A “Cultural Lens” Theory/Method of Understanding Myths and Stories of All Kinds

Drake Monsters Core

I. The Theory

1) The Thing Itself. Historical reality or Fact. Thing itself being Represented. Signified.

2) The Cultural Lens. Process.

A) Cultural Values, including but not limited to:

            i) Taboos, moral and ethical codes of conduct. What is “right” and “wrong”, just and unjust etc.

ii) Socio-economic, material means of production. Means and process through which goods and services are harvested, produced and distributed.

iii) Extent and Limits of “Scientific” Knowledge concerning natural world (phenomena); epistemological definitions of “truth”; technological control of natural world (phenomena) etc.

B) Cultural, Artistic and Technological Process, including but not limited to:

i) How Information/Data/Values/Taboos etc. are gathered and transmitted (oral, written, printed, silent film, talking film, recordings etc). Also: language and symbols themselves.

ii) Aesthetics (Seduction): cultural values concerning both:

            a) what is beautiful vs. ugly, cool vs. uncool etc.

            b) what is interesting and compelling vs. boring

3) Representation or Product.  Myth. Story. Signifier. Symbol. The novel, poem, song, movie, play, commercial, “Little Red Riding Hood”

            What is produced by combining:        1) Knowledge of the Thing Itself/Signified

                                                                        2) The Cultural Lens

                                                                        3) The Cult. & Tech. Process

4) Viewer’s or Reader’s Cultural Lens, including again everything in #2 again concerning the Viewer’s own culture.

II. The Purpose of This Theory or Model

Understanding this model helps reader’s/viewer’s to:

            a) Unlock hidden symbolism: to read beyond plot/character etc. to reveal THEME/MEANING

            b) Better understand the culture producing the myth

c) Better understand the cultural processes influencing all knowledge and how that knowledge is transmitted effectively (define) across cultures, across time.

d) Better understand objectively how our own cultural and personal beliefs were formed by these myths and the cultures and cultural values that produced them.

e) Ultimately, make objective choices concerning the values and actions all myths – whether they are the film Troy, the children’s story Little Red Riding Hood, an argument presented by a lawyer or politician concerning laws that will affect ours or others lives, or a Super Bowl halftime beer ad etc. -- ask us to believe.

III. The Method

Putting this theory into Practice involves:

1) Applying Critical Thinking skills to literary or fictional  and graphic sources

2) Understanding how literary etc. sources forward arguments; how these argument are similar and different from other formal types of arguments.

3) Analyzing sources using Dramatic Elements (how Plot, Character, Setting and Symbol form Theme)

4) Understanding the function of symbols and representation as they relate to the Dramatic Elements.

5) Gathering, understanding and analyzing objective, empirical data concerning #1 above, whatever’s being represented and #2, the cultures producing the representation. Basically, studying history and cultures.