Mythological Stories Research Articles

Caesarean section through the prism of fine art and mythological stories

Caesarean section through the prism of fine art and mythological stories

Resilience to future floods through flood memory approach: An example from West Bengal, India

Managing flood situations is a combination of structural, non-structural, and socio-ecological approaches, where the latest includes an operative involvement from the local community, based on their experiences in past flood episodes. The instances of considering this indigenous knowledge and perception while planning for the flood mitigational framework in India are neither very popular a practice nor they are frequently exemplified - but while looking at the case studies from all over the world, this could be a powerful tool for gauging flood scenarios and the living with it. This paper aims to inspect the ways and approaches through which a local community memorizes the fury of floods, how this information can be put in a quantitative way, and can be realistically functioning for coping with future flood consequences. Focusing on the flood memory approach for community resilience, we present the findings of archival research, site-specific folklores and mythological stories (cultural), social methods, verbal methods, exploration of flood markers (structural), and campaigns and exhibitions (educational). A digital questionnaire-based survey was conducted in the most flood-suffering wards of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation area in West Bengal, and upon receiving the reactions, a Flood History Volatility Scale (FHVS) has been devised to test how the strength of an individual's flood memory varies due to some controlling factors. Based on the results obtained from memory work and perceiving the importance of community knowledge during the survey, a comprehensive flood risk management approach has been proposed for flood risk reduction and developing community resilience.

THE ASTONISHING BEAUTY OF CHHAU MASK: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON THE TRADITIONAL FOLK ART OF CHARIDA VILLAGE OF PURULIA DISTRICT, WEST BENGAL

Bengal, a land of beauty and prosperity in its cultural ancestry. The tradition is enriched by diverse folk art of various tribes and ethnic groups creating the uniqueness. Music, dance have great importance for recreational, aesthetic and cultural aspect of the state. The cultural background, social value and structure, history, religion and mythological concept are also reflected by the traditional folk art. Different types of folk art are found in West Bengal. Among them, Patachitra and Madhubani are respectively the traditional style of painting, characterized by their mythological stories and intricate designs. The other folk arts with great traditional significance are the embroidery art locally called, Kantha and metal casting technique based Dokra. The Chhau Mask making art is one of them important traditional folk art, essential for the age old Chhau dance. The present paper is empirical and qualitative in nature, mainly focused on the traditional folk art of Chhau Mask, an integral part of Chhau dance, of Charida village, its making procedure and people associated with the mask making economy.

Those Infinite, Multiform Stories without Fixity: Myth and History, a Very Long Engagement

This paper deals with the problematic relationship between ancient historiography and mythology, or mythological stories as historical sources for historical research. Although Greek historiography had, in a sense, already been confronted with the problem of mythological intrusions into the substance of methodologically well-developed historical procedures (as early as the 5th century BC), Roman historiography continued for a long time to critically investigate and purify the stories of the foundation myths. This paper presents a detailed analysis of some methodologically relevant passages that reveal the attitudes of individual Greek and Roman historiographers towards myth as a (non-)source. At the same time, it questions the attitude of (early) Roman historiography towards myth by examining the philosophical treatise of the 2nd/3rd century philosopher Sextus Empiricus.

The Cultural Construction of NewJeans from the Perspective of Cross-cultural Communication

The communication analysis of Korean pop culture has been the topic of academic research. NewJeans, a K-pop girl group, is a popular global pop music group of the new generation, which has the characteristics of a typical example of cross-cultural communication and strong cultural attraction. This paper attempts to explore the great innovation of the K-pop industry by analyzing its cultural construction, and conducts an empirical study on the text analysis of NewJeans music works. The study found that by establishing a common connection with the market based on the cultural narratives of East Asia and the Western market, and fully utilizing its artistic pursuit as a literary and artistic work, it can express its cultural core of companionship aimed at the young market group, combine the retro elements of the millennium with contemporary popular culture, endow Western mythological stories with contemporary metaphors and modernized expressions, and thus achieve a balance between artistic and market value. Through the analysis of the cultural construction of NewJeans, it can be seen that under the macro-guidance of global market demand, only by respecting the market characteristics of different regions, tapping the internal needs of consumers and guiding the situation in different cross-cultural perspectives can the success probability of cross-cultural communication be increased.

Totemic Tradition and Identity of Korku Tribe: An Anthropological Perspective

Tribal totemism is a cultural phenomenon that is deeply rooted in their societies. It encompasses complex symbolic systems where specific animals, plants, or natural elements serve as emblems representing ancestral connection, identity, and spiritual beliefs. Totems are revered as spiritual entities, representing a connection to ancestry, tradition, and the natural world. The choice of totem is typically rooted in mythological stories or historical events, and it serves as a symbol of identity, kinship, and shared values within the tribal communities. Totem is given special importance in the Korku tribe. Korku always remains alert and devoted to their totems. The Korku tribe believes that their origin is based on a particular totem, so they think that totem has a wonderful power that protects and warns them in times of trouble. Even a specific message associated with a totem may be a premonition of some event. The Korku people consider that the totem is inhabited by a supernatural power that controls their social life. In Korku society, women often have totem symbols tattooed on different parts of their body, especially on their hands. Korku follows all the rules and prohibitions related to his totem very sincerely. Like many other tribes, Korku also has beliefs related to the origin of the totem.

Retelling of Indian Mythological Stories Through Gender and Multi-Cultural Perspective and Analysis of Retelling

The research delves into exploring Indian mythology through gender and multicultural perspectives, employing a multidisciplinary approach to analyse contemporary retellings of myths. It evaluates how these retellings reinterpret traditional narratives, characters, and themes from diverse cultural and gender viewpoints. Data collection involves secondary analysis of literary works and primary data through interviews, using a purposive sampling method. The study aims to uncover socio-cultural, psychological, and ideological implications within these retellings. By examining diverse perspectives, the research argues that such reimaginations enrich cultural heritage and foster a more inclusive society. This exploration serves as a springboard for further discussions on storytelling’s significance in shaping societal norms. In conclusion, analysing retellings of Indian mythology through gender and multicultural lenses challenges traditional narratives, fostering inclusivity, and shaping a progressive understanding of our shared cultural heritage.

Beijing Mythological Stories about the Lady of the Bell Foundry

In the second half of the nineteenth century at the latest, a legend emerged in Beijing about the sacrificial death of the founder's daughter during the casting of a large bell for the Bell Tower. It is similar to a group of medieval Chinese tales associated with the cults of patron deities of the crafts. These have their origins in tales from Western regions related to Eastern European stories of walled-up wives. In the case of the Beijing tradition, the religious tale is transformed into a secular legend with, at best, a tenuous connection to a local cult. The story of the casting of a bell for the Bell Tower persists in Beijing's oral tradition to this day. There are also a number of related stories told in other regions of China, as well as Korean tales that are genetically linked to it. The article examines both the structural and semantic features of several mythological stories about the making of a bell for the Bell Tower recorded by Chinese folklorists from the 1950s to the 1980s, alongside those of the first known English (1870s) and the first known Chinese (1930s) amateur recordings of the legend. It also traces the connection of these texts with similar narratives from other regions, as well as with the aforementioned medieval legends of patron deities of crafts, ancient beliefs in the efficacy of human sacrifice for metallurgical production characteristic of the Wu region, and Confucian notions of filial piety.

A Comparative Study on the Character Modeling of Chinese Shadow Play and Malaysian Wayang Kulit

The shadow play cultures of China and Malaysia have a long history and rich cultural connotations, both of which belong to folk art forms. Due to the origin of shadow play culture and the differences in cultures between the two countries, the character designs of shadow play have formed unique regional cultures. This article mainly compares the character styles of shadow play between the two countries, summarizes the similarities and differences in artistic forms of shadow play, and showcases the beauty of different styles. In Chinese shadow play culture, the modelling of characters is usually related to historical stories or myths and legends. The modelling of characters includes the modelling techniques of Paper Cuttings and the colour shading of New Year pictures. In Malaysia's shadow play culture, shadow play is called "Wayang Kulit" and was introduced in Java, Indonesia. Generally, it portrays mythological stories about Hinduism, which is closely related to Java, Indonesia, which originated mainly from Hinduism. Regardless of the culture, the unique shapes and characteristics of shadow play characters can attract the audience's attention, show cultural value in character design, and help the audience better understand and feel the meaning of the characters in shadow play. Finally, through research, promote cultural exchange, dissemination, and promotion of shadow play between the two countries.

Exploring the Female Consciousness in the Ancient Greek Period–Based on the image of the ancient Greek goddess Artemis and her mythological story

Female consciousness in the ancient Greek period presents equal and independent as well as diversified characteristics in the image of the goddess Artemis and the mythological stories. Firstly, Artemis shows the female consciousness of pursuing equal human dignity in the mythological stories. Secondly, Artemis emphasizes women’s individual value and pursues female’s consciousness of sexual independence of their own choice. Thirdly, Artemis demonstrates the female consciousness of pursuing unique social functions in the mythological stories. The value and significance of the image of the goddess Artemis and her mythological stories lie not only in the diversified development of women’s character and identity in the ancient Greek period, but also in the promotion of women’s political and social status in the ancient Greek period. The image of the goddess Artemis and her mythological stories played an important role in ancient Greek culture, and her existence not only enriched the connotation of ancient Greek culture, but also promoted the germination and diversified development of women’s consciousness in the ancient Greek period.

A Comparative Study of “Numbers” in Mythology and Science within the Perspective of Ernst Cassirer’s Philosophy of Symbolic Forms

This study aims to compare the differences and connections between the concepts, function, manifestation, and value dimensions of “number” in mythology and science from the perspective of Cassirer's philosophy of symbolic forms. It reveals the symbolic nature of “number” in mythology, analyzes the pure form of “number” in science, and explains how “number” constructs the logical system and cognitive framework of the scientific world as a pure formal symbol in the scientific system. By comparing the concept, manifestation, function, and value of “number” in mythology and science, this study reveals the philosophical and cultural significance behind them. In Ernst Cassirer's symbolic form philosophy, mythology and science, as important forms of human culture, together with other cultural forms such as art, constitute an integral part of "humanity" The primary research methods are literature review, comparative analysis, and case study. By systematically reviewing the discussions on mythology, science, and other fields in Cassirer’s philosophy of symbolic forms, typical mythological stories and scientific theories are selected for a detailed comparative analysis of the use of “number” within them. The study has found that, emanating from the intuitive form of mythological thinking, “numbers” in mythology serve as one of the fundamental structures of the mythical world. In mythology, numbers exist as potent entities, transcending mere symbolic status. On the contrary, in science, "numbers" serve as an abstract symbolic language that follows clear and explicit structural principles, elucidating the essence and relationships between various scientific phenomena.

Research on Innovative Models of Chinese Mythical and Legendary Films in the New Media Era

The new media era has revolutionized the dissemination of traditional culture, and the dissemination and development of Chinese mythological and legendary films are facing challenges. In order to achieve effective dissemination of Chinese mythological stories in the era of new media short videos, this article focuses on exploring the creative characteristics of iQiyi's self-made drama "Soul Ferry". Based on this, it is discussed that Chinese mythological and legendary films should pay attention to the effective combination of ancient and modern in innovation, and empower the dissemination of Chinese mythological and legendary stories in a suspenseful and supernatural way, in order to use Chinese mythological and legendary stories to tell Chinese stories well.

Story of Conservation: Integrating Ethnobotanical Knowledge, Healer, and Sacred Area in Daulu–Karonese, North Sumatera

This article aims to explain the conservation mechanisms of a community to protect village forests; and how actors can create communities that maintain the value of forests as spaces for life's needs. This article focuses on ethnobotanical knowledge (especially medicines), transmission, healing practices, and forest protection mechanisms. The relationship between these four things is a story of sustainable conservation, both in-situ and ex-situ. This mechanism turns out to be related to mythology, sacredness, and sacred areas. This phenomenon was found in Karonese, Daulu Village, North Sumatra, Indonesia. The cognitive anthropology approach with the concept of culture in mind becomes an important tool for analyzing how knowledge is constructed and transmitted. Ethnographic research methods with an emic approach, participant observation, in-depth interviews with key informants, and completeness of filed notes are one way to capture the native point of view. Data analysis was carried out qualitatively through ongoing analysis. The conclusion of the study found that the capacity of actors, especially healers, and the transmission of ethnobotanical knowledge, especially medicines, and the survival of mythological stories and values about sacred areas have consequences for the sustainability of conservation of what they call the kerangen kuta or village forest.

The Portrayal and Representation of Mythological Stories in Chinese Cinema in the Digital Age

This scholarly article delves into the dynamic interplay between mythological narratives and digital innovation in Chinese cinema. By scrutinizing the amalgamation of traditional story arcs with modern cinematic techniques, it casts light on how digital advancements enrich narrative complexity and enhance visual allure. The methodology merges traditional film critique with digital analytic tools, underscoring the profound influence of digital technology on storytelling. Central to this discourse are case studies like "Ne Zha," which exemplify the modern reinterpretation of mythological themes. The paper contrasts how mythology is depicted in mainstream versus independent films, shedding light on their distinct narrative approaches. Additionally, the analysis extends to understanding the diverse reception of these mythological stories among domestic and international audiences, with particular attention to motifs of nostalgia and youth. In its concluding section, the article contemplates the wider ramifications for the film industry, explores challenges in audience engagement, and discusses the intricacies of copyright in the digital era.

Первая запись якутского эпоса в контексте традиции

The paper considers the first text of the Yakut heroic epic, recorded by A. Middendorf in the 1840s from an anonymous storyteller, later known as “Eriedel Bergen.” An attempt is made to determine the specific features of the text in terms of its local attribution. The study also provides an opportunity to discuss concrete historical and methodological observations. For a more comprehensive analysis, the author has used a representative sampling of records of the Yakut epic and other genres of narrative folklore of the peoples of Siberia, including Yakut, Russian, and Evenki fairy tales and mythological stories. The structural and semantic features of the recording were revealed that demonstrate the similarity to the texts of the Central Yakut epic tradition, in particular, to the variants recorded later near the Amginskaya Sloboda, Megino-Kangalassky, and Boturussky uluses of Yakutia. The analysis has identified some locally specific motifs and “common places” of the Yakut heroic epic, with the principles of their differentiation and study tested. It is suggested that the traditional international plot about the swapped bride, present in the text of the olonkho, appears to have originated from Evenk folklore rather than Russian fairy tales. A conclusion is made that the local specificity in Yakut epic tales is primarily evident in the specific motifs of the “exterior” plan while having a minimal effect on the core plot elements that remain broadly consistent across the genre’s various “dialect” versions. It would be considerably valuable in the future to map or catalog them.

Breaking The Shadowy World Of Courtesans: Women, Myth, Music In Kavita Kane’s Menaka’s Choice

Mythologies are primarily male-centered stories representing, upholding, and idealizing patriarchal norms and aspirations. Patriarchy regulates and controls women's sexuality through mythological stories. Females are frequently treated as property to be transferred or enjoyed by men. The objectification of women's bodies is a recurrent issue in mythologies throughout the world, including India. In Indian mythology, Apsaras, the eternal seductresses of Indra's court, are clear references to female objectification. Apsaras, despite their greater importance and might, are mentioned only as passing characters in Indian mythology. They were never allowed to speak on the main platform and tell their story. However, in her novel Menaka's Choice, Indian-English novelist Kavita Kane breaks this tradition by projecting the most beautiful and brilliant apsara of Indralok, Menaka as the protagonist.

Girish Karnad’s Yayati and Hayavadana: A Mythical Experiment

Yayati and Hayavadana are the most eminent plays written by Girish Karnad. Myths are recognized as perfect ethical perspective from an alternate perspective. Myth holds significant importance in history as well as in literature, philosophy, and various aspects of human life. Myths have been a crucial element in oral, written, and visual storytelling for many millennia. That is the reason they have been present throughout all of humanity’s history. Every child in India has been raised hearing mythological stories of gods and goddesses. Mythological tales are also essential in the study of culture. Yayati is a mythological tale that is part of our Indian heritage. Yayati retells a mythological story from the Mahabharata, focusing on ancient king Yayati and his desires. Karnad sourced the plot of the play Hayavadana from Kathasaritsagara, an ancient Sanskrit collection of stories.

Nihontō i shintō

The article focuses on the presence of elements derived from Japan’s native religion, shintō, visible in contexts referring to Japanese swords, nihontō. The text briefly discusses the idea of kami in Shintoism and touches on mythological stories about Japanese deities in which the sword plays an important role, and then describes Japanese edged weapons, focusing on swords of the feudal era. Subsequently, the author pays attention to the process of forging the blade, the work of blacksmiths, and beliefs regarding Japanese swords, including the custom of offering nihontō to the gods. The final paragraphs are devoted to martial arts and etiquette associated with weapons in Japan.

АВТОКОММУНИКАЦИЯ КАК КРИТИКА СОВРЕМЕННОГО ФИЛОСОФСКОГО ПСИХОАНАЛИЗА

Contemporary philosophical psychoanalysis is increasingly turning to mythological stories in order to explain the phenomenon of autocommunication as a constant loss of self and encounter with self. The relevance of the article is determined by the complex superimposition of such mythological plots, requiring the involvement of certain interdisciplinary instruments of analysis in philosophical research. In the Lacanian tradition of psychoanalysis, we suggest that the story of Eurydice serves to explain Dora’s case and substantiates the autocommunicative core of experience. This plot allowed us to criticize both positivist and economic (investment, fetishism) aspects of classical psychoanalysis and to show the epistemological potential of autocommunication as overcoming the totality of the uncanny and returning «to one’s home». The aim of the article is to investigate the epistemological potential of autocommunication, to which psychoanalysis gives a narrative dimension, and the modern philosophy of the self and the alien – an axiological meaning; the task is to clarify, using the example of the newest psychoanalysis’ work with the uncanny, the limits of autocommunication as a mechanism of both seduction (Sirens) and the return of all participants of future communication to themselves (their own mind). The main method of the study was a metacritique of psychoanalysis from the perspective of general notions of the structure of experience and encounter with the other across generations. The main results of the study are that, contrary to the models of the uncanny as fear of encountering oneself or one’s place in the world, another understanding of the uncanny is possible as a choice that all people face in the continuation of the human race. In this case, the happiness of continuation of the species or creative self-realization overcomes the initial impulses of creative temptations, turning reasoning alone with oneself into a mirror of communication with others that has already taken place. The newness consists in the fact that the paper solved the main contradiction of the theory of autocommunication, which is divided into two parts: the illusion of the desire to communicate and the imperative encounter with one’s speech as a stranger, creating a situation of joint communication. It has been shown that, contrary to the common view in philosophy, this joint communication is socially determined and not at all an extension of the internal topology or structure of thought. The contradiction can be resolved by adopting the concept of «the gift of time» (Derrida), which overcomes the antinomy of exchange and gift. Directions for further research on the basis of this work imply the development of a consistent theory of autocommunication that does not reduce it to individual cases of finding the self or postulating the other and that takes into account the social framework of any communication.

Two-faced Janus of early French romanticism: Pierre Simon Ballanche as an esthetician and writer

The subject of the study is the fundamental philosophical and aesthetic problems in the aesthetics of Pierre Simon Ballanche, who stood at the origins of French romanticism. Two layers of his creativity - explicit and implicit - have been identified and analyzed. It is shown that his ideas about the art of romanticism are verbalized in a strict academic style. The implicit layer, is associated with Ballanche’s artistic prose. It includes philosophical and aesthetic poems, testifying the originality of his aesthetic position. Unlike most French romantics, who distance themselves from ancient culture as pagan in favor of Christianity and medieval art, Ballanche, in his talented paraphrases of mythological stories, romanticizes Antiquity, finding in it the beginnings of future Christian ideas of sublime love, mercy, sacrifice, beauty and goodness. The main conclusion of the study is the conclusion that art, according to Ballanche, plays a leading civilizational role in the cosmogonic-historical process. The core of Ballanche's implicit philosophical aesthetics is revealed - the original concept of palingenesis, interpreted by the author as a radical degeneration of the world for the sake of its future revival; it is precisely this stage of cultural and historical development that, in his opinion, marks romanticism. The author's special contribution lies in introducing into domestic scientific circulation, translated into Russian for the first time and analyzed the philosophical and aesthetic poems “Antigone”, “The Man with No Name”, “The Experience of Social Palingenesis. Orpheus".