Myth, Myth-Making and the Formation of Cultural Identity in Greece

• Main Author: Vasiliadou, Xanthippi
• Published: University of East Anglia 2009
• Subjects: 708
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.514220

This research addresses the place of myth in the constitution of the nation and the construction of cultural identities in Greece. Considering the ever-changing nature of identity in postmodern analyses, it focuses attention on Greek museums and their potential as loci for the formation of new identities within the contemporary socio-cultural context. Furthermore, it concerns the ways they can work together with schools by reinforcing their educational role both as learning and cultural centres. In present times, with homogenization and continuity being challenged under the pressure of internal and external changes and the emerging quest for cultural diversity, collective identities need to be redefined. Therefore, I suggest that myths offer a negotiable cultural context connected with the museums' and schools' identity work embracing both the preservation of traditions and cultural innovation. I consequently introduce a project with the intention of exploring the dynamics of this relationship by way of a pilot study across museums and secondary schools working with myths in Greece. Through it, and by analysis of its consequences and implications, I hope to make a contribution to the development of culturally inclusive approaches in the museum