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MUSEUM OF MODERN MYTHOLOGY AND POP CULTURE

INTRODUCTION

THE REINSTATEMENT OF MYTH AS A CENTRAL FOCUS IN MODERN LIFE. The Six Archetypal Foundations of Modern Mythology, Pop Culture, and the Super Hero

The reinstatement of myth and pop culture as a central focus of modern life took about a hundred and sixty years. Beginning with the ancient Gods, themselves, the old myths and legends also included half-human half-God hybrids called Demigods. These Demigods began the process of the humanization of the mythic archetype. This humanizing process continued with a class of Super-Humans, such as Odysseus. The next phase introduced the Almost-Super-Human archetype; Robin Hood, for example. Finally, the hero became completely human, people who struggled through life. But between 1818 and 1912 six archetypes appeared, reviving mainstream interest in the return of the More-Than-Human character, and other archetypes, that are the foundations of Modern Mythology, Pop Culture, and the modern Super Hero. Following the Big Six, a profusion of archetypes, real or imagined, appeared over many years. Myths, legends, folklore, and archetypes have continued to combine to create newer ones, and help transform cultures in many ways.

INTRODUCTION CONTENTS