Chris Emlyn-Jones, Valerie Hope and Paula James reveal the enduring importance of myth.

Transcript -- Why study myth?

The popular American TV series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" spanned seven seasons and gained a cult following. But how is it linked to the culture of ancient Greece and Rome? On closer inspection, its characters and narratives are revealed to be new incarnations of ancient classical myths that have filtered down into modern media. This album explores one episode, "I Was Made to Love You", in which Warren creates an artificial perfect girlfriend, just as Pygmalion sculpts an ivory statue to be his partner in Ovid's Metamorphoses. Many interesting parallels demonstrate the way in which universal human anxieties about gender identity, femininity, control and sexuality are continuously being re-examined through myth. This material forms part of The Open University course A330 Myth in the Greek and Roman worlds.

Share Transcript -- Why study myth?

Sign up to save your podcasts

Transcript -- Why study myth?

Transcript -- Why study myth?

More shows like Pygmalion meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer - for iPod/iPhone

Creative Writing - Audio

Exploring babies' and young children's development and learning - Audio

Space, Time and Consciousness - for iPod/iPhone

Space, Time and Consciousness - HD video

Myth in the Greek and Roman Worlds: the Temple of Diana at Nemi - for iPod/iPhone

Understanding dyslexia - for iBooks

Wales: Culture and identity - Audio

Art history: early modern - for iPod/iPhone

Andante: beginners' Italian - Audio

Mergers and Acquisitions - for iPod/iPhone