Myths Are A Critical Tool - 903 Words

The word â€Å"myth† typically brings to mind dusty, ancient volumes of Greek and Roman fables– stories of angry gods and supernatural creatures. But myths encompass a much wider category. In fact, myths are a critical tool for leaders and politicians in uniting their nations. Myths are narratives used to make sense of current or historical events and they can be manipulated for both good and bad. This essay considers the way in which myths are used in nation-building and war by examining several prominent examples. The Merriam-Webster dictionary provides several definitions for the word â€Å"myth.† One is that which is most often used by popular culture: â€Å"an idea or story that is believed by many people but that is not true.† Another, and the one with which this essay concerns itself, is: â€Å"a usually 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.† In reality, it matters not whether the myth is fact or fiction. In the first place, historiography is always an interpretation of the past according to the present, and thus can never be purely â€Å"objective.† Second, the validity of the facts is of little importance insofar as the myth accomplishes its intended purpose. For instance, consider a modern nation that is completely surrounded in myth– North Korea. The official story of its former leader’s birth claims that when Kim Jong-Il was born, a new star appeared in the sky, aShow MoreRelatedDialectic Of Enlightenment, Horkheimer And Adorno1308 Words   |  6 Pagesthe enlightenment wanted to dismiss the myths and get rid of fantasy with knowledge. Horkheimer and Adorno also asserted that enlightenment always reverted back to myth. They also argued that the enlightenment demythologized the natural world with knowledge. In the text of Dialectic of Enlightenment, the authors also talk about how myth and enlightenment share the fact that mankind always seeks domination over nature. Horkheimer and Adorno both are critical of the enlightenment and they also seekRead MoreEssay about Frankenstein, the Modern Prometheus?1373 Words   |  6 Pagesstrongly on the myth of Prometheus, as the subtitle The Modern Prometheus indicates. 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