National Symposium on ‘Mythic Worlds, Modern Words…’ held at St Aloysius College
Mangaluru: The Department of English, St Aloysius College (Autonomous) organized a one-day National Symposium on “Mythic Worlds, Modern Words: Order, Divergence and Subversion” on 20th September 2019 in the Robert Sequeira Hall of the College.
Prof. Ettienne Rassendren, Associate Professor, St Joseph’s College of Arts and Science, Bengaluru was the Chief Guest. Principal, Rev. Dr Praveen Martis, SJ, presided over the programme. Controller of Examinations, Dr Alwyn D’Sa, HOD of Department of English, Dr Ratan Tilak Mohunta, Convenor of the Programme, Manual Souza were on the dais.
After unveiling the theme of the symposium, Dr Etienne Rassendran took up a technical session on Spaces and Nationalities: Myths and their Implications. He spoke of Australian aboriginal myths, which are indigenous to their culture. He gave a picture of dream line stories of Australian origin and how geographical spaces defines myths.
Around 30 research scholars presented papers during the symposium. Ms Rowena compered the programme. Dr Ratan Tilak Mohunta welcomed the gathering and introduced the Chief Guest. Manual Souza proposed the vote of thanks.
About the Symposium :
Myths have fascinated people throughout history. Ancient Myths have survived through time, nurtured mainly by an oral tradition and the explanatory power it gained through its organic links with sacred rituals. They have always been in circulation throughout history and evoked the interest of anthropologists. Mythic narratives made a significant impact on all religions of the world; however some religions distanced themselves from myths in order to protect the “sacredness” of their own myths.
Many disciplines including, history, sociology, cultural anthropology, ethnography and tribal studies have taken great interest in studying myths. However, if we look at the renewed interest in myth as one of the cultural contradictions of modernity, then it can as well be seen as a subtle method of subversion.