Ancient mythology is still being updated with contemporary ideas. While there are frequent trends in the kinds of stories that are presented to consumers, from the superhero adventures in comic books to the adventure blockbusters on the big screen, the majority of the story arcs can typically be traced back to the myths of early civilization.
The mythology of modern cinematic and imaginative fictional landscapes continues to be infused with divinities and heroes, monsters, and magic of the Norse, Roman, Greek, Egyptian, Aztec, and countless other communities and cultures. However, despite the fact that these legends may have previously taken on different guises in order to reach out to a broader audience, they are currently attempting a comeback in many current projects in the form in which they were originally intended.
Yes, more than virtually any other genre, fantasy and science fiction will always draw inspiration from mythology, albeit unwittingly at times.
The Foundation of Contemporary Storytelling
Stories have always been recounted by people. A good story has the power to convey a meaningful message, foster artistic insight into deeper emotional struggles, or even serve as light amusement. As a result, mythology is deeply ingrained in ancient religion; stories about gods and demons aid in understanding how the world came to be. It has always provided answers for the unexplainable, serving as a valuable lens through which to see reality.
Those tales were never forgotten. Simply put, they have been reinterpreted in contemporary popular culture. Zeus, Isis, and Loki may no longer be mentioned (at least rarely), but the ideas they address remain the same. For instance, the tragic love tales of William Shakespeare’s plays resemble the Romans’ sentimental musings in many ways. The old tales had a similar impact on the bard as they do on many other well-known writers and world-builders today. The structure and foundation of contemporary narrative may be myths in all their ideas, themes, and manifestations, but sci-fi and fantasy are where it has had the most impact.
The Place of Mythology in Epic Fantasy and Science Fiction
Harry Potter, Star Wars, Game of Thrones, Star Trek, and The Lord of the Rings… are just a few of the largest franchises on the globe at the moment. While there are many variances across all of those traits, there are also many parallels. Each tale has its own set of genre-based clichés that can be related to, and those conventions can trace their roots back to classical mythology.
A group of warriors assigned a specific mission, the chaos of a king’s court, the power of prophecy, an aged, wise, and enigmatic master, and an unexplainable force that connects the cosmos together. Every single one of those plot points might just as readily be related to any of the aforementioned series as they could be assigned to the long-forgotten civilizations’ legends.
The foundation of fantasy and science fiction continues to come from mythology more than any other category, probably unconsciously as well. The truth is that practically every imaginable attempt to write history will mention some aspect of past events. That has not always been completely disregarded. The attempt to bring our fascination with these subjects to the big screen is perfectly illustrated by oldies like Jason and the Argonauts. Though there have been a few exceptions, myths have never completely dominated contemporary pop culture in their original form. Prior to recently.
Modern Trends
A few projects per year may often be solely centered on the mythology of a defunct religion. That might have been introduced in classic films via the so-called sword-and-sandal genre. Despite the fact that it appears more frequently on paper, myths have never supplanted crime dramas, ensemble comedies, or spy thrillers when examining the entertainment business as a whole. Even in those science fiction and fantasy movies, the real personalities and stories of the myths they drew their inspiration from were never given any attention.
But in 2023, it will be difficult to visit a movie theater, sign up for a streaming service, visit a bookstore, or pick up a comic book without seeing Zeus, Isis, or Loki. The genuine stories are being shown to audiences once more, rather than reimaginings with new protagonists, places, and story devices.
It is not hard to understand why people are so fascinated by this genre. It includes the exact same world-building, character arcs, and outstanding components of the stories we all know and love. However, there is a historical basis for them. We are aware that these myths were ultimately the ones that created civilization on a deeper level.
Impact on Comics
It is important to note at this point that the field of comic books has greatly borrowed from everything we have discussed, in addition to historians revisiting those old concepts and contemporary authors continuing to compose works about those ancient eras.
Although that is unquestionably an older trend, graphic novels’ years of popularity are clearly still felt today on both the big and small screens. One needs only glance at the two largest comic book universes, Marvel and DC, to see that the ancient gods are directly influencing the creation of new works. While Thor is the heir to Asgard, Wonder Woman is a member of a group of Greek soldiers. A variety of theological themes were memorably tangled together in Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman. These ideas are still prevalent in the comic book sector today and are just a small part of the long-brewing pop culture takeover in comics.
Graphic Novels to Movies on the Big Screen
It might be the Eternals’ initial works or the Asgardian myths. Marc Spector’s transformation into the Egyptian deity Khonshu may perhaps be the cause. With films like Moon Knight, Loki, Thor, and Eternals, the Marvel Cinematic Universe itself has brought ancient mythology back into popular culture. The same is true over on the DC side, where titles like The Sandman and Wonder Woman are bringing up similar themes.
The superhero genre has taken over the world at the moment, but it has also allowed for the revival of some old favorites that many might have thought would not have much of an impact on modern stories. That is really important because popular culture loves to adopt new fashions. With gods taking on such a prominent role, it simply pushes other channels and forms of expression into similar topics, abandoning other stylings altogether and instead totally embracing mythology.
Video Games
Ancient civilizations have long dominated the video game business. A prime example is the most recent iteration of the God of War narrative, which blends Greek and Norse myth. However, players actually desire to live in a bygone era filled with the ethereal tales they previously read about in Hades, Assassin’s Creed in its various guises, or even Ghost of Tsushima.
Of course, touring Hogwarts and Middle-Earth is fascinating, but the appeal of these kinds of books is that they are centered on places that people previously believed to be real. They capture a time when people believed in the afterlife, dragons, or gods and had a peculiar sense of reality. It seems like the logical next step is to search more broadly for the adventures players are seeking after the Arthurian legend’s love of medieval and fantasy settings infiltrated games like The Witcher or Skyrim.
When we speak about the influence of mythology on video gaming, there is another direction: the influence on video games that are played in casinos, whether physical or online. Hades, Total War Saga: TROY, Imperiums: Greek Wars… the entertainment sector, which includes the best online casinos all gathered in one place at TopCasinoExpert.com, continues to be influenced by Greek and other mythologies. Slot video games, for instance, can greatly benefit from the heroic wars, retribution, and mythological monsters found in ancient Greece. These themes have also sparked advances in other facets of the entertainment business.
New Literature
Additionally, an entire subgenre of books continues to delve into our comprehension of those primitive storytelling methods and the different manners in which we might retell them. However, the general public’s curiosity has led to some unexpected events. Must-reads include Stephen Fry’s gripping depictions of Greek myths in Mythos, Heroes, and Troy, as well as Neil Gaiman’s retellings of those classics in Norse Mythology and the West-African-influenced Anansi Boys.
However, the emergence of social media in consumption patterns, from Bookstagram to BookTok, additionally prompted the publication of more lore-based novels from the standpoint of reusing these stories in creative ways. Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim, which combines Western folktales with ancient Chinese and Japanese literature, The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, and Ariadne by Jennifer Saint are just a few notable examples of books that show how readers’ tastes are changing. Additionally, Rick Riordan’s work in other cultures is especially important for children. The expanding consumer base is yearning for these fascinating reimaginings across many industries, not just publishing.
Why Do We Always Recur in the Same Stories?
At the end of the day, entering these universes is something that is immensely alluring. They serve as the foundation for the beloved fables of today and were once regarded as the pillars of our own civilizations. It is great that we now pay tribute to ancient mythology in modern ways because it has played such a significant role in the history of humanity.
As a greater number of people rediscover the old stories, those legends’ effect on popular culture will only increase. It is interesting to note that, despite how commonplace many of these scenes seem, many people are unfamiliar with the exploits of Greek or Mesopotamian heroes. The upcoming trend has a certain freshness and creativity that, despite its age, can only be good for movies and other forms of entertainment.
About Author
