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LITR 4326
Early American Literature Research Posts 2016 (research post assignment) Research Post 2 |
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Kasey
Akin
The common themes of all cultures
In
most established cultures religion can be found as well as mythology about the
evils that exist in parallel with the good. Across the broad selection of early
American cultures to choose from I had always preferred the stories that I would
hear about from along the eastern seaboard and when I shared these stories at
home I was reminded that even as far away as Alaska there are legends about much
of the same. I began this research with generically looking for early myths
across the Americas and found shamanism myths in Alaska that are very similar to
what we see in the New England states.
In
the New England states we often see the image of the cat, owl, or even raven as
the familiar to an agent of a darker power but, the
Tornarsuk of Alaska was not the
same type of familiar. This familiar served a Shaman that was not necessarily
evil or had cruel intentions but served more to keep a balance in the world. The
tornarsuk was not a common creature either it was a bear that would walk upright
and had only one are with which to serve the Shaman and his end goal. Although
the different Alaskan cultures all had a similar myth about familiars their
descriptions varied greatly sometimes they would be described more like a sea
monster and less like something that is common.
Aztec cultures also held an abundance of Mythological figures and some of the
more easily recognized creatures are often seen in stone carvings and
portrayals. The La Chusa is a modern demon that has lived on from mythology and
now still is seen in modernity but as the legend has progressed it has been seen
as a witch. There is actually an abundance of stories that can be found but
finding the individual writers of the stories and they having a deeply rooted
part of the culture is difficult to find. Most of the writers are anthropologist
or historians seeking to make note of history.
Cites:
http://www.deliriumsrealm.com/
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