Modern Mythology

With The Modern Myths, brilliant science communicator Philip Ball spins a new yarn. From novels and comic books to B-movies, it is an epic exploration of literature, new media and technology, the nature of storytelling, and the making and meaning of our most important tales. Myths are usually seen as stories from the depths of time—fun and fantastical, but no longer believed by anyone. Yet, as Philip Ball shows, we are still writing them—and still living them—today. From Robinson Crusoe and Frankenstein to Batman, many stories written in the past few centuries are commonly, perhaps glibly, called “modern myths.” But Ball argues that we should take that idea seriously. Our stories of Dracula, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Sherlock Holmes are doing the kind of cultural work that the ancient myths once did. Through the medium of narratives that all of us know in their basic outline and which have no clear moral or resolution, these modern myths explore some of our deepest fears, dreams, and anxieties. We keep returning to these tales, reinventing them endlessly for new uses. But what are they really about, and why do we need them? What myths are still taking shape today? And what makes a story become a modern myth? In The Modern Myths, Ball takes us on a wide-ranging tour of our collective imagination, asking what some of its most popular stories reveal about the nature of being human in the modern age.

A study of one of popular culture's superstars whose enchanting mystique pervades the modern world

A book on modern mythology

Modern physics has degenerated into mythology. Quantum mechanics (QM) is based on the assumption that "elementary" particles are truly fundamental. This assumption has been invalidated by numerous experiments. By interaction with other particles, quarks and other components of "elementary" particles are pulled apart or squeezed together. Due to such deformations, the complex structures called "elementary" particles accumulate internal energy, which is neglected in the entire Quantum Mechanics literature. Double slit experiments do not justify the abandonment of Classical Physics and the creation of Quantum Mechanics. The interference patterns, which supposedly demonstrate the unique nature of "elementary" particles, are faithfully reproduced with common objects. Correctly applied i.e., without neglecting internal energy, Classical Physics provides a deterministic and unitary description of virtually all quantum phenomena. Classical Physics also explains relativistic effects, i.e., mass increase, length contraction and time dilation without recourse to particular hypotheses like the existence of aether. The components of "elementary" particles are bound by cohesion forces propagating through quanta. The energy of quanta increases with particle velocity according to the Doppler Effect. As a result, the relativistic energy and mass of an "elementary" particle are proportional to the Lorentz factor. This mass increase causes length contraction and time dilation.

Novels and films record and codify the cultural experiences of their people. This book explores the relationship between contemporary literature and film of the past fifty years and the ancient myths of Judeo-Christian, Greek, Celtic, and Eastern origin. Following a detailed description and explanation of both literary and film devices, stories that inform to a mythic tradition are analyzed to identify what they reveal about modern culture. This work explores such diverse subjects as heroism, coming of age, and morality. This approach to literature and film explores how contemporary fiction and film fulfill a continuum in our never-ending search to understand how life ought to be lived. Encompassing a broad spectrum of modern film and fiction, a variety of authors and directors are represented. Included are novels from such writers as Stephen King, Alice Walker, Ken Kesey, Jerzy Kosinski, Robert Penn Warren, and Michael Ondaatje. Film directors include Stephen Spielberg, Hal Ashby, Phil Alden Robinson, George Stevens, Robert Rossen, and Milos Forman. As a valuable resource for film and literature classes alike, this work also provides suggestions for student projects.

This work by Andrew Lang discusses the state of mythology that was contemporary in his lifetime. Lang also uses anthropological evidence to enlighten his readers about the origins of mythology.