This analysis explores the ways that mythological ideas have been employed in recent media/texts leading to the discussion of a new form of mythology that arises out of recombinancy, hybridity, and dynamic popular culture. In each segment a classic myth has been compared to a modern instance showing that myths talk through popular culture about media, not gods, today. Chapter one examines Beckett's Happy Days and the use of the Orpheus myth. Chapter two details Charles Ludlum's farce, The Mystery of Irma Vep and illustrates how that quick-change text replicates the mythological trajectory of Bellerophon and the Chimera. Chapter three examines Andy Warhol's icy portraits and satiric persona to project the Medusa, a stunning reflection of society. Chapter four explores Julie Taymor's contemporary Narcissus figures in The Tempest, Lion King and The Magic Flute a series of puppet/human hybrid works largely in love with themselves and their post humanity. Finally, chapter five slashes through animated action epic, Samurai Jack as a response to the Myth quest of Jason's Argonautica. This project assumes changes in myth are accelerated by our media enriched environment and substitute for a loss in our sense of the mystical.
展开▼