Elements of Mythology in Popular American Culture Watching the Phoenix Rising from the Ashes

Elements of Mythology in Popular American Culture Watching the Phoenix Rising from the Ashes Despite the fact that Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome vanished long ago, their culture has not fallen into oblivion. Though the characters of the Greek and Roman mythology no longer seem just as credible as the Ancient Greeks and Romans saw them, these characters are still an integral element of the modern culture, and especially pop culture. However, the elements of mythology might not factor in the content of the pop culture Justas well as the authors of the reference think.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Elements of Mythology in Popular American Culture: Watching the Phoenix Rising from the Ashes specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More One of the most famous examples of the use of the ancient mythology characters in popular culture must be the mentioning of the famous Greek goddess, Venus, in one of the recent commercials, which is, in fact, based on a song about Venus. In the commercial, some elements of the song are u sed, with Jennifer Lopez performing. On the one hand, the idea of femininity which the whole commercial is shot through seems to be quite in tune with the image of Venus. However, such lines as â€Å"Feeling confidence and strength† can hardly be attributed to the Greek idea of femininity, especially strength, which is a purely male feature in the Ancient Greek mythology. Therefore, the authors of the commercial turned the Greek mythical beauty into a modern image of a femme fatale. Hence, it can be admitted that the authors of the commercial have offered a peculiar idea; however, this idea landed too far from the original context. The second example can be considered cheating, since the product itself is a reference to the Ancient Greek mythology with a number of references to the rpeesent-0day pop culture. Hercules was a huge innovation at the time, and a new way of telling the old story. However, it is still a movie for children, which is why it should be viewed as a moder n story about a man learning where he belongs, with an Ancient Greek background. However, it still seems that basing a movie for children on such an ambiguous character as Hercules, who further on killed his wife, Megara, does not seem a good idea. To avoid the controversy, the movie director had to cut a lot of essential elements, making it another coming-of-age story, but not an interpretation of a myth. Finally, comic books as a huge chunk of the modern era must be considered. In one of the most famous comic universes, DC, a character based on one of the most famous Ancient Greek mythological creatures, a phoenix, was created. Jean Grey, known further on as Phoenix, turns into the above-mentioned creature, bringing destruction and chaos into the entire universe. This is another good example of reviving the long-forgotten myths. The comic book adds an important social context to the image of the mythological bird, i.e., the idea of equality, which, as a phoenix, cannot be killed, defeated or washed away by the sands of time.Advertising Looking for essay on comparative literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It seems that the use of the elements of Greek and Roman mythology in the context of the present-day popular culture can be justified by the proper use of the aforementioned elements. For instance, when referring to a certain idea which has already been expressed in some of the famous Greek myths, or when developing a character that can relate to one of the characters in the ancient mythology, the latter can be used. However, the use of these elements must make sense both regarding the source material and the new context; otherwise the whole idea will most likely fall flat. BeyondBeautifulJLO. â€Å"Jennifer Lopez’s Gillette Venus Commercial.† YouTube. 3 Feb. 2012. Web. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__B2s68et-o. Hercules. Ex. Prod. Ron Clemens, John Musker and Barry Jo hnson. Burbank, CA: Walt Disney Pictures.1997. DVD. Phoenix (Jean Grey) n. d. Web. http://i.annihil.us/u/prod/marvel//universe3zx/images/6/6a/JeanGrey442.jpg.