The classes at the College Experience truly put the FUN in fundamental learning experiences. This is certainly true in the Mythology class taught by Professor Michelle Brown, as the students learn about the purpose of myths and the value they serve for cultural purposes.
This particular lesson was something the students have been looking forward to for a very long time considering it focused on their comic book icons such as Tony Stark (a.k.a. Iron Man), Diana Prince (a.k.a. Wonder Woman), Batman, Superman, the Black Panther, Aquaman, and others.
The purpose of modern mythology is not just to entertain us or make money for the movie studios. “It is a means of explaining the world through fantastical stories.” Wonder Woman, for example, was created around the time of World War II and is an outcome of the Women’s Liberation Movement. She is essentially the comic book’s version of Rosie the Riveter during a time when women were fighting the good fight back home by taking over the jobs vacated by men when they had to wage battle overseas.
The students and staff are looking forward to more of these learning experiences under the instruction of Michelle Brown, and are currently in the process of learning about Greek Mythology in the form of Gods like Zeus and Hades as well as Monsters such as Medusa.
We have some trips planned as well such as the Iroquois Museum for our unit about Creation Mythology. Here are Rachael and Tor doing their best superhero impressions along with just a piece of the cool information the students have been absorbing during one of the lessons.
What comes after graduation? Many College Experience students, in fact most, choose to remain in Albany. They maintain friendships with their fellow and former graduates, form romantic partnerships, and some get married.