What's in a Title?

Old bottles of wine aging by candle light
 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The mouse is dead!  A good thing, too, because I was starting to think that Rebbie needed her eyes (or maybe her mind) examined.  Anyway, I'm still revising my research paper, and I finally came up with a title that I like.  Dr. Toffee wants us to try to use what she calls a "double-barrelled" title, which just means a title with a subtitle, divided by a colon.  And, I guess she's right, because all of the articles I've looked at for my project have that kind of title. 

I was home for dinner last night, for once, and the 'rents were asking me about how my classes were going.  I never know how to answer that in a way that won't have them giving me advice or a lecture (you know what I mean!).  I didn't even mention geology, because that would have brought on the lecture for sure, but I talked about my PJ1 paper to distract them, since that seems to be going okay.  When I explained what it was about, they were both interested, and we talked about neo-mythology until we were done eating.  One of the things my dad said gave me an idea.  He said, "so, it's like new wine in old bottles, isn't it?"  I'd never heard that expression before, but in a way, he's right.  The filmmakers aren't using their old bottles (existing mythology/folklore) to trick the audience, but it is kind of a selling point just the same. 

And, that's why I've decided to call my paper "New Wine in Old Bottles:  Neo-Mythology and Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief."  I like it.    

Related articles

• Paper wine bottle to go on sale in US (thedrinksbusiness.com)
• Chill Wine Like A Pro (wine.answers.com)
• No really, They're Making Wine For Cats (ktla.com)
• How much wine do you need for a party? (grapeadventure.wordpress.com)

The Last Neo-Mythology Characteristics

English: This image outlines the basic path of the monomyth, or "Hero's Journey". (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I've been so busy (and grossed out over the mouse, which is still missing) that I almost forgot to finish my model explanation.  So, the third characteristic is that the story using existing mythology is new:  new plot, new hero(es).  This is sort of self-explanatory, isn't it?  Some films that fit into this category have more new aspects than others, but I'm not going to rule any out on this basis. 
The fourth requirement is that the setting must be at least partly in the current reality.  Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief  has Mt. Olympus at the top of the Empire State Building and the entrance to Hades via the Hollywood sign, both of which are instantly recognizable to most people on the planet, I would guess.  Of course, this definitely rules out Tolkein, but I think that's very reasonable.  Yes, it's a new (20th century) mythology, but as for genre, it's traditional fantasy.
And lastly, number 5 is that it must be a quest.  I'd almost have to say that this would rule out the Twilight movies, since I can't see anything like a hero's journey (I can't even see a hero!) in them, but I don't want to argue about it, so if anybody wants to take it on, they're getting a free pass from me.
And that's that.  

Related articles

• Book Review: Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief (grimorde.com)
• The Heroes Journey and Monomythology (martinabrajkovic.wordpress.com)
• A little Greek Mythology.... (francalanger.wordpress.com)
• Hero's and Villain's Journeys (zachsurace.wordpress.com)

The Case of the Missing Mouse

The Missing Mouse (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It may seem as though I've fallen behind again, but I haven't.  About a week ago, my sister Rebecca saw (or did she?) a mouse run under my desk, which is fortunately not in my bedroom, or I wouldn't have slept for days by now.  I can't stand mice.  It's not a question of being afraid of them; they are just so repulsive, so disgusting, that I feel like barfing when I see one.  Rebbie has been letting me use her laptop since then, and I managed to get my draft finished in time.  Now that it's been so long and none of the traps have been sprung, I figure it's safe to use my own computer, which has all of the stuff I need for this blog, so I'm back.

Just in case you were wondering.

Related articles

• Mouse Vs Biscuit- A note to all entrepreneurs... (flexiworkforce.wordpress.com)
• Positive Prevention A Carpel Tunnel Mouse (onlinecarpaltunnel.wordpress.com)
• Mouse rescue (coolkidscreations.net)
• Mouse (merrymachiavelli.wordpress.com)
• A houseless mouse (annashestitcheswords.wordpress.com)