Consider this . . .Consider this . . .• Is your society’s view of

god one of perfection or imperfection?– For example, is your

god(dess) all-powerful, all-knowing, all-good, or any combination of these three?

– If not, what are your god(s)’ limitations?

– Why would a god have limitations?

– What characteristics of your culture are captured in the imperfection of its god?

CREATIONCREATION

We’ve all got to start We’ve all got to start somewheresomewhere.

Essential question:Essential question:

• How can literature influence How can literature influence cultural beliefs and social cultural beliefs and social

perceptions?perceptions?

Learning TargetsLearning Targets

• Before we conclude this topic of study, I will be able to:– Describe the cultural influences of creation

myths.– Identify archetypal features of creation myths.– Compare and contrast creation myths

originating from diverse world cultures.– Write an original creation myth that includes

common archetypal features.– Present my creation myth to my peers.

Myth Myth

• a traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, especially one that is concerned with deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature.

Source: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/myth

Why do we need creation myths?Why do we need creation myths?

• The existence of the world must be explained.

• According to Joseph Campbell, “The question being answered is not who made the world or how, but rather the need for the presence of a creator being visible in all things.”

Metaphors in mythsMetaphors in myths

• Metaphors are used in myths to explain higher concepts.– Many of the stories of mystical monsters were

merely representations of the fear conquered.– Metaphors need to fit their culture.– Metaphors should be universally

acknowledged images. Or at least, they should be easily recognizable to people belonging to a specific culture.

MetaphorMetaphor

• A metaphor, as defined in our glossary, is a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between two unlike things that actually have something important in common. The word metaphor itself is a metaphor, coming from a Greek word meaning to "transfer" or "carry across." Metaphors "carry" meaning from one word, image, or idea to another.

How can metaphors help us How can metaphors help us understand creation myths?understand creation myths?

• Metaphors are relevant to the geography around which the culture has developed. – Japanese myths often focus on the ocean, while

myths of the Midwest Indian tribes do not.

• Metaphors define the roles of men, women, animals, and possibly the interrelations among diverse cultures.

Creation mythsCreation myths

• The creation myth should follow the general format of a myth and include an explanation of basic human behavior.

• Creation myths are sometimes used to explain the separation between the god(s) and man.– Pandora– Prometheus

Jungian ArchetypesJungian Archetypes

• Carl Jung developed the idea of the archetype as– recurring patterns of behavior and

situations among people of diverse backgrounds and cultures.

• Jung believed that archetypes transcend time and geography because they are part of the collective consciousness shared by all humans.

Joseph Campbell’s Joseph Campbell’s Literary ArchetypesLiterary Archetypes:

• Campbell used Jung’s theories to identify archetypal elements in history and literature. Campbell’s archetypes are:– recurring patterns of images, situations, symbols,

metaphors, and characters found in the mythology, religion, art, and dreams of cultures around the world.

The Creation ArchetypesThe Creation ArchetypesCreation from Primordial ‘soup’

Creation from NothingCreation by Deus Faber

Creation from ClayCreation from Dismemberment of Primordial Being

Creation by SacrificeCreation by SecretionCreation by Thought

Creation by WordCreation by Trial and Error

Earth DiverCreation from Cosmic Egg

Creation from Division of Primordial Unity Creation from Chaos

Creation by EmergenceCreation from Ancestors

Creation in Science

Primordial SoupPrimordial Soup

• PRIMORDIAL:– Something exists, and then out of this

something new is made.– Often begins with water, chaos, darkness,

etc.– Modern evolutionary theory and ‘Big Bang’

theories use this base to explain their beliefs.

Creation from NothingCreation from Nothing

• Ex nihilo or de novo.• Ex Nihilo = from nothing. De novo• Particularly popular in monotheistic

religions.• In ex nihilo myths the god figure creates the

universe from nothing, by thought, word, or breath. Sometimes secretion is used as well.

• Greek, Hebrew, Indian, Mayan, Maori.

Creation by Creation by Deus FaberDeus Faber

• Creation by Deus Faber is the fabrication of the world by the Creator in his/her form as an Artist/Craftsmen.

• Uses the analogy or metaphor of a craft.• In the Book of Job (34:4-5) Yahweh refers to

creation as “laid the foundation of the earth” and “took its measurements.”

• This lends to the Hebrew architect image of God.

• Hebrew, Huron, Spider Woman, Yuki.

Creation from ClayCreation from Clay

• Man created from clay, the ultimate symbol of the Earth.

• Being created from earth (clay) exists across many different cultures.

• Some theorize this is due to the maternal image of the earth. Others look at the malleability and see an easy creation concept.

• Blackfoot, Hebrew, Dyak, Egyptian, Polynesian.

Creation by DismembermentCreation by Dismemberment

• These myths involve the cosmos being created by cutting up a pre-creation monster.

• Babylonian, Indian, Rig Veda, Norse.

Creation by SacrificeCreation by Sacrifice

• Creation through the sacrifice of a god.• Often dealt with as renewal through sacrifice

as well.• Jesus, Osiris, Attis, and Dionysus all have

stories of this type of myth.• Related heavily to Creation by

Dismemberment.

Creation by Secretion

• Just what it sounds like…creation via bodily fluids.

• Very focused on the ‘divinity’ of life fluids.• Creator’s bodily fluids: feces, urine sweat,

semen, spit, vomit, and blood are all used in the creation of the world.

• Typically a solitary male god figure.• Bantu, Boshongo, Chuckchee, Egyptian.

Creation by ThoughtCreation by Thought

• Ex nihilo.• Creation is a projection of the creator’s

thoughts. • This theory is hinted at in aboriginal

dreaming creation.• Powerful supreme being preexists existence,

world contained in the Mind of God.• Buddhist, Laguna, Navajo, Winnebago.

Creation by WordCreation by Word

• Ex nihilo.• The Supreme Being speaks the Word and

connects Logos or Cosmic Order.• “And God said…”

• Hebrew, Christian, Mayan, Navajo.

Trial and ErrorTrial and Error

• Also thought of as Creation via aborted attempts.

• Initial attempts to create humanity are unsuccessful.

• First Man through poor or immoral behavior, may cause a fall. Heavy on instructional morality.

• Flaw may be either intentional, or creational.• Often includes a destruction cycle as well.

Earth DiverEarth Diver

• Supreme Being sends an animal (duck, turtle into the primal waters.

• The water can often be seen as the unformed female principle, and the diver is the creator’s emissary to the principle.

• The Diver finds “earth” (sand, mud, rock, etc.) and it is brought to the surface.

• Water and descent have key importance in this mythic pattern.

• Common Native American creation.

Cosmic EggCosmic Egg

• Pre-creation void is a giant egg.• Eggs are symbolic of the beginning of life.• Logical connection between visible birth

(hatching eggs) and universe creation.• Cosmic egg is typically silver or gold, like the

sun or moon.• Chinese, Finnish, Indian, Japanese.

Creation by Division Creation by Division of Primordial Unityof Primordial Unity

• Breaking of the Cosmic Egg or the separation of cosmic parts from one another to make the universe.

• In many of these myths there is a newer god who must separate the “parents” to create the new world.

• Egyptian, etc.

Creation from ChaosCreation from Chaos

• “Out of Chaos…”• Chaos is the Greek word for primal void.• Chaos is often seen as a swirling mass of

nothingness, out of which the Creator(s) craft the universe.

• Greek, Babylonian, Japanese, etc.

Creation by EmergenceCreation by Emergence

• Mostly Native American.• Involves the emergence of the people from

an underworld.• Underworld is typically seen as a “world

womb” where all things are gestated until birth.

Creation from AncestorsCreation from Ancestors

• This belief is that a prior people created the universe.

• Australian aborigines believed that their ancestors dreamed the world into existence.

Creation in Science

• Many creation theories in modern science have the myth of the beginning-less beginning.

• Scientists theorize that something existed before existence as a basis for the cosmos.

• Loosely called myths.• Big-Bang Theory.

Archetypes within creation mythsArchetypes within creation myths

• Character archetypes.– Look for common character/deity roles.

• Numbers as symbols.– Often Creation myths use numerology relevant to

the culture.

• Anima/animus roles– Male/Female gender roles/expectations defined.

• Cultural and moral values– The ‘folk’ portions of the myths. Local instruction

and behavior.

What are you going to do with all What are you going to do with all that knowledge?that knowledge?

• You will create a culture around which you will build your mythology.– Be cautious and thoughtful in your process, this

culture must be viable for all forms of myths.– Important elements to document:

• Environment – geography, weather, wildlife• Intra-Cultural relations – gender, politics,

power• Inter-Cultural relations – other cultures that

relate directly to your own.• Cultural behavior – violent/pacifist,

hunting/agricultural, diplomacy/conflict.

Construct a creation mythConstruct a creation myth

• Your myth must be based on the specific and unique elements of your culture.

• You must use metaphors to help your readers understand your culture.

• You must demonstrate your understanding of archetypes in the structure and elements of your myth.

Your culture’s creation myth must:Your culture’s creation myth must:

• Describe the state of existence before creation.

• Demonstrate your understanding of at least one creation archetype

• Identify and define your creator(s). • Establish your cast of characters.• Describe the state of existence after creation.• Follow a general narrative format.

Tips to rememberTips to remember

• Keep your creation myth appropriate to the culture you have created.

• Your culture myth needs to fit the geography, scientific timeframe, and the world you have created.

• Be creative and logical. Your culture is primitive and has had no exposure to our often cynical culture.