Myths and heroes

NOTION 1 : MYTHS AND HEROES

I picked the notion of myths and heroes.

DEFINITION OF THE NOTION:

First, I would like to define this notion:

A myth is a legend, a story, a popular belief, which isn't necessarily true, (For example : Santa Claus, Loch Ness monster...

A hero is someone who is strong and courageous, who has power and wants to change things, to create a better world or to help the others.

CHOICE:

«I chose to illustrate this notion with the portrait of Steve Jobs, and I would like to answer the question «Why is Steve Jobs regarded as a modern-time hero?»

DOCUMENTS STUDIED IN CLASS:

We worked on two extracts : «I-way to heaven», from Steve Jobs' unofficial biography, the other from « The Economist », a British magazine.

We listened to a recording entitled «Think different»; the cover page of Newsweek which is an American magazine and an ad for Apple.

IDEAS DEVELOPED IN THESE DOCUMENTS:

First, Steve Jobs was a visionary because, with Steve Wozniak, he invented the first PC navigated by a mouse (the Mac).

He changed people's life and the way we use technology.

He launched Apple products (the I-Phone, the I-Pad, the I-Pod, the I-Mac).

The I-Pod transformed the music industry.

With the I-Phone we can become journalists, share our life anytime, anywhere, we can surf on the web, etc....

Jobs chose an apple to symbolize his company , to suggest that people have to bite life. The apple is also a reference to Newton's laws of gravity, an object of temptation like in Snow White's story.

He says you can't live without Apple products «I-Pod therefore I am.» (It's the title of the coverpage of Newsweek.)

He was creative and the orchestrator of inventions ;

He was also a salesman because he had a developed sense for business and success.

CONCLUSION:

«On the whole, I totally disagree with these articles, which, I think, are biased; it could be said that Steve Jobs isn't really a hero, but people think so, because of adverts, of biased articles, and because of consumer society that make us buy more and more.

Moreover, Apple exploits people and sometimes children like in China. They work in bad conditions and can even die when their security isn't good.

One day, S.Jobs even said that he wouldn't let his own children use his products.

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