Owning 'Myth': Conceptual Considerations

Conceptual critique of the concept of myth should be a priority for anyone using the word in scholarship. A critical attitude to "myth," first, consists in becoming aware that the term trades on the Greek, "mythos." Second, a critical approach recognizes the great range of uses of the term, from its hypothesized, upper-case form-"Myth"- to a variety of less exalted uses in lower case-"myth" or "myths." No common referent necessarily exists of the diverse uses of these terms. Each use will tend to have its own rationale for faithfully representing how one should use the term. After one submits a given use of "myth" to critical chastening, the term can then be used in cultural and social research. For example, one recommended use of "myth" might be "important story."