CW's "Arrow" Casts Colton Haynes as Roy Harper

[odum]

Oh, then please enlighten me on why the word gay went from meaning happy to representing a homosexual.

Point being - the english language changes all the time, don't get your undies in a bundle because some people modified the definition of the world to include completely fictional characters alongside other fictional characters and fictional events.

Hmmm.... speaking of undies in a bundle.

"Gay" actually evolved over the last century or so. It did not have an article or two on the innernetz by guys saying "Comics are our new mythology!" that had the fanboy crowd say "Yeah - that's it! Cuz I'm actually kinda self-conscious about being a comic fan, so I'll embrace and adopt the gravitas of 'mythology' and I can feel better about myself!" You can't point to where "gay" changed like you can "mythology" - and that's what makes it organic, and therfore - an evolution.

Evolution in language is like a game of telephone. When someone says "lets call it mythology" and everyone joins in, that's a consensus decision, not evolution.

Seriously - its not that difficult a distinction. Or rather, if it IS that difficult a distinction, it makes my broader point about the hazards of consciously manipulating language; it doesn't just impact what we say, it impacts how we thinking about the underlying abstract concepts. Dumbs us down.

And really - why did we need 'mythology' to make us feel better about it in the first place? I have no shame about loving comics, superheroes, etc. As far as I'm concerned, those words have their OWN gravitas, thankyouverymuch.

[SephirothDZX]

And really - why did we need 'mythology' to make us feel better about it in the first place? I have no shame about loving comics, superheroes, etc. As far as I'm concerned, those words have their OWN gravitas, thankyouverymuch.

Hey, you'll get no argument from me on that point.

If people want to call it a mythology, I have no problem with it either though. I think there are enough parallels to comic books and stuff like greek mythology that it's fine enough to call it a 'comic book mythology'.

[gizmodan]

The concept of mythology evolved as it was deemed that fictional world building was a practice of myth building.

It isn't a recent phenomena either. Mythopoeia is a narrative genre that was coined by Tolkien in 1931. It is basically creating your own world incorporating mythological beliefs and archetypal characters. Yes this is artificial myth building but it doesn't mean you can't use the term when referencing a piece of work.

As stated before a lot of words have changed mean over the years. But mythology hasn't really. Mythology still means what it means, but it has been adapted to these fictional worlds. It doesn't mean it has been replaced.

Comics themselves have been compared to classic epics in many occasions. I think if you read Thomas Roberts Mythos of the Superheroes and Mythos of the Saints, you may understand better why the term is used in such a contemporary way.

If you take the idea that mythology is basically a set of stories or beliefs about a situation, institution or person that are fictitious or exaggerated then I don't understand how this doesn't apply to comic books.

Especially if you take the true definition of beliefs into account. 1/ An acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists. 2/ Something one accepts as true or real; a firmly held opinion or conviction.

But I imagine you will pull out specific words from my post (like real) to continue your "discourse"

[odum]

But I imagine you will pull out specific words from my post (like real) to continue your "discourse"

Was enjoying your post until you just had to get in another dig. Seriously, if you don't want your words challenged - use different words!

As far as the rest of your comment goes, most of it speaks to comparing the comics - or fantasy - genre with mythology. I think there's a lot to compare. But, I'm sorry, but I don't agree with your then equating the too. Accuse me of taking something out of context if you like (that's another pet peeve: the "if you don't agree with me, or you find something in what I say to disagree with, you must be misquoting me or taking me out of context!" Nope - just disagree: and, believe it or not, folks can disagree with you and can be just as clever or considered as you are).

Hrumf.

To get back to my point: we can agree that there are many points of valid comparisons between oranges and tangerines, without then concluding that oranges are tangerines. That would be a fallacy. In fact, your citing of the term "Mythopoeia" makes that point for me: Tolkein's work was not designated "mythology" even though the comparisons are far more apparent than the comparisons with Batman. By using that word, one acknowledges it as something distinct, if related.

You say "If you take the idea that mythology is basically a set of stories or beliefs about a situation, institution or person that are fictitious or exaggerated then I don't understand how this doesn't apply to comic books" - and that's exactly my point. I don't take that "idea" at all, because "mythology" already has its own definition independent of me and my "ideas." From the definition previously offered, your description is only a selective piece of that definiition. What makes something "mythology" as opposed to a "story" is the belief that it is true. Everything else dubbed mythology has that element to it, and because of that fact, that element is fundamental to its definition.

Unless you want ro re-define it - and that's the pet peeve I'm currently peeving on (especially since I feel confident that the desire - even the need - to do it in this case is rooted in that same-old, same-old comics-genre-inferiority complex we all grow up under the yoke of).

Cast off your chains!!

Okay, okay. Maybe that's a bit much.

[TheBalzan]

Maybe we can leave the ridiculous campaign against the use of the word mythology to aactually talk about Roy Harper now?

I for one think this is great news! Though I've never seen Teen Wolf so I'm not sure about Colton Haynes acting chops. I can say with glee that I love Ollie having his "Team Arrow"! Just a few years and maybe we'll get Mia too.
Anyone know if Colton is the guy in the trailer with Thea?

[odum]

Maybe we can leave the ridiculous campaign against the use of the word mythology to aactually talk about Roy Harper now?

I for one think this is great news! Though I've never seen Teen Wolf so I'm not sure about Colton Haynes acting chops. I can say with glee that I love Ollie having his "Team Arrow"! Just a few years and maybe we'll get Mia too.
Anyone know if Colton is the guy in the trailer with Thea?

I dunno about a "ridiculous campaign," I think its interesting, and the people who disagree with me seem pretty sharp - but agreed its time for me to find a different venue. Hmmm....

As for the actual topic, I don't freakin get the CW so I haven't been able to freakin' watch it. Maybe that's really what got my undies in a bunch in the first place.

[gizmodan]

I apologise for the snark, but reading most of your responses I was pre-empting you.

I think your understanding of myth is too heavily connected to the idea of religion and truth. When myth is more akin to ideology as a narrative. Most myths are allegory and there might be an ounce of truth in the basics, the exaggerated and fictitious nature of them doesn't make them true.

Mythopoeia is a term used for literature and in recent decades comics, film and tv. A created mythology is still a mythology and when some people reference a particular piece of work as having a mythology I don't see how that is a bastardisation of the word. In that world there mythology is true and if people believe these statements then it has the same importance as classical myth.

I think we are getting too bogging down with ideas of myth as a sacred practice. Of course all religions have myths, the creation myth is in most of them. But it isn't an exclusive term.

Also i must say that if the "idea" that mythology is defined as a set of stories and beliefs that are fictitious and exaggerated is something you reject. Then perhaps you'd consider the other definition.

"A body or collection of myths belonging to a people and addressing their origin, history, deities, ancestors, and heroes." I would say that this is another aspect of the term which fully supports its use within the context of comics.

Obviously its other meaning is mainly the study of myth. At the end of the day no one has twisted the term to fit anything. But I suppose you can blame the small group of comic book writers who look at the medium as something other than pretty pictures on a page.

[gizmodan]

But on the idea of Roy Harper in Arrow. I'm for an expanded cast that dig into the books and twists them a bit. Watching an adaptation is always fun.

[SJNeal]

While Haynes certainly has the pretty boy face (and abs) required to star in a CW series, he is sorely lacking in the acting department - as Teen Wolf so painfully proved.

Speaking of which, his character was pretty integral to the season 2 finale of Teen Wolf; I wonder if he'll be appearing just long enough to wrap his arc, of will they write him off with some off-screen explanation...?

[MagnusRex]

Who wants to bet that Thea dies somewhere down the line?

[pitbull in a skirt]

Who wants to bet that Thea dies somewhere down the line?

I don't see any of the main characters dying.