h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Theseus - A658370
Author: Mina - U290

This was written for a uni project that has fallen by the wayside, so I've decided to add my entries into PR.

Tell me it's going to get in.

This is a fascinating story, very well-written and very interesting, and I think it would be truly excellent as part of a uni project.

But as far as the Edited Guide is concerned, the very first rule is to write about reality and don't expect fiction to get edited.

I take this to mean that it would be OK to refer to the story of Theseus to illustrate a wider theme or make some particular points, perhaps about gods or mythology or the ancient Greeks or history or something.

For example, the Edited entry on Daedalus A470981 has a lot more than just the story or myth. It looks at different versions by different authors, considers the importance of the character and symbolism of Daedalus, and so on.

No doubt the uni project would have gone into all these aspects and more, so in that context it would be good to have an account of the myth.

But as it stands the entry is just story-telling, which is great but it's fiction. Now maybe that's ok for the edited guide - but until now I have thought not.

Bels

Has the Uni entry fallen by the wayside, then Mina? I thought it was almost complete. I contributed to it as well.

Bels,

As far as fact and fiction is concerned, I was under the impression as that as the Myths are part of our history, and according to Graves, they are based on historical fact (not as exactly portrayed in the stories, granted), they are fair game. I'm sure there have been other entries on similar stuff that has been edited. I can easily check.

Better still, Mina, as an italic, you can check.

Why is there a section for mythology and folklore, then?

Great article.

#But as far as the Edited Guide is concerned, the very first rule is to write about reality and don't expect fiction to get edited.#

A paragraph at the top, or even just a title change to reflect that this is a myth, would surely suffice?

I'm really very confused about this issue. I noticed that the very latest Peer Review page wording also forbids 'fiction'.

My assumption is that fiction, whether it is classed as mythological or not, is ok as the basis for an informative entry, but that simply telling or recounting a fictional story is not what the EG is for.

Further clarification would be greatly appreciated.

Bels

Personally, I think that mythology shouldn't be grouped with fiction. To me, mythology implies that it is part of a culture. It's handed down by oral story telling traditions and usually recorded in more tangible forms such as carvings, writings and similar objects. It's also usually conveying a moral or describing some significant event in the framework of the culture's beliefs.

Fiction, on the other hand, is an artificial construct that entertains. It may be based on some real-world event or RW people. It does, unlike mythology, have an easily identifiable author while myths are usually not attributable to a single author.

I think this is worth of the EG since it is describing a story that played a part in shaping the Greek belief system.

My 2 cents (Canadian pennies, so your mileage may vary)...

"To me, mythology implies that it is part of a culture."
Non-mythological fiction can also be part of a culture. H2G2. Scrooge. Big Brother. Huck Finn and Uncle Tom's Cabin. Enid Blyton. Kafka. etc etc

"It's also usually conveying a moral or describing some significant event in the framework of the culture's beliefs."
Can also be true of Non-mythological fiction. Austen, Bronte, George Eliot, Dickens, Conrad, Henry James, Herman Melville, etc etc.

"Fiction, on the other hand, is an artificial construct that entertains."
It is no more nor less 'artificial' than mythology is. And it doesn't necessarily entertain - there are dozens of long, boring, dry as dust works of fiction that are anything but entertaining. And it is not as if they were ever intended to entertain. And myths can be just as entertaining, if not more so.

"It may be based on some real-world event or RW people."
Are you talking about biography or history here? Fiction is defined as being about imaginary events or people.

Bels

The thing with mythology, is that it is generally considered there is some truth behind it. It maybe diluted, but the general theme is there. The entry of this article would allow a point of reference for this subject.

Terran

That still doesn't distinguish mythology from other forms of fiction. Most fiction has some truth behind it, points a moral, has educational value, and has the potential to be part of the cultural fabric. Great literature rocks!

But fiction is still fiction.

Bels

I think the fiction prohibition refers to those early attempts to get entries like 'Hanging out in the spaceport of Arcturus-7' into the Edited Guide (which was the Approved Guide back then)

I don't think prohibiting 'fiction' means one cannot write about fictional characters or works.

Now I'm off to read the entry!

- X

And now that I'm back, I would agree that some indication that this is one of the Greek myths would be a Good Thing.

If only because this is one I'd never heard of (stupid American school system! ).

There was a small typo in the second paragraph of the Great Year subheader as well 'He was indignant that the tribute still had to be paid, even though the Pallentids had been destorye' - you forgot the 'd'.

But otherwise this looks good to me - though there was a comment hanging off the entry that might need addressed.



- Jimi X

Bels, I was thinking of the "historical fictions" that some authors produce -- a totally fictional battle taking place in a real war, for example.

Dear All,

Mina asked for some clarification on this one, on behalf of Bels. I agree that as it stands it certainly needs an introduction of some sort - to give the story a context, to explain the position of characters in relation to each other. Some social comment would be good too, if possible. Then, with that done, I wouldn't see the difference between that and an entry which gives the plot of a film away.

Anna

Thanks for the clarification Anna.

As they stand, this and the other myth entry I have put in PR are not ready for the Edited Guide, so I'm going to take them both out when I get a moment, and put them into WW. I will take into account all the comments on both so far, and work on them there.

I'll post the links here when I've done it, in the hope that I'll get some help on getting these up to scratch.

Thanks everyone who's commented so far.

WW thread - F57153?thread=207038

I've written a short intro for this entry if anyone is still interested?

You've got my interest. Sounds interesting.

Terran

But it is ready to come back to PR?

I think its ready to cme back Mina.

I disagree with Bels about mythology. I think there is strong evidence that myths are a type of folk memory of actual events. Conquests of one people by another, for example. I'll do a little more reading round this this evening and give you the references.