Myth and Symbolism (232-0-20)
Instructors
Robert Launay
847/491-4841
1810 Hinman Ave., Room #205, EV Campus
Office Hours: By appointment
Robert Launay is Professor of Anthropology at Northwestern University. He has conducted extensive field research among Muslim traders in Côte d'Ivoire in West Africa. He has published two books and numerous articles, particularly on the anthropology of Islamic societies. He is currently editing a volume on Islamic education in Africa.
Meeting Info
University Hall 102: Mon, Wed, Fri 10:00AM - 10:50AM
Overview of class
This course is an introduction to three of the leading theories about the nature and meaning of myth: psychoanalytic, functionalist, and structuralist. Each of these three approaches will be considered primarily through the writings of their respective founders: Sigmund Freud, Bronislaw Malinowski, and Claude Levi-Strauss. Lectures will be primarily concerned with explaining these three theories. Examples of how these theories can be applied to the analysis of specific myths will largely be drawn from the Old Testament Book of Genesis.
Teaching Method
Mostly lecture
Evaluation Method
Students will all be required to collect a corpus of myths in the library from a single culture of their choice, as well as background references on that culture. They will then write three analyses of myths in their corpus from each of the theoretical perspectives covered in class.
Class Materials (Required)
"Readings include:
1. Sigmund Freud, Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis (ISBN 978-0871401182)
2. Bronislaw Malinowski, Magic, Science and Religion (ISBN 978-0881336573)
3. Edmund Leach by Claude Levi-Strauss (ISBN 978-0226469683)"
Class Attributes
Ethics & Values Distro Area