Myth in Adaptation & Interpretation
Thompson and Schrempp discuss myth’s ability to adapt with the times, and to be retold or reinterpreted anew with each generation. They also discuss the tenuous relationship between myth and history.
This week, you also read the biblical story of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9) that was written down sometime between 1000-600 BCE and a modern adaptation of the story by fiction writer Ted Chiang (2002), then listened to a modern interpretation of the story by scholar and psychologist Jordan B. Peterson (2017).
Prompts for Discussion: Based on your readings and lecture viewing, in what ways is the story of the Tower of Babel true? How does it relate to the historical situation in which we find ourselves, individually and collectively? What insights do Chiang and Peterson have to offer us that are not necessarily evident in the ancient story?