Speaker Spring Hyde's Topics

shyde@lincolncollege.edu
271-732-3155, ext. 207

Building a Mystery

Everyone loves a good mystery. Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None has topped 100 million copies sold. Thousands and thousands of authors have written mysteries, and there are thousands of books explaining to potential authors how to write a good mystery. Mystery-based television shows have dominated the airwaves, with names such as Sherlock Holmes, Sam Spade, Ellery Queen, Hercule Poirot, Columbo, and Jessica Fletcher familiar to most viewers. What is the source of this love of mystery and mayhem? Some would say that the love of mystery comes from an inherent need to see wrong made right, while others would argue that everyone needs a hero and that the detective is the hero people need. This presentation will explore why mystery has become such a prolific genre and why people love to read mysteries.

It’s All Greek to Me

Outside of movies such as Hercules, Troy, and Clash of the Titans, most people know very little about mythology. Mythology surrounds us—it can be found in the shoes we wear (Nike), the vehicles we drive (Saturn, Mercury), the candy we eat (Mars bars), and even in the cleaning products we use (Ajax). Why do we name our sports teams Titans, Spartans, or Trojans? How does the story of Spiderman and other comic book heroes relate to the tales of Hercules and Perseus? What does the show Lost have to do with mythology? The speaker and the audience will explore the influence Greek and Roman Mythology has had on modern society.

Stargazing 101

Constellations have helped guide man through his journey for many millennia. The Greeks were notorious for naming constellations after their mythic stories. While it is wonderful to recognize The Big Dipper, the wonder is doubled when the tale of The Big Dipper (or Ursa Major—the Big Bear as the Greeks dubbed it) is known. The speaker and audience will explore major constellations and the myths for which they are named.

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Updated 1/19/10

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