Notion myth and heroes

Myth and heroes

I’m going to speak about the notion Myth and heroes. Myths and heroes contribute to the collective and personal identity. This also applies to the identity of Americans: myths and heroes have shaped their tradition and history, and newly invented myths and heroes still shape their daily lives.

What are the myths and heroes that have marketed American society?

At first, I will talk about myths, then heroes.

A myth is a traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of people or explaining a natural or social phenomena, and typically involving supernaturals beings an events.

We can take the exemple of Elvis Presley, We studied a text in class that retraces his life. Elvis Aaron Presley was a singer and an actor. He was born in 1935 in Tupelo. Called “The King”, he is one of the greatest icone of the XXè century. He started to sing in 1954, with his first single “Heartbreak Hotel”. Then, he goes on television appearences and hit singles. His talent as a singer and his gestures deemed provocative/indecent make him a figurehead of rock’ n’ roll, but also a subject of controversy.

Unfortunately, fragilazed by years of excensive consumption of drugs, alcohol.. He died in his Graceland mansion in 1977, at the age of 42.

Elvis Presley is considered as a myth, a legend by his planetary succes, some people believe that he’s a god. Morever, his death is a little mysterious. Many people think that he is already alive.

We can also take the example of Marilyn Monroe to illustrate the myth.

Marilyn Monroe was an actress and a singer. She was born in 1926 in Los Angeles. She’s being spotted and siging his first contract with 20th century fox in August 1946.

In the early 1950’s, she became a Hollywood star and sex symbol. In spite of her immense notoriety, her private life is a failure and her career leaves her unsatisfied. The causes of his dath at the age of 36 remain the object of many speculation (suicide, overdose, political assassination..) which contributing to its status as a cultural icone, as a myh.

More than fifty years after her death, Marilyn Monroe remains one of the best knows actresses. Many documentaries and biographies have been dedicated to him. His image was lot used, especially in the pop-art world by Andy Warhol in 1964, and still used today.

Her tortured history and her  complicated loves have also helped to forge the myth and still fascinate.

BUT American society has not only marked by myths, but also by heroes.

A hero is a person who is admired for his or her courage, outstanding achievements or noble qualities. He can be unreal like the famous Captain America or Superman, but he can be real.

We can take the example of Martin Luther.

MLK was born at Atlanta, in Georgie, in 1929. He was an Afro-American Baptist pastor, nonviolent activist for black civil rights in the United States for peace and against poverty.

He organizes actions such as the boycott of Montgomery buses to defend the right to vote, desegregation and employment of ethnic minorities. He delivered a famous speech on August 28, 1963 in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington during the March for Jobs and freedom. “I have a dream”. Here again, it’s an assassination that has marked history. April 4, 1968 he is shot in the throat on the balcony of Lorraine motel at Memphis. James Earl Ray was accused of murder even though there are a lot of mystery about his murder and many theories.

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