Adair Rader- Myth and Vitality, The Hero with a Thousand Faces Reflection

In class on January 23rd, we discussed how studying myth can be compared to studying a dead animal. That is, once you have broken a myth apart to understand it, you have killed it. Myth has inherent vitality. It is a living thing. We also noted that art can simply capture reality without saying anything about it. Art does not have to argue, it can exist. Art does not have to be productive.

I think we should be more like art. Why does our experience of life have to be productive? We can do things we enjoy just because we enjoy them, not to have something to show for it. For example, we can play the piano because we love to, not as a skill to show off or a resume builder. Yes, it is important to have goals and aspirations, but what is life if we are miserably, blindly taking the next career step to our eventual death?

Myth reminds us that life is not to be studied too intently or made into a series of stages to be conquered. Life is meant to be enjoyed, not endured. 

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