Final Quiz On Wednesday!

The following are the questions that will be on Quiz #4 this Wednesday.

There will be TWO GROUPS of writing prompts. Choose ONE from each GROUP to answer.

GROUP 1

Chapter 6 and 7: Secret Sects and Cults

A. Write about one secret sect from the reading and describe how it has affected heroes and popular culture.

Examples:

Rosicrucians
Theosophy
Scientology
The Golden Dawn
Christian Science
Secular Humanism
Freemasons
Mormonism
Buddhism
Agnosticism
Kabbalah



B. In many ways, certain popular culture characters have a “cult” following. Write about a popular culture “cult” and explain why so many people are devoted to that character or story.

Examples:

Star Wars
Marvel Comics
Star Trek
DC Comics
Smallville
Harry Potter
Dungeons & Dragons
Evil Dead
Lord of the Rings
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
The Big Lebowski


Chapter 8: Occult and ‘Cult’ Super Stars

C. Our textbook explained how there has been several “larger than life” individuals who inspired people (much like today’s super heroes.) The individuals in question were associated with the supernatural—an occult or secret mystical group. However, in today’s popular culture, there are famous individuals who also have a “cult” following, and who are seen as messiahs, mystics, or seers (even if they are not associated with any formal spiritual movement.)

Identify one of these characters and explain how they have influenced history, society, or culture. You can choose a person from the chapter or refer to a contemporary “cult-like” figure.

Examples:

Friedrich Nietzche
L. Ron Hubbard
Martha Stewart
Aleister Crowley
Joseph Smith
Hillary Clinton
Harry Houdini
Dalai Lama
Sun Myung Moon
Edgar Cayce
Oprah
Michael Jordan




GROUP 2

Chapter 20: The Visionaries

A. Choose a visionary and explain how their work has inspired, shaped, or re-defined heroes in popular culture.

Examples:

Jack Kirby
Neil Gaiman
Madeleine L'Engle
Stan Lee
Grant Morrison
George Lucas
Bob Kane
J.K. Rowling
Homer
Alan Moore
J.R.R. Tolkien
Ovid


Chapters 21 and 22:

B. Heroes in popular culture are part of our collective unconsciousness. These characters teach us about the world—about good and evil, right and wrong. Describe an iconic popular culture hero that communicates an important life lesson to the audience.

C. Heroes and superheroes are changing the expectations of the human machine. How have these narratives inspired the “transhumanism” movement?

Saturday Night Live Digital Short: Super Hero!

I don't know if anyone saw SNL this weekend. I thought that this digital short was appropriate for our 480 class. Hilarious...and a little violent (you've been warned!)

Saying Goodbye to the Co-Founder of Dungeons & Dragons

The Sunday New York Times had an interesting farewell piece to Mr. Gary Gygax, co-creator of the popular role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons.

The universe contained within the D & D game draws a lot from old mythology and archetypes of heroes and villains. Adam Rogers, a senior editor at Wired Magazine has some interesting thoughts on the impact that both Gygax and D & D have had on our culture (everything from modern on-line gaming to avatars on Facebook.) Check it out:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/opinion/09rogers.html

Earth Liberation Front: Hero or Villain?

From the Associated Press:

"Three seven-figure dream homes went up in flames early Monday in a Seattle suburb, apparently set by eco-terrorists who left a sign mocking the builders' claims that the 4,000-plus-square-foot houses were environmentally friendly."

The sign in question: three spray-painted letters: E...L...F. Some consider the Earth Liberation Front as heroes of the radical environmental fringe. Others (like the Federal Government) see them as domestic terrorists.

What do you think? ELF...heroes or villains?

AP article:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hQlKz_UjBgvhm8rfGiTaQYS82a5gD8V66KUG0

Prince Harry Rejects 'Hero' Label

Prince Harry--soldier and third in the line to the throne of England--rejects the notion that he is a hero.

Read about it (courtesy of the BBC):

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/jersey/7273129.stm

Comm 480 presentations

Day One/March 5, 2008

Chase, Ryan, Ian
Scott
Erika, Chandra
Matthew
Larry


Day Two/March 10

Ross, Bernie
Keyleigh, Alyssa
Susan
Andrew
C. Brady
Estelle


Day Three/March 12

Bernie, Ross (No, this is not a repeat from Day Two)
Ronnie, Marshall, Jason, Annie
Colin
Megan, Emily, Christina
Sarah, Geoff, Brandon
Arron Karlo, Emma, Jessica