That, anyway, is what i've learned.

 What I have learned in this class nothing I haven’t already learned from Sexsons classes. This is now my third class with Sexson and each has built off each other. I knew that Myths are everywhere in our lives. Initiation and wisdom are a hell of a tough path to get through. I knew that you have to “just do it.” Go on in life. Something I did learn, that wasn’t new but a refresher, was that real evil is “not knowing ones obligation”, that’s from The Storyteller if i’m not mistaken. This year has been a hell of a tough one with family problems and the responsibilities that come from it, but my obligation in the life i’ve been afforded to live has always been to teach and give kids hope. Like I was given back when I was in New York. I may have lost sight of that a bit this semester but as usual it takes a Sexson class to re-spark the soul.

  In this class once again the emphasis on storytelling comes alive, that stories have a way of connecting the past and the future into the present. Those stories being the life you're living now, your own myth. Against all odds, no matter how hard our past has been we as a person and a people will see the sun, we will keep on and live happily ever after. Thats what our future holds. Our lives will always be tough and if isn’t tough then it’s not worth the time of the gods.“because the gods get bored with men who have no stories” (Calasso). We have to put in the work, we have to fight for the happy ending we want.

   

 As we realize our lives are just like myths, that have been told already we understand were not alone, that there's a reason we hear of similar stories of hardship. It’s because someone else has already walked in our shoes, has felt the same pressures we do, fought as hard as we have. So why even think that we wont make it through the troubles we have right now when we know others have. Hell were all in college, we all see our friends or just random classmates studying hard, feeding into the same temptations we do, get lazy and have to pull all nighters, deal with problems at home and at school. “whichever way her wandering husband went, the encircling sash of myth would wrap around the young Harmony. For every step, the footprint was already there” (Calasso). This is what has gotten me through this semester. All my struggle to help my mother out at home, to sacrifice all my time to work to help her out. She did it for me, she struggled to get me where i’m at. I may have stumbled but this class has reminded me i’m not the first one to have to do this. It’s almost a comforting notion.

  

 I know that someone later will have to struggle the same way I have. Have to fall under pressure and get back up. The struggle doesn't end with me or get easier as more people go through it, it comes back. Maybe in a different incarnation but will always be a trial and tribulation for someone forging their own path. “history marches neither forward nor backward: it goes around and round in circles” (Llosa). Were all storytellers, our lives are rich in myth. They can inspire and can show that life goes on. Myth get started with lives being lived, hardships being shared, others listening to them and using them as strength to get on with their lives. Everything we are doing right now is a Myth.

  

 Where I am from is a Myth and I love that. People ask me where i’m from, I say New York, they say “oh wow that’s so cool you're from there, its so great, why are you here of all places?” This upsets me. Im not sure where people have gotten this magical understanding of New York being a fucking beautiful place. It’s not. What you see on tv or hear about in music is a damn myth. Yes the architecture is beautiful, the art in galleries is wonderful, the theaters that put on plays are of great substance. But those are products of people. That isn't New York. If you said wow the people in that city are great then i’d agree, they bust their ass and work hard everyday. That’s the people, not the city. I grew up and got out of Queens, New York. Theres nothing great about that place. Theres nothing beautiful about having to grow up in that shit hole. What’s beautiful is the kids who are even able to make it out of there and survive.

“The monster does not need the hero. it is the hero who needs him for his very existence. When the hero confronts the monster, he has yet neither power nor knowledge, the monster is his secret father who will invest him with a power and knowledge that can belong to one man only, and that only the monster can give.” (Calasso) The Monster for me was Queens, New York. I was just a kid but damn was growing up here a hello of a life. Not in a good way but a reality check on life, I got that very early one, that I have to work my ass off every single day of my life. That what I wanted out of life, my obligation was going to be built on fire, not flash.

“But what do I have? The things I'm told and the things I tell, that's all. And as far as I know, that never yet made anyone fly.” (Llosa) Queens was rough, it taught me a lot about a hard life and what I need to do to get out of it. But those lessons alone will never be enough, the real work, real achievement was going to come from whatI do with that knowledge, how I apply that reality check I grew up on to my goals and make sure I succeed. New York is Myth but I'm the story. 

 New York is such a huge myth is disgusts me. All these fancy ass commercials about it being the “concrete jungle” “dreams are made here” is non-sense to get other people who dont know better to go and visit and spend their damn money. Though I get I am being harsh about it being that I grew up in a shit area and made it out. You dont know shit about New York unless you grew up there, lived and breathed the grime and dirt that makes up that city. You grow a hell of a tough skin, you learn how not to take peoples shit, and generally have an attitude. The myth is that New York is great place, its beautiful and it builds character. No it makes people who live there want to get the hell out. The Myth being the city, the truth is that it’s the hard working people, no not the musicians or actors who come out of that city, the people who run it and keep it together. The teachers, contraction workers, toll booth operators, policemen, fireman, subway workers, the kids who see more than the city. All those people are New York. Don’t ever forget that. I sure as hell haven’t.

   

 Anyway now that that Myth rant is over I suppose i’ll get back to what I learned. I learned, no just refreshed my soul and memory about Myth being in my everyday life. Nothing is the worst thing that can happen. You have to keep going and keep fighting, realize others have gone through what you are right now and they made and so can you. That cycle is never going to end. Stories are our lives, myths are the people before and after us that will live the same story.

Displaced Myth

The Woman and the Cheddar
  
    All John wanted to do was marry a woman who loved sandwiches as much as he did. But not just any sandwiches, they had to be sandwiches with Medium Cheddar cheese. Why John based his preference of woman to marry off the cheese she put on her sandwich is a mystery to everyone. Maybe it was just to save money on buying various cheeses. Who cares, this is a story about a man who loves woman for their taste in sandwich condiments, don’t ask yourself silly questions. He met a lot of women who enjoyed sandwiches as much as he did but they always seemed to like every other cheese but Medium Cheddar. Asiago, Blue, Parmesan, Romano, Gouda, Swiss, Brie, you name it; there was one woman, Angela, who came so close, sharp cheddar, John was devastated that day.
    One evening John went shopping for some groceries. A beautiful woman came up to him an asked if he knew where the cheese was. John thought to himself, this could be it. He politely said he would show her where it is. As they walked together John chatted with the woman, he got her name, Stephanie, and got to know each other a little, well as much as someone could while walking to get cheese. Stephanie took a liking to John and as a result he noticed that he forgot to see what cheese she picked. So John invited her over for lunch. Naturally John decided to make some sandwiches, he laid out all the condiments for Stephanie to choose.
    He abruptly got a call from his mother and had to leave the kitchen. His mother asked if he finally met a woman who liked sandwiches with medium cheddar in them. Quickly he told her he possibly had a keeper. By the time he got back Stephanie had already made her sandwich. They sat down to talk while enjoying the food. Just as John was going to strangely ask Stephanie what cheese she put on her sandwich his mother came bursting through his door. She went up to Stephanie grabbed her sandwich and saw there was cheddar in it. She screamed, “Finally the one woman who likes medium cheddar, only she can be the right woman for John.” Johns mother ran out of the house with the sandwich, politely said before she walked out “sorry for interrupting,” and went home to put the sandwich on her shelf where everyone could see John finally met his dream girl.
    Meanwhile back at Johns, Stephanie was a bit in shock at the crazy that jus happened and asked “what just happened?” John replied, “oh nothing she's crazy, but do you want to get out of here? I know a great deli that has some great cheddar cheese.” Stephanie said “you know what, why not, this may be crazy, but hey I like a guy who enjoys some good cheddar.” So John took Stephanie to the deli to enjoy Cheddar cheese.
There, that is a true story.
   

Queens, New York initiations

One pretty brutal initiation I knew of is from my hometown. Now I have to stress that this isn't one i've been in but only know of it because a friend of mine, unfortunately participated in it. Queens, NY isn't a great place to live or grow up. It's a piece of shit ghetto, kids who make it outa that place are lucky and those who don't fall into some dark parts of their lives. I don't like what he did, I mean I hate it, the main reason why I keep my distance from him is this. We grew up on those streets together and he went one path and I went another. Life there is drastically different than anywhere else so unless you lived there, grew up there, your judgement you try to pass has no merit because life in those streets is another world and youll never understand any of it unless you grew up in those conditions. Also in no damn way to I support or make an excuse for my friends garbage.

anyway, not that I got that outa the way here is the horrible initiation of a gang member in Queens. After you get the shit beat out of you, I seriously mean right after, the new initiated member has a final task, to drive with one other member in a car on the queensboro bridge, drive slowly and wait for a car to get frustrated and cut you off. When the car passes you up you then have to speed up and shoot at the driver of that car. I wont go into too much more detail than that but that is what is expected of a new gang member. So if for whatever reason youre in Queens, New York and driving on the Queensboro bridge past 2 am do not pass a car driving slow. You are warned.

Creation Myth

The Inca Creation Story

"The Inca myths can be divided in two groups - the creation myths and the origin myths.

1. Briefly about creation myths

The world was created by Viracocha near Lake Titicaca. After the great deluge or the receding of chaotic floodwaters Viracocha descended to earth and created plants, animals and men to the empty land; he built the city of Tiahuanaco and appointed 4 world rulers of whom Manco Capak became the superior of the Ursa Major world, i.e. the north horizon


2.1. Myths about the Ayar brothers

Four pairs of brothers-sisters created by Viracocha to rule the world left the cave of Mountain Pacaritambo. The whole world was living in an uncivilised and ignorant manner. The newcomers began with organising the mankind and divided people into ten large communities. Leading the tribes the brothers set off in search of enough fertile land to sustain themselves. They carried Sunturpaucar, a long staff adorned with colourful feathers, a cage with a sun-bird who could give good advice and other sacred objects in front of them. Making shorter and longer stops they moved towards Cuzco. In the course of the long journey the group became smaller: the rivalling brothers confined one of their companions to a cave, two others wished to break away but were turned into stones. The only surviving brother Ayar Manco a.k.a. Manco Capak accompanied by his sister and wife Mama Ocllo and his brothers' wives, founded the city of World Pole in the name of Viracocha the Creator and Inti the Sun God, and settled there with his people.

2.2. A myth of Manco Capak and Mama Ocllo

A long time ago when the world was filled with savages, misery and poverty, a brother and a sister, a married couple Manco Capak and Mama Ocllo left Lake Titicaca. Inti, the sun god had sent them to refine the surrounding peoples, and gave them a golden stick for testing the land for cultivation and then settling in the suitable place. Having found such a place they had to found the state, teach the people how to live proper lives and advocate the worship of the sun god. The journey took a long time. Eventually, in the Cuzco Valley the golden stick disappeared into the ground, and they could start with their mission. Manco Capak taught his people the cultivation and irrigation of land and handicraft, Mama Ocllo taught women spinning, weaving and sewing. The tribe of Manco Capak became to be called by the name of Hanan Cuzco (High Cuzco) and the relatives of Mama Ocllo by the name of Hurin Cuzco (Lower Cuzco). The city and the state was founded in the name of Viracocha and Inti the sun god, also the Sun Temple was built in Cuzco

Bioshock Infinite - Mythology (modern day storytelling)

Modern day storytelling of myths has changed through out the years obviously. New stories are told through the medium of Video games. Video games themselves are myth since its a story you can play out electronically. One game in particular that tells a  hell of a Myth, using real world influences of 1912 is Bioshock Infinite. Beautifully done game, amazing narrative, and creates a stunning world for the player to experience. The two videos below are some advertisements used to promte the game, using old retro style telling ti talk about the myth of Bioshock as if it were a real thing.

      

In 1912, Booker DeWitt is taken by Robert and Rosalind Lutece to an island lighthouse off the coast of Maine. Told to "bring us the girl and wipe away the debt", Booker enters a rocket silo which transports him to Columbia.
Booker is soon pursued by the city authority when he is found bearing a scar of the letters "AD", matching the description of the foretold "False Shepherd" who will corrupt Elizabeth and overthrow Columbia.[17][36] Freeing Elizabeth from her tower, Booker narrowly evades her captor, the "Songbird". Reaching an airship, Booker promises to take Elizabeth to Paris; when she realizes they are going to New York City to wipe Booker's debt, Elizabeth knocks him out. Booker awakes to find the airship under the control of Daisy Fitzroy and the Vox Populi, who offer to return the ship if Booker recovers a weapon shipment.
Finding Elizabeth, Booker continues with her. Assisting with her ability to open Tears, Elizabeth grows disturbed by the consequential damage on Booker and Columbia by her altering reality: one Tear leads them to a world where Booker is a Vox Populi martyr, causing warfare between the Vox Populi and Columbia's Founders. Believing a new, living Booker undermines the martyr Booker's sacrifice, Fitzroy turns her forces against Booker. Elizabeth kills Fitzroy to prevent her from executing a Founder boy.
As they attempt to leave by airship, Songbird attacks the duo and they crash back to Columbia. Continuing onwards, they unravel a conspiracy behind the city's founding: Zachary Hale Comstock had the Lutece twins construct a "Siphon" device to inhibit Elizabeth's powers; Elizabeth is Comstock's adopted daughter, whom he plans to groom into taking over after his death; and Comstock plotted to kill his wife and the Luteces to hide the truth. After Elizabeth is captured by Songbird, Booker pursues but is brought into the future by an elderly Elizabeth; she explains that, since Booker did not stop Songbird, she suffered decades of torture and brainwashing, inheriting Comstock's cause and waging war on the world. Explaining that Songbird always prevented his previous rescue attempts, Elizabeth begs Booker to stop Songbird with his song and returns him to his present.[37]
Booker reaches present Elizabeth, and the pair pursue Comstock to his airship. Comstock demands that Booker explain Elizabeth's past to her; an enraged Booker drowns Comstock. Booker denies knowledge about Elizabeth's finger, but she asserts that he has simply forgotten. Controlling Songbird, the pair fend off a Vox Populi attack, before ordering Songbird to destroy the Siphon. As Songbird turns on Booker again, Elizabeth's powers fully awaken, allowing her to open a Tear and transport them to the underwater city Rapture.[note 1] Appearing inside, Booker and Elizabeth see Songbird crushed outside by the water pressure.[38]
Elizabeth takes Booker to the surface lighthouse, explaining there are countless alternate lighthouses and versions of Booker and Elizabeth; they are within one of infinite possible realities dependent on their choices.[39] She shows that on October 8, 1893, Robert Lutece approached Booker on behalf of Comstock, requesting that he "give us the girl and wipe away the debt," referring to Booker's infant daughter, Anna DeWitt – Booker's "AD" branding. Booker reluctantly agreed, but soon gave chase; arriving as Comstock barely escaped through a Tear, its closing severed Anna's finger. Comstock then raised Anna as his own daughter, Elizabeth, and due to her severed finger, her existing over two realities simultaneously allows her to create Tears and move between them.[40] Robert Lutece, angry at Comstock's actions, convinced Rosalind to help him bring Booker to the reality where Columbia exists to rescue Elizabeth.[35][40]
Elizabeth explains that Comstock will always remain alive in alternate universes, as the Luteces have enlisted different universe Bookers numerous times to try to end the cycle.[37] As stopping Comstock requires intervening in his birth, Elizabeth takes Booker back in time to a baptism he attended in hopes to atone for the sins he committed at Wounded Knee; she explains that, while Booker changed his mind, some alternative Bookers accepted the baptism and were reborn as "Zachary Comstock."[37] Comstock, later aware of his connection to Booker and sterile from overusing the Lutece Tear machine, abducted Anna to provide a biological heir for Columbia. Booker, then joined by other universe Elizabeths at the baptism, allows them to drown him, preventing his baptismal choice and thus preventing Comstock's existence. One by one, the Elizabeths begin to disappear, the screen cutting to black on the last.[40]
In a post-credits scene, a Booker[note 2] awakens in his apartment on October 8, 1893. He calls out for Anna and opens the door to her room before the screen cuts to black.[40]

First Memory

Forgot to write this so I will now. First thing I can remember is being about 5 or 6, hell I honestly don't even remember my age but it was me, at the zoo with my parents. The Bronx Zoo to be exact. The only animal I remember seeing was a lion. My dad had me on his shoulders and I saw the huge lion standing up. Then later I asked for a toy, it was this souvenir toy machine, you put in a dollar or something and it would make a plastic mold of any animal you choose on the machine. I choose a lion. That's the earliest memory in my head

Dark Fantasy - Kanye West. Rap song about myth/fantasy-life

You might think you’ve peeped the scene
You haven’t, the real one’s far too mean The watered down one, the one you know
Was made up centuries ago
They made it sound all wack and corny
Yes it’s awful, blasted boring Twisted fictions, sick addictions
Well gather ‘round children, zip it, listen:

Can we get much higher? So high Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh

I fantasized 'bout this back in Chicago Mercy, mercy me, that Murcielago That's me, the first year that I blow How you say broke in Spanish? Me no hablo Me drown sorrow in that Diablo Me found bravery in my bravado DJ's need to listen to the models "You ain't got no fuckin' Yeezy in your Serato?" Stupid, but what the hell do I know? I'm just a Chi-town nigga with a Nas flow And my chick in that new Phoebe Philo So much head, I woke up in Sleepy Hollow


Look like a fat booty Celine Dion Sex is on fire, I'm the King of Leon-a Lewis
Beyond the truest, hey, teacher, teacher Tell me how do you respond to students? And refresh the page and restart the memory? Respark the soul and rebuild the energy? We stopped the ignorance, we killed the enemies Sorry for the night demons still visit me The plan was to drink until the pain over
But what's worse, the pain or the hangover? Fresh air, rollin' down the window Too many Urkels on your team, that's why your wins low Don't make me pull the toys out, huh Don't make me pull the toys And fire up the engines, huh
And then they make noise


At the mall, there was a seance
Just kids, no parents
Then the sky filled with herons
(I saw the devil) in a Chrysler LeBaron
And the hell, it wouldn't spare us
And the fires did declare us
But after that, took pills, kissed an heiress
And woke up back in Paris

A Myth

I would say New York is a myth in some ways. I'm from New York and I find it strange hearing people on campus speak so wonderfully of the city. Dont get me wrong, the architecture, museums, theaters, and art galleries are indeed beautiful, but the streets are shit, its dirty, it smells. Broadway is an extension of the New York myth. Yes there are some great productions in the theaters there but god is that block a piece of shit. If its the morning and you walk around there youd think youre in a dump. People seem to associate New York as a grand beautiful place. It's not, its shit. The people who make up New York are the real beauty, the city is just their home.