In regard to Juliann Jenkins' query about the relationship between Hollywood and the dissemination of cultural myths, there are several helpful readings on this topic, several of which I have used in class and applied to a variety of films. The cultural myth of the hero and the obstacles that he or she must confront in America has been discussed by such writers as Christopher Vogler in The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Storytellers and Screenwriters and by Linda Seger in Making a Good Script Great. Both of these writers emphasize that the insights of Joseph Campbell are consciously used by contemporary filmmakers and writers to develop myths that audiences will identify with and accept as true. According to Robert Ray in A Certain Tendency of the Hollywood Cinema (1985) and to various writers like Robin Wood, Clyde Taylor, and bell hooks in Movies and Mass Culture (1996, ed. John Belton), American films not only reflect but also create the mythology of America. Movies, I think, create myths because they engage us in conversations about things that matter and become a part of our "living" memory. Hope these titles help. There are other good ones, I know, but these are accessible and work well with students. ------------------------------- Fredric M. Wild Communication Dept. Lycoming College [log in to unmask] 717-321-4280 (to leave messages) ---- To signoff SCREEN-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF SCREEN-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]