Ferris goes “Beyond”

Mythology exhibit to delve into myths old and new

When did Godzilla first stomp its way into the hearts of moviegoers? Why were people of the Mediterranean terrified of whales?

For its annual “Beyond” series of exhibits, Ferris will be hosting “Beyond: Mythologies” to educate students about myths. The event will include not only the ancient standards, but also ever-relevant modern ones.

“Beyond: Mythologies” will focus on popular myths from around the world and examine the way they shape our collective understanding of the culture from which they originate. The exhibit will display various cultural items that pertain to popular myths from our own culture and others.

The myths will be examined in hopes that attending students will gain a larger cultural perspective, touching on the old, such as ancient Greek and Egyptian mythology, as well as the current, like the myth behind the Color Run.

Lezlie Weber, the special projects assistant on campus, asserts the new myths being incorporated into the exhibit are just as important as the old myths.

“Putting current mythology into ‘Beyond: Mythologies’ really just makes [the exhibit] that much more relevant to the culture of today,” Weber said. “People don’t realize we’re building our own mythology every day and so I think that’ll bring a lot of awareness to the people who come see it. It’s also quite interesting to see just how much myths of the past inform the current day.”

The collection for “Beyond: Mythologies” will consist of donations from both students and Ferris faculty, as well as art pieces on loan to Ferris specifically for the event. Each piece will be tied to a myth that has helped shape current cultural understanding.

“People don’t always realize how much a myth in India might affect the United States or how a myth in Peru might shape another culture,” Weber said, “so I think this needed to be explored and done some reflection on.”

The planning behind “Beyond: Mythologies” was a campus-wide event. Ferris partnered with both the Center for Global Studies and Engagement as well as art historians from Kendall College of Art and Design to pick myths that were relevant to students. More than one-hundred people on campus have had a hand in assembling the exhibit, from printing and graphic design to costumes that will be featured in the display.

Like last year’s “Beyond” exhibit, “Beyond: The Silk Road,” “Beyond: Mythologies” will extend past the collection in the IRC and into the classroom. The theme of myths from both our own culture and others will be present in a wide variety of Ferris classes throughout the fall semester.

Weber said close to fifty classes this semester will incorporate the theme of mythology, either via writing assignments or projects, each with the purpose of more deeply exploring mythology.

The “Beyond: Mythologies” exhibit will be held in the IRC on Oct. 20. There will be guided tours through the exhibit, which are available to Ferris students only. These tours are considered a 5-Star event.

The exhibit will be open to the public on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information about the myths being presented, visit beyondferris.com.