Myth Presentation Project

For this project, our group worked together to come up with the concept and to design the framework of all of the section. My specific role within the group was to cover applications of the Trickster figure within modern media. I came up with a total of five examples, complete with questions designed to prompt class discussion. Due to time limitations I was only able to present two of these examples in class (the Dogma and A Dog's Breakfast examples), but I will list all five here so as to adequately show the preparation that went into the project.


title of the section: "Tricksters in Modern Media"


Slide 1, example 1 intro text:
Dogma.
Two fallen angels, Bartleby and Loki, stop by at a corporate board meeting. They expose the terrible secrets which all of the board members save one possess and then go on to teach them a "lesson" in a brutal and yet somehow still humorous way.

clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWshPH_jsjQ
(I could not find a shorter version and it's far too long, so whoever is playing them will just need to start the clip at 4:50).

Slide 2, example 1 summary text
Dogma.
In this scene, Loki embodies the dark and sinister side of the Trickster. He is still humorous and playful even in his rampage ("Gum?"), and his purpose is to teach a lesson on the basis of humanity. However, most tricksters from mythology are not as dark as Loki is here. Why do you think that is?



Slide 3, example 2 intro text:
How I Met Your Mother, "The Bracket"
In this episode, Barney finds that he is being sabotaged by a woman whom he had wronged in the past. He gets his friends to help him figure out who she is.

clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvTpj2j0q7o

Slide 4, example 2 summary text
How I Met Your Mother, "The Bracket"
Later in the episode, we find that Barney's exploints include taking a girl camping only to leave her in the woods (by stealing her own truck), has some story about a "fake baby", and once faked an evil twin (and slept with the girl as both Barney and Larney).
What aspects of the Trickster does Barney embody?



Slide 5, example 3 intro text:
Supernatural, "Mystery Spot"
In this episode of the scifi/horror series, the Trickster attempts to break Sam and Dean out of the cycle of sacrificing themselves for each other by forcing Sam to live the same Tuesday over and over. Only Sam remembers every Tuesday, but the same thing happens every day in different ways.

clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbMDNygQt_E

Slide 6, example 3 summary text
Supernatural, "Mystery Spot"
In the rest of the episode, the Trickster lets Sam and Dean continue to Wednesday... but has Dean get shot in a common mugging. Sam then lives for the next six months with Dean dead, until he finally tracks down the Trickster and begs him to undo Dean's death. The Trickster takes pity and relents. He puts them back to that first Wednesday, and this time lets Dean live.
In what ways is the Trickster from Supernatural typical or atypical from the mythological version?



Slide 7, example 4 intro text
Psych
In this TV series, Shawn Spencer owns a detective agency along with his friend Gus. He solves his crimes by faking the possession of psychic powers (when he's actually just hyper-observant and quick-witted).

clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TecY8KNj8Lk (Just play until 1:34)

Slide 8, example 4 summary text
Psych
Shawn embodies many of the lighter aspects of the trickster. Among the ten fundamental aspects, he is clearly an opportunist, a mischief-maker, an amorous adventurer, a lazy work avoider, and a clown of the body. He never seems to embody the darker side of the Trickster, however. What was some reasons for that?



Slide 9, example 5 intro text
A Dog's Breakfast
In this movie, Patrick is a very weird man who misunderstands a phone conversation and thinks his sister's fiance (whom he hates) is going to kill her... so Patrick plots to kill him first.

clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmN6u8iYFlI

Slide 10, example 5 summary text:
in the movie, his sister and fiance know that Patrick hates him, and trick him into believing that he has successfully murdered the fiance. Needless to say, hilarity ensues.
In what ways does Patrick embody multiple aspects (light and dark) of the Trickster?
What do you feel is most appropriate to our society's version of Tricksters: mischevious but good, malicious, or a mix of the two? Why?