Brer Rabbit and the Stories of Splash Mountain Myth Analysis

[828tnt]

very nice job! well thought out and well written. i often sit back and think about all of disney's underlying stories. more recently, i've tried provocing some thought in my youngest- 13. he's at an age where some things start coming more into focus....

more disney relevant, this one of the great disney lures to me. not just steel beams and track and stuff- a well thought out story. your a far better writer than i, i'd love to elaborate but can't find all of the words, but i think you completely understand.

thanks for posting, and good luck in school!

 

[krankenstein]

Evan, your writing continues to impress. You are articulate and analyze your topics wholly and completely. I only wish my students were the same. :lol:

It's VERY well done. I can plainly see why you received an A+ for it. :wave:

 

[fosse76]

Not to be a negative Nellie, and since it's already been graded it isn't really an issue, but how is Brer Rabbit or the any of the stories of "Uncle Remus" a myth? Myths, by definition, have some level of believability in them, where the events are so deeply rooted in the tradition of a society that they could conceivably have been real. Obviously today we read and hear some myths and can instantly conclude they were simply stories...but at some point in time they could have been very real. Religion is nothing more than a myth. Talking rabbits and foxes, on the otherhand, are not myths.

 

[jvenegas]

Really good job Evan!:sohappy:

I guess you made a "Splash" with your prof.:lol:

 

[I_heart_Tigger]

Not to be a negative Nellie, and since it's already been graded it isn't really an issue, but how is Brer Rabbit or the any of the stories of "Uncle Remus" a myth? Myths, by definition, have some level of believability in them, where the events are so deeply rooted in the tradition of a society that they could conceivably have been real. Obviously today we read and hear some myths and can instantly conclude they were simply stories...but at some point in time they could have been very real. Religion is nothing more than a myth. Talking rabbits and foxes, on the otherhand, are not myths.

I see what you're saying but it's actually not that uncommon to anthropomorphise animals in the telling of traditions. For example I live in an area where there are 5 islands believed to be created when Glooscap threw mud and sticks at a beaver who had destroyed his medicinal garden. In the story, the beaver speaks to Glooscap. Native myths such as this fall into the allagorical catagory of myths but still are widely accepted as the valued stories of that culture.

Also, in the telling of myth rituals where there is a villian present many believe that by saying the villian is a fox you are indicating that he is sly, this could also be a way of "calling out" the villian without actually getting into trouble. More like passing down the stories of the mean old fox and the smart little bunny while assuming everyone knows the fox is a human slave owner and the bunny is the slave that outsmarted him. Not the wisest story to be passing along if you're the slave.

The lines get blurred however when you cross into fable territory. That is when we are more likely to have the talking animals and the lesson at the end is crisp and clear. I believe that Song of the South still falls under the myth blanket more easily than the fable one because of the way it tries to explain the nature of people and the world they live in (yes, even by using animals) and it's historical references where a fable would end with an uncomplicated maxim on a specific behaviour.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

very nice job! well thought out and well written. i often sit back and think about all of disney's underlying stories. more recently, i've tried provocing some thought in my youngest- 13. he's at an age where some things start coming more into focus....

more disney relevant, this one of the great disney lures to me. not just steel beams and track and stuff- a well thought out story. your a far better writer than i, i'd love to elaborate but can't find all of the words, but i think you completely understand.

thanks for posting, and good luck in school!

Ah, yes, that is exactly what I hope to do.

Thank so much! Wish your son good luck for me!

Evan, your writing continues to impress. You are articulate and analyze your topics wholly and completely. I only wish my students were the same. :lol:

It's VERY well done. I can plainly see why you received an A+ for it. :wave:

Thank you very much, Nick! Appreciate the kind words.

Not to be a negative Nellie, and since it's already been graded it isn't really an issue, but how is Brer Rabbit or the any of the stories of "Uncle Remus" a myth? Myths, by definition, have some level of believability in them, where the events are so deeply rooted in the tradition of a society that they could conceivably have been real. Obviously today we read and hear some myths and can instantly conclude they were simply stories...but at some point in time they could have been very real. Religion is nothing more than a myth. Talking rabbits and foxes, on the otherhand, are not myths.

You are not being negative AT ALL!:wave: In fact, I welcome questions.


I can see where you are coming from, and honestly, I addressed my questions in the same way to the professor....As it turns out, this is a myth because it is folklore. Folklore is myth, it's just in a different style or genre, even.

The true definition of a myth is anything, and I quote from Ghertz and Lee, who penned my textbook, that "A myth is any story whose Truth Value lies outside the literal or even Historical realm". In saying that, we usually focus on the archetype of the Greek Myths or something FAR more grandiose.
Brer Rabbit retains his mythological status because while it does use fantasy to provide for the basis of the story, there is still a lesson learned and still the existence of a parable. In fact, that is almost because of it's status as a National Identity Myth, and because of it's local praxis.

It's all subjective in that sense.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Really good job Evan!:sohappy:

I guess you made a "Splash" with your prof.:lol:

Heheh. Thanks!

I see what you're saying but it's actually not that uncommon to anthropomorphise animals in the telling of traditions. For example I live in an area where there are 5 islands believed to be created when Glooscap threw mud and sticks at a beaver who had destroyed his medicinal garden. In the story, the beaver speaks to Glooscap. Native myths such as this fall into the allagorical catagory of myths but still are widely accepted as the valued stories of that culture.

Also, in the telling of myth rituals where there is a villian present many believe that by saying the villian is a fox you are indicating that he is sly, this could also be a way of "calling out" the villian without actually getting into trouble. More like passing down the stories of the mean old fox and the smart little bunny while assuming everyone knows the fox is a human slave owner and the bunny is the slave that outsmarted him. Not the wisest story to be passing along if you're the slave.

The lines get blurred however when you cross into fable territory. That is when we are more likely to have the talking animals and the lesson at the end is crisp and clear. I believe that Song of the South still falls under the myth blanket more easily than the fable one because of the way it tries to explain the nature of people and the world they live in (yes, even by using animals) and it's historical references where a fable would end with an uncomplicated maxim on a specific behaviour.

This too! Well said!....I forgot to mention that it could also be known as a fable!

 

[afr117]

Extremely well written and well thought out abstract - but, and not to nitpick, why no mention of Joel Chandler Harris?

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Extremely well written and well thought out abstract - but, and not to nitpick, why no mention of Joel Chandler Harris?

:lol: Honestly, no idea!:lol:

I did find out, however, that he's not the concurrent author of the canonized versions! He did the more famous ones, but there are a few that have been written by others.

Perhaps subconsciously, I didn't want to give all the credit to him? :lol:

 

[WDW Vacationer]

Ah, yes, that is exactly what I hope to do.

Thank so much! Wish your son good luck for me!

Thank you very much, Nick! Appreciate the kind words.




You are not being negative AT ALL!:wave: In fact, I welcome questions.


I can see where you are coming from, and honestly, I addressed my questions in the same way to the professor....As it turns out, this is a myth because it is folklore. Folklore is myth, it's just in a different style or genre, even.


The true definition of a myth is anything, and I quote from Ghertz and Lee, who penned my textbook, that "A myth is any story whose Truth Value lies outside the literal or even Historical realm". In saying that, we usually focus on the archetype of the Greek Myths or something FAR more grandiose.
Brer Rabbit retains his mythological status because while it does use fantasy to provide for the basis of the story, there is still a lesson learned and still the existence of a parable. In fact, that is almost because of it's status as a National Identity Myth, and because of it's local praxis.

It's all subjective in that sense.

Even better that you are able to defend it!

I must say that you are a great writer! I have read it many times!

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Even better that you are able to defend it!

I must say that you are a great writer! I have read it many times!

Thank you very much.


Yes, I will defend something to the death.:fork::lol: I hope to make a profession out of that.


But you didn't know that already.:lookaroun

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

And BTW....

This:

...was what I had sitting on my desk as I wrote the piece. I think it helped.:lol:

 

[WDWFigment]

The substance of the paper is excellent, which is really all that matters.

However, since you asked for constructive criticism (I know I like to actually receive it when I request it, rather than just hearing a bunch of congratulatory messages; but maybe you're not like me), I might be a little more diligent in proofreading next time, I did notice some spelling errors.

Additionally, and this is more discretionary, but I would simplify the language in some places. I once had a professor tell me that you should always use the most simple and concise word you can in any given situation. While I don't agree with that advice completely, I also know that when I edit others' Notes, I can tell when it sounds as if they've typed a word, right clicked and found the most 'intelligent sounding' word from the list of synonyms. While your essay doesn't suffer from any word choice issues like that, there were a couple points when I thought the word choices were a little off.

Again, just my opinion and definitely a minor criticism. The actual substance is thought provoking, well reasoned, and carefully articulated. Nice work.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

The substance of the paper is excellent, which is really all that matters.

However, since you asked for constructive criticism (I know I like to actually receive it when I request it, rather than just hearing a bunch of congratulatory messages; but maybe you're not like me), I might be a little more diligent in proofreading next time, I did notice some spelling errors.

Additionally, and this is more discretionary, but I would simplify the language in some places. I once had a professor tell me that you should always use the most simple and concise word you can in any given situation. While I don't agree with that advice completely, I also know that when I edit others' Notes, I can tell when it sounds as if they've typed a word, right clicked and found the most 'intelligent sounding' word from the list of synonyms. While your essay doesn't suffer from any word choice issues like that, there were a couple points when I thought the word choices were a little off.

Again, just my opinion and definitely a minor criticism. The actual substance is thought provoking, well reasoned, and carefully articulated. Nice work.

Thanks for BOTH....I really don't mind it as long as it's respectful! :lol: I appreciate the time you put into a response!

Those might be from when I had to reformat it for posting here. There were hashtags and I had to delete and redo a ton of words that were split up. :lol: Needless to say, I wouldn't turn in a paper like that...:lookaroun/OCD

And as for the wording, yeah, I tend to be VERY flowery in my writing. I really gotta cut down on that, but I hate to do it. I just feel more expressive saying a lot.:lol: Which is wrong, I know....:lookaroun:lol:


thanks for your comments, though, Tom!

Glad you liked it!

 

[wm49rs]

Very well written indeed....

And as for the "myth versus reality" argument, there's a reason that Disney will not sell this movie in the United States, probably ever again...

 

[WDWFigment]

Thanks for BOTH....I really don't mind it as long as it's respectful! :lol: I appreciate the time you put into a response!

Those might be from when I had to reformat it for posting here. There were hashtags and I had to delete and redo a ton of words that were split up. :lol: Needless to say, I wouldn't turn in a paper like that...:lookaroun/OCD

And as for the wording, yeah, I tend to be VERY flowery in my writing. I really gotta cut down on that, but I hate to do it. I just feel more expressive saying a lot.:lol: Which is wrong, I know....:lookaroun:lol:


thanks for your comments, though, Tom!

Glad you liked it!

I can relate to the writing style; I did the same thing throughout undergrad with great success besides with that one professor. I really believe that a rich writing style like that will mask some substantive flaws your papers/essays may have. Whenever I wrote something, I spent the most time on the introduction and conclusion, as they are the two parts I think people read most carefully. An emotionally provoking conclusion can convince the reader to overlook or accept some gaffes in logical reasoning or the construction of your argument. Seriously.

That said, you'll probably have to change your tune in law school (not that it will be difficult for you; it shouldn't be!). There isn't a whole lot of writing (unless you end up on Law Review; then you'll be writing and editing others' work until you go insane), but when you write, an economy of words is absolutely essential. Learn to write fast, concisely, and to get good with abbreviations (this last one was tough for me, as I tend towards being proper in my writing).

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Very well written indeed....

And as for the "myth versus reality" argument, there's a reason that Disney will not sell this movie in the United States, probably ever again...

It's SUCH a foolish one, and if presented correctly, it could REALLY work.:brick:

Really makes me mad, now that I've gotten a little attached to the story...

Thanks, though!

I can relate to the writing style; I did the same thing throughout undergrad with great success besides with that one professor. I really believe that a rich writing style like that will mask some substantive flaws your papers/essays may have. Whenever I wrote something, I spent the most time on the introduction and conclusion, as they are the two parts I think people read most carefully. An emotionally provoking conclusion can convince the reader to overlook or accept some gaffes in logical reasoning or the construction of your argument. Seriously.

That said, you'll probably have to change your tune in law school (not that it will be difficult for you; it shouldn't be!). There isn't a whole lot of writing (unless you end up on Law Review; then you'll be writing and editing others' work until you go insane), but when you write, an economy of words is absolutely essential. Learn to write fast, concisely, and to get good with abbreviations (this last one was tough for me, as I tend towards being proper in my writing).

I bolded the things I already do. That's a very welcoming sigh, Tom. :lol::sohappy:

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Heading back to my Anthropology Class tomorrow to see if I'll be able to use Brer Rabbit for the next part of the project! Hope it goes through!