Pioneer Con

The dictionary definition of lore is "a body of traditions or knowledge on a subject or held by a particular group, typically passed from person to person by word of mouth" (Oxford Languages). When we think about "lore," we might think about mythology, legends, and folklore. 

Below you will find some suggestions for how instructors can incorporate this year's Pioneer Con theme into their classes. If you have other suggestions or questions, please contact Dusty Folds.

(Thank you to Erin Arnold for assisting with this list.)

• Examine a work of art that uses mythological beings or events as its subject. Why did the artist use that for the composition? What effect does that topic have on our understanding of the piece of art? How does the artist's style reflect the meaning of that mythological event or being?
• Art can be seen as a form of lore. It has been used throughout history to pass messages from one group to another. Discuss how art is a form of lore and its role throughout history.
• Oftentimes lore can build up around a particular artist (from Michelangelo to Banksy). Discuss the effect these legends have on our understanding of famous artists and how we view their creations.

• Myths and nature – either find a myth that was used by ancient cultures to describe nature or create your own myths to describe something in the natural world
• Myths/legends and names of anatomical structures – pick an organ or structure and create a story that relates to the name/function of that organism
• Microbial storytelling – create a story describing a physiological property of a bacteria or virus
• Modern day myths in Biology. Students can pick a common myth regarding biology (ie vaccines cause autism, climate change is not caused by people) and use science and evidence to debunk the myths

• Mythology of the elements – where did the name of the element come from?
• Alchemy – what would you try and create?

• Literature
  • Explore the various mythologies and lore of different groups through their literature
  • What is our modern lore and how is it demonstrated through our literature?
  • Examine a work of children's literature (e.g. a Grimm's fairy tale) and explain how it is used to teach social ideas to children of a particular society or time. You could even compare those ideals over time and place.
• Composition
  • Choose a local urban legend and examine its history. Interview people about the legend and notice how it changes. What do you think is the message of this legend (i.e. what is it trying to teach the community)?
  • What are some of the traditions within your family? How do these traditions reflect your family's values?
  • Write your own legend that reflects your values. What elements of lore are you going to include in your story?

• Discuss the intersection between history and legend as you study specific people or events in history. What effect does the lore have on understanding that person or event?
• Explore the use of folklore as a historical tool.
• Examine historical concepts like the American Dream and the impact these ideals have on society.

• Math myths vs reality: https://plus.maths.org/content/myths-maths
• Math myths and the explanations (see attached document)

• Discuss how music can be a form of lore (e.g. its ability to carry legends from one group to another or across generations).
• Music exists in all cultures and often appears in legends from different groups. Examine a song from a particular culture. Compare and contrast it with music of another culture. How does music transmit the ideals of that culture?
• Michael Katsavos's "Lore & Music: How Artists Construct Narratives and Backstory through Music" examines the narratives of specific artists and some of their works. Using Katsavos as a model, examine the narrative and backstory of a piece of music of your choosing.

• Many cultures devised myths to explain the various natural phenomenon that they observed. Students can investigate these myths or create their own myths on an specific phenomenon
• Modern day myths in physical science. Students can pick a common myth regarding physical science (ie earth is less than 6000 years old, the earth is flat, global warming is normal) and use science and evidence to debunk the myths

• Compare the legends surrounding the history of psychology with the actual events and studies that form the foundation of the field.
• Explore the mythological etymology of some of the words and ideas in psychology (e.g. Oedipal Complex).
• Examine how psychological folklore and legends have been used to help and/or harm individuals and the field of psychology as a whole.

• Using the three sociological paradigms (symbolic interactionism, conflict theory, and structural functionalism) examine a legend within your community. What does this legend say about the community from which in originates?
• How do social structures (families, education, etc.) use lore as a form of socialization?
• Choose a particular folktale (e.g. Grimm's story or Disney) and examine how it is used to socialize children for a particular society.

• Explore some common folklore within Spanish-speaking cultures, and discuss what they say about that culture.
• Examine depictions of Spanish-speaking people in popular culture and how these depictions influence students.
• Examine the etymology of a Spanish word or phrase that has folklore or mythological origins.

• Examine different cultures with a particular focus on popular legends within those cultures. Compare and contrast these ideas with those in America.
• Discuss a legend within your family that you think defines your family.
• Folk remedies are common within different groups of people around the world. Do you think they should be seen as a legitimate medical approach? Provide examples for your belief.

• Examine a play that incorporates elements of mythology or legend. What role do these stories have on the understanding of the play's meaning? How are these stories incorporated into the play?
• Theater has been used to perpetuate as well as initiate legends (e.g. Shakespeare's history plays). Choose some examples and examine their impact on society.
• There are legends within the theater community. One of the better known is not saying "Macbeth" in the theater. Another is saying "break a leg" instead of "good luck." How are these legends and others like them used to create a community among the theater company and those in the wider theater profession? What other examples can you think of (perhaps some specific to your own theater group or company)?