Understanding Mythology Deepens Creative Storytelling

Will Linn, Ph.D., is a Mythologist and founder of Mythouse.org. In college, Linn took a mythology class that tied together storytelling with ideas and themes Linn recognized from his philosophy class. Throw in a trip to Greece and a helping of Joseph Campbell, Linn quickly headed down his river of discovery to a career in mythology. He spoke with Adam Morrisey about this journey.

“Anything that you want to bring the power of story to, studying myth is like studying the really powerful stuff,” Linn said. “I wanted to tell stories, and I wanted to study philosophy. Studying myth, for me, was a convergence of the two.”

The origin of myths ties closely to religion. As Linn puts it, “One person’s myth is another person’s religion.” Regarding classic mythology, such as Greek mythology, the transformation of these myths from accepted truth to allegorical stories occurred when Christianity solidified in Europe, overtook Pagan religion, and deemed such previous belief systems as a false religion. Over time, those classic Greek tales became literature. “Now it’s consolidating the literature of a culture, and it’s helping create shared identities and nation around all this history,” Linn said.

In studying the mythology of different worlds and cultures, Linn said there are various similarities and traditions that one can trace between them all. And for Linn, that is the fascinating aspect of myths; not which truths are wrong or right, but what is consistent in all of them. And one notion that is common throughout all cultures, religions, and mythologies is love.

Mythologies find their way into everyone’s lives. People build myths from personal experiences, and those stories shape future interactions. “We get caught in other people’s stories and myths,” Linn said. “We’re all living myths already. We live in a myth. Nobody lives in the world. We all live in our stories of the world.”

More Stories Like This:

How Big Hotel Brands Are Missing the Mark with the Boutique Hotel Experience

How Do You Define the Entrepreneurial Mind Set?

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

data center design
Applied Digital’s Data Center Design for a 100 MW AI Factory Built from the Ground Up
July 2, 2025

AI workloads are redefining the limits of data center design and infrastructure. Legacy data centers, built for traditional co-location, cannot handle the density, thermal demands, or power dynamics of accelerated computing. The AI boom has upended the data center sector, forcing a rapid shift to liquid-cooled racks as facilities pivot from sub-10kW racks to…

Read More
Commerce media
A Look at the Rise of Commerce Media Networks: How Nift Helps Brands Own How Their Message Shows Up
July 2, 2025

As traditional digital advertising struggles to retain consumer trust, brands are exploring new, more authentic ways to connect with shoppers. Platforms like commerce media networks, which weave together commerce, content, and data, are emerging as powerful tools in this shift. Research from MG2 Advisory reveals that only about 37% of consumers feel brands genuinely…

Read More
Hospitality leadership
Heart-First Hospitality Leadership: How Saying ‘Yes’ Transforms Guest Experiences, Boosts Staff Morale, and Drives Business Results
July 2, 2025

As the hospitality industry emerges from years of pandemic-driven upheaval, hospitality leadership is evolving to meet new challenges. Leaders are looking for new ways to retain staff, elevate guest satisfaction, and drive revenue without burning out their teams. One trend gaining traction is the power of “Yes”: empowering employees to say yes more often,…

Read More
civic leadership
Mayor Gerard Hudspeth’s Civic Leadership Journey: What Politics Teaches About People
July 2, 2025

What does a mayor learn about human nature? In this episode of Professional Quotient: Conversations that Build Equity, host Jason Winningham sits down with Gerard Hudspeth, longtime mayor of Denton, Texas, and a respected figure in civic leadership. Drawing from his years in public service, Hudspeth explores how leading a city reveals the core…

Read More