Netflix's She-Ra has an amazingly true-to-life take on mythology. The show makes the understanding of mythology nuanced while also highly accessible. In this essay, we explore the role mythology plays in the world of She-Ra, looking at the She-Ra mythology, as well as transformations of myth through time. We look into the role of the First Ones in their own storytelling, as well as the stories they actively changed through their colonial influence.

CW: discussion of pregnancy and miscarriage

The Myth of Maternity is the social myth that all women are inherently maternal beings and are wanting of children - any woman who does not fit this consideration is either not a woman or is simply confused on the matter. This social myth is taken up by popular culture and televsion shows in particular in a variety of ways, and how these shows handle the myth says a lot about their views on it. While the Big Bang Theory, Scrubs and Brooklyn-99 uphold the myth, the Bold Type alters it.

Worldbuilding is one of those words frequently used in circles of video game developers and fans. It's process, development and successes can be best understood through a concept given to us by the anthropological study of mythology: implicit mythology. Implicit mythology teaches us that myth is performed, lived, and shared between individuals. Video games as implicit mythology tells us that worldbuilding in video games is a symbiotic experience fostered between developer and player.

Netflix's Hilda is a show about a young girl living in the wild of supernatural creatures and mythical worlds. She makes friends with beings who are people, but not human. In this video, we explore the other-than-human creatures she encounters, with emphasis on the Great Raven. How does Hilda explore the way human relate to those non-humans which surround us?

Disney Pixar's Soul is more than just a movie about the connection of music or the a discussion of how beautiful life can be. In its exploration of "purpose", Soul disrupts the idea of success as something financial, and through it the role of vocation and predestination. By disrupting these pillars on which modern capitalism is built, Soul explores a different direction of life, and therefore questions the ideals of capitalism.

Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's intricate landscape is painted with the history, mythology and actions and of the people of Hyrule. The Lanayru Promenade demonstrates this due to its place in the world, one that marks an old pilgrimage trail traced from Kakariko Village to Mt. Lanayru. By studying the promenade, the pilgrimage trail, and the mythology of the world, we see how Breath of the Wild's landscape demonstrates its own sacred places in a way that mimics the world outside video games.

She-Ra's implicit commentary in its worldbuilding and themes actually has quite a lot to say about religion. From the Christian colonial powers of the horde, to the animistic nature of the Princesses, we do a dive into the world of She-Ra and the Princess of Power, and what it has to teach us about religion.