Modern mythology refers to popular characters and images in modern writing and entertainment that have acquired a mythological status. It includes comic book characters, folk heroes, and celebrities. Unlike ancient mythology, modern mythology is created within the last few hundred years and often reflects modern values. It is not used to refer to religious tales or figures.
Modern mythology refers to characters and images that remain popular and in use in modern writing, entertainment, and popular thought who have acquired a mythological stature or nature as a result of such works. This term is often used to refer to various works of popular culture, such as comic books, as the characters within them often appear to emulate many of the models of heroism and storytelling found in ancient mythological systems and stories. Modern mythology may also contain people who have lived in recent memory, who may be elevated to a status that seems to fit the heroes or legends of ancient myths, and may include folk heroes as well.
One major distinction between modern mythology and ancient mythology is that events or figures in more modern works remain in circulation or exist today. These characters and stories were typically created or written within the last few hundred years, rather than the thousands of years that often separate the present from ancient myths. The characters or events that popularize such myths often emulate modern values or ideas, but do so in a way that is still reminiscent of the characters and stories used in ancient myths and legends.
Comic book characters, for example, are often considered part of modern mythology. The various superheroes and similar characters found in comics are often compared to mythological heroes such as Hercules or Perseus, with strengths and weaknesses that are often described as legendary and are emblematic of mythological heroes. Pop culture figures, including celebrities from the last few decades or the century, can also be considered figures from modern mythology. Many of these people lived somewhat unbelievable lives and the stories about these people are often exaggerated and expanded to become legendary and turn these people into “larger than life” figures.
There are also a number of popular heroes and characters who are often considered part of modern mythology, many of which are related to particular cultural or national narratives. In the United States, for example, such characters as John Henry, Johnny Appleseed and even Davey Crocket have become legendary characters whose real deeds and fictional stories become almost inseparable. Modern mythology is not typically used to refer to religious tales or figures, however, even though the ancient myths studied today largely derive from past religious movements. The term “myth” indicates that a story is inherently fictitious or false and can be extremely offensive when applied to someone’s religious beliefs.
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