, so he decided to lock her up in a bronze bunker underground. Leaving the roof out so the bunker would be exposed to sunlight and air, it allowed Zeus to come down and rain gold. When the father learned that his daughter bore a child, he sent them away in a chest, hoping they would die as a result, In Andromeda's case, she was told she needed to be sacrificed to save the city. Both can be looked like a damsel in distress. Medusa is the only one from her two sisters that is mortal. The sisters are depicted as the bad guys even though they were cursed by the gods. Their plight is that they all are put in danger or negatively affected by someone of a higher status for something they didn't do or have control of.

We then learn that Medusa was cursed by Athena and that is why she looks the way she does. After this, we are shown a video that explains the origins of Medusa

In the video, it starts off by explaining how Medusa was not always considered a monster. She was born to sea gods and possessed great beauty, specifically her hair which was gorgeous. She wanted to dedicate her life as a priestess at a temple of Athena's, and in order to do this, she had to continue being a virgin, remaining pure. Thousands flocked to the temple just to get a glance at her and this made Athena extremely jealous. One day, she caught the attention of Poseidon, who she repeatedly turned down since she had to stay a virgin to be a priestess. Eventually, Poseidon became tired of this and took Medusa by force. As she ran back in the temple, she hoped to receive help from Athena but didn't. As a result of this, Athena cursed Medusa by turning her most beautiful quality (her hair) into snakes and anyone who looked at her turned to stone. She became the attraction for warriors hoping to get her head. Perseus was sent on a mission to get her head and was assisted by the gods. Receiving a helmet that makes you invisible from Hades, winged-sandals from Hermes, a sword that was able to cut through Medusa herself, and a shield chest plate from Athena. The video ends by saying how Medusa is mostly regarded as a cruel monster, although it was Athena who punished her beyond her own control. Even in death, her head can be used to keep evil away.

Whole Group Discussion: According to legend, Medusa only became the monster her figure embodied after falling into pits of despair. What can we understand about monsters in greek myth from the story of Medusa?

Monsters aren't born as naturally evil, but they get shaped through someone out of their own control. We were then asked if we can consider them as "monsters". The class came to a consensus that they aren't really monsters because it all starts with someone innocent living out their normal life but it was gods who intervened and created these monsters.

Danae: The curse
- The dichotomy of women either puts them into a monster status, such as Medusa or completely helpless such as Danae, Andromeda, Europa
        - What would be the purpose of passing this inference onto a younger generation?
                  The purpose would be to fit the mold; In the end, even if you are good, you have to fit the mold of the priestess

Perseus: The hero?
- Though much more likable than Jason, Perseus is able to succeed because of the extended help he receives from Hermes and Athena, yet he is regarded as a hero of this quest
- Even though he was entrapped by Polydectes, Perseus takes on this quest with blind arrogance and yet he is not punished for it
- What makes Perseus more deserving of help compared to his female counterparts
          - Prophecy has to be fulfilled because they always have to come true
         - Is an advantage that his father is Zeus
         - Also ties into the idea that male and females have their separate places; females are depicted as the jealous counterparts, so even with Hera turning others to animals. They may have insecurity issues but Athena still helps Perseus because she doesn't see a threat to her noble status
        - Considered to be demi-gods



Reflection:
Today, I learned that there is a good amount of dichotomy displayed for women. They are always seen as damsels in distress that get in the crossfire of a prophecy or create jealousy among the gods. Medusa, who was originally extremely beautiful was turned into a stone-killing monster and it highlights how helpless she became. I learned this because it helps to depict women's influence and how it evolved over time. In these greek stories, they are always shown as weak and manipulated either by a god or their male counterparts. They are the ones always getting the short end of the stick and suffering much more dearly than males would back then. However, as time passes, we can see their evolution and how the impact they have on society continues to increase up to the present day. I will use what I have learned to better understand a women's point of view from a different lens. 

Modern Mythology 2020 - Blog #23

Jia Yan Jiang
Modern Mythology Period 1
11/4/19

Aim: Why and how does Hercules' characterization make him one of the most memorable figures in Greek mythology?

Daimonic 
(adj.)
In the way of a daimon; befitting a demon; fiendish.
Motivated by a spiritual force or genius; inspired.

(n.)
(psychology) The unrest that exists in us all which forces us into the unknown, leading to self-destruction and/or self-discovery.
(psychology, spirituality, mythology, literature) The journey and transition from innocence to experience; part of the process of individuation.
(mythology, literature) The place where light and dark meet.

Anagnorisis - is a moment in a play or other work when a character makes a critical discovery. Anagnorisis originally meant recognition in its Greek context, not only of a person but also of what that person stood for. Anagnorisis was the hero's sudden awareness of a real situation, the realization of things as they stood, and finally, the hero's insight into a relationship with an often antagonistic character in Aristotelian tragedy.


11/6/19
Aim: How are death and mortality approached in the Oedipus Trilogy?
Do Now: THINK PAIR SHARE
Suicide is a controversial topic because across cultures and time periods, the perspective and purpose has evolved. Japanese Samurais would stab themselves through the chest when faced with defeat, Japanese Kamikazi pilots would fly to their deaths during wartime, Islamic suicide bombers would do the same.

Think about how suicide is used in Antigone and compare it across time periods and cultures.
What kind of clout does suicide have? Why does/doesn't it bear the same weight now and today?
In the past, suicide was a way to be able and faithful to your country. As shown by Japanese Samurais and Kamikazi pilots, their lives were sacrificed for the belief that they were doing the right thing. Now, suicide has a much more different impact on society.  It can be seen as a result of mental illnesses. It is much more controversial and can be seen to be a result of psychological issues.  It is no longer seen as an honor but now seems to be caused due to emotional reasons.

FATE VS. FREE-WILL

In the lessons we have learned from the Greeks, the more we try to avoid fate, the more we play into it.

The Fates. In Greek Mythology, the Moirai—often known in English as the Fates—were the white-robed incarnations of destiny. Their number became fixed at three: Clotho (spinner), Lachesis (allotter) and Atropos (unturnable). They controlled the metaphorical thread of life of every mortal from birth to death.
They were often depicted as weavers of a tapestry on a loom, with the tapestry dictating the destinies of men.
- No one could control fate
- Fate = all-powerful
- Nothing could change fate
- Greeks believed in pre-destiny

ANTIGONE - THE FIRST REBEL FEMINIST
Antigone's crime was defying the laws of her land to appease her morality. Is this a crime? How would it play in our justice system (translating the circumstance into a modern perspective, of course)?

Antigone's actions were against the law but she did it to appease her morality.  To her, she is justifying her brother’s death while to the king, it is unjustifiable to break the law.

How do you determine your perspectives on justices? Is there a formula for deciding what is justified? If so, what is embodied in that formula?
Emotions + beliefs + morals

Why is it still a problem?
How will you fix it as you go into the world?
It is still a problem due to the flaws in the human mind.  Some may find things to be justified while others may not.

TURN AND TALK
The Oedipus Complex explains the emotions and ideas that the mind keeps in the unconscious, via dynamic repression, that concentrates upon a child's desire to have sexual relations with the parent of the opposite sex (i.e. males attracted to their mothers, and females attracted to their fathers). Sigmund Freud, who coined the term "Oedipus complex" believed that the Oedipus complex is a desire for the parent in both males and females (though it is called Electra Complex for females).

What are your thoughts about this?
In Greek mythology, there are a lot of stories where the child desires to have sexual relations with the parent of the opposite sex, for example, Oedipus marrying his own mother. This might be common throughout Greek mythology while in modern times, people will look at it weird and strange for having sexual relations with your own parents.

Reflection: 
Today in class, I've learned about how suicide is viewed through different cultures. Before today's lesson, I thought suicide means the same in every culture, I was not expecting there to even be a difference. Everyone has a different view and opinion on the thought of suicide. Suicide plays a crucial part in today's lesson because it was important for us to understand Antigone's crime, how she believed that she was right for burying her own brother. Although her actions were against the law, she still did it to appease her morality. In addition, I also learned that we cannot control our own life due to fate. Fate is something we cannot physically change it. Your life is set since birth and there is no way for you to avoid what is going to happen later on in your life no matter if it is good or bad. I can use the information I learned today and care about the people around me more and cherish the time and experience right now since our future still forever remain mysterious. 

Modern Mythology 2020 Blog #22- Hercules

Justin Huang
Mythology PD1
11/01/19

Aim: Why and how does Hercules' characterization make him one of the most memorable figures in Greek mythology?

Do Now:Write about a time when you did something wrong either purposely or inadvertently, but for which you were extremely sorry for afterwards.
     We shared times when we felt remorse right after doing something wrong. This relates to Hercules because he was flawed in that his emotions often took over him, and he killed people in rage, but afterwards he felt sorrow and wished to pay for it with penance. Personally, I shared about a time I went to my aunt's house for a birthday. My aunt had bought me a beautiful Pikachu birthday cake and I told her I did not like it.

Did you apologize or make the situation right? We're you successful?
     I changed my mind about the cake after tasting it, but the damage was already done. I think that I had made my aunt cry. Looking back I cannot believe I had actually said what I did.

Video
Write down raw emotions you experience as you watch the commercial.
Video Link

- Joy
- Love
- Anxiety
- Longing
- Betrayal
- Happiness

At first, the video was lighthearted as it showed a puppy growing and playing with a man. Then the man leaves the dog home alone as he goes drinking. The dog waits for the man but he does not come back. This commercial points out that those that drink and drive may leave their dogs waiting for the rest of their lives. However, the man returns and it is revealed he stayed a night as to not drive and drive. The dog and man rejoice.

Why do Americans like guy and dog videos so much?
     The commercial employs the use of pathos, emotional appeal, to achieve its message. Americans value their pets, and they are familiar with the anxiety pets experience when their owners leave them for even a short period of time.

Psychology and Philosophy of Interesting Characters
Humans enjoy finding vulnerability in the seemingly perfect. We know that perfection does not exist, and mistakes happen often. So we expect wrong, yet respect those that wish to make things right. Hercules embodies this as a powerful demigod. His strength is unmatched, and he cannot be defeated. Despite this, he is often overcome with rage and he regrets his actions during those fits of rage. What's appealing is his willingness to atone. He endures suffering during penance and is unwilling to be unpunished for any actions.

Article
"Why Myths Still matter: Hercules and His Twelve Healing Labors"
Ultimately Hercules was able to channel his rage, the very thing that lead him to his misdeeds, in order to do good. He penanced to right his wrongs, and was successful in completing his twelve tasks because he redirected his anger. To Hercules, the only way to quench his guilt was to offset them with his own suffering.

Reflection
     Hercules' tale teaches that flaws exist in all people. His greatness could not excuse his wrongs. So, we will all make mistakes and do things we wish we hadn't, but as long as we realize our faults, and as long as we strive to make things right then we can be forgiven. Thus there is much to learn from every misstep, and the only way we can hope to become better is to correct our mistakes. To bask in misery and failure does no good; had Hercules killed himself after realizing what he'd done to his wife and children, he would never have achieved his status as a hero. Hercules' story does demonstrate the range of human emotion, he goes from a mad fit of anger to surrendering himself to guilt. Such extremes portray the capabilities of humans, they can do great or terrible things, and often times they cannot seem to pick one side over the other.