More Myth Definitions and a Couple Odd Plugs

[alanajoli]

As a start, thanks for all the "hear hear" responses on yesterday's post. I think we fantasy reader and writer types are probably more inclined to value myth than any of our peers--outside of, perhaps, poets. As Kermit says, "The Lovers, the Dreamers, and Me." And there we are, right in the middle.

--

Since I have my lovely new-book-smell dictionary, I figured I should open it up and do a quick definition of terms as according to Mr. Webster.

myth\'mith\n [Gk mythos] (1830) 1a: a usu. traditional story of ostensibly historical events that serves to unfold part of the world view of a people or explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon b: PARABLE, ALLEGORY 2a: a popular belief or tradition that has grown up around something or someone; esp: one embodying the ideals and institutions of a society or segment of a society b: an unfounded or false notion 3: a person or thing having only an imaginary or unverifiable existence 4: the whole body of myths

legend\'le-jend\n [ME legende, fr. AF & ML; AF legende, fr. ML legenda, fr. L., fem. of legendus, gerundive of legere to gather, select, read; akin to Gk legein to gather, say, logos speech, word, reason] (14c) 1a: a story coming down from the past; esp: one popularly regarded as historical although not verifiable b: a body of such stories c: a popular myth of recent origin d: a person or thing that inspires legends e: the subject of a legend

(Note: The second definition is related to inscriptions rather than mythology.)

folklore\'fok-lor\n (1846) 1: traditional customs, tales, sayings, dances, or art forms preserved among a people 2: a branch of knowledge that deals with folklore 3: an often unsupported notion, story, or saying that is widely circulated

(Note: To paraphrase a couple of related definitions, "folk" has to do with "common people." This will come up later in my theory about myth vs. folklore & fairy tales. A folktale is basically defined as an anonymous, orally transmitted tale.)

fairy tale n (1749) 1a: a story (as for children) involving fantastic forces and beings (as fairies, wizards, and goblins) -- called also fairy story b: a story in which improbable events lead to a happy ending 2: a made-up story usu. designed to mislead

(Note: Given this final definition, the traditional tales of the Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault are certainly more accurately folklore, while Hans Christian Andersen's stories are fairy tales, though they don't have happy endings. So it could be ambiguous yet.)

Just gathering information here. I'll pull things together as we go.

--

Quick plugs: fangs_fur_fey has a neat post about research going on. It's worth visiting.

The League of Reluctant Adults have started blogging. I've asked a couple of their members if there's the possibility for an lj feed. We'll see.

SpaceWesterns has a couple of new stories up since the last time I posted. There's some good writing going on over there, and they're well worth checking out.

Comments

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the plug on Fangs Fur Fey. I resisted yet another blog to read, but that one looks just tooo cool.

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

One of these days when you have time, it's worth picking up! ;) There are just too many fun people over on that community.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Well I did try to join Fangs-fur-Fey, but I guess my credentials are not good enough as they turned me down. How painful! Well, I'll read it, but I guess that precludes participating in discussions! :-/

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Alas! They're pretty strict about the "contemporary" setting, as I recall, so I'm sure that's why (since I know you meet the SFWA credentials, which are the other factor).

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Oh! Yes--all my contemporary fantasies are all short stories. (My very first, back in 1986, was a werewolf girl in a rock band, just before that trope got popular. I think it was in the zeitgeist.) There are a lot of them, but none novel length, alas! Ah well. Still the group looks like good reading.

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

That sounds awesome! I don't suppose it's still in print anywhere?

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Hoo boy, I don't think so. It might still be in some older libraries, as it was edited by Jane Yolen. The antho was called Werewolves, the story "Monster Mash." I did another girl/werewolf story, with vampires, in Bruce Coville's Bruce Coville's Book of Spine Tinglers called "What's a Little Fur Among Friends" but that one doesn't have a band. The Monster Mash one was my first published story. I'm afraid to read it now!

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

What do you know, we even have a copy at my library! (*puts running upstairs to the children's department on to-do list*)

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Be sure to have a barf bucket handy...

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Just wanted to let you know that I read it and enjoyed it a lot--the idea of a werewolf drummer is fascinating to me, and I think Flash came off as genuine in her insecurities.

So, truly, no barf bucket was necessary. :)

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I've been afraid to reread that thing all these years.