TY  - JOUR
A1  - Toscano, Margaret Merrill
ED  - Potter, Amanda
ED  - Gardner, Hunter H.
T1  - Varieties of Supernatural Depictions
BT  - Classics in Contemporary Media
JF  - thersites 17
N2  - This article proposes several conceptual frameworks for examining the widespread use of classical intertexts depicting the supernatural in popular media. Whether the supernatural is viewed as reality or simply a trope, it represents the human capacity and desire to explore worlds and meanings beyond the obvious and mundane. Representations of classical gods, heroes, and monsters evoke the power of mythic stories to probe and explain human psychology, social concerns, philosophical questions, and religious beliefs, including belief about the paranormal and supernatural. The entertainment value of popular media allows creators and audiences to engage with larger issues in non-dogmatic and playful ways that help them negotiate tensions among various beliefs and identities. This paper also gives an overview of the other articles in this journal issue, showing overlapping themes and patterns that connect with these tensions. By combining knowledge of classical myths in their original contexts with knowledge about contemporary culture, classical scholars contribute unique perspectives about why classical intertexts dominate in popular media today.
KW  - Myth Theory
KW  - Classical Mythology
KW  - Supernatural
KW  - Paranormal
KW  - Afterlife
Y1  - 2023
U6  - https://doi.org/10.34679/thersites.vol17.249
SN  - 2364-7612
VL  - 2023
IS  - 17
SP  - 2
EP  - 31
ER  -