Autism and Classical Myth: Hercules in children's literature: a list in progress, including now Coldplay and an Olympic pillow fight set

Why classical myth and autism?

Why classical myth and autism?

The idea for this project started to take shape at a meeting in 2008 with a special needs teacher, who mentioned that, in her experience and those of her colleagues, autistic children often enjoy classical myth. I began to wonder why this might be the case, and whether – as a classicist who researches, and loves, classical myth – there was anything I could contribute. I started this blog to report on my progress which was often sporadic until the launch of the Warsaw-based European Research Council-funded project Our Mythical Childhood (2016-22) to trace the role of classics in children’s culture.

My key contribution to the project is an exploration of classics in autistic children’s culture, above all by producing myth-themed activities for autistic children. This blog shares my progress, often along Herculean paths, including to a book of lessons for autistic children focusing on the Choice of Hercules between two very different paths in life. The image above, illustrating the homepage of this blog, is one of the drawings by Steve K. Simons, the book's illustrator, of a chimneypiece panel in a neoclassical villa at Roehampton in South West London. The lessons centre on this panel.

Monday 12 February 2018

Hercules in children's literature: a list in progress, including now Coldplay and an Olympic pillow fight set

In the activities that I am currently compiling - see previous postings for details - I am going to include the suggestion that, where appropriate, the children using the resources might read about Hercules, the mythological figure around whom my resources are centred, by turning to the wealth of existing literature on this topic.

Since deciding to do this, I have become increasingly aware of just how much literature there is on the hero - from print books to graphic novels; from retellings of ancient myth to sci-fi. Here is a selection to which I shall add further items as and when I find out about them. I'm happy to receive suggestions!

The items listed here will soon be up on the Survey of classical themes in children's culture the forms part of the Our Mythical Childhood project. The Survey is up and running, though do note that it is still under construction. But if you'd like to take a look, visit it here. I'm honoured to present it via this blog!

Added 12 Feb 2018

Blake Hoena and Estudio Haus, The 12 Labors of Hercules: a Graphic Retelling, North Makato, Minnesota, Capstone Press, 2015, 32 pp.Graphic novel for ages 8-15.

Frank Tieri, Mark Texeira, Jimmy Palmiotti, Hercules: New Labors of Hercules - Marvel Comics, 2005, 120 pp.

Graphic novel for ages 9-plus.

Laura Geringer and Peter Bollinger, Hercules the Strong Man, series: Myth Men: Guardians of the Legend (Book 1).Scholastic INC. New York, 1996, 32pp.

Picture book for young children

Greg Pak and Fred van Lente, The incredible Hercules: Love and War #121-125, 2009, 128pp.

Comic book for ages 9-plus, set in Atlantis (with Amadeus Cho)

Paul D. Storrie and Steve Kurth, Hercules: the Twelve Labors: a Greek myth (Graphic myths and legends) Minneapolis, Minn. 2007, 48pp.

13 Feb 2018

Today I have learnt of two rather innovative receptions of Hercules. The first is a 2017 song Something like This by Coldplay (no. 5 on the album Memories...Do Not Open) and the Chainsmokers (no. 4 on Kaleidoscope EP) which includes the lines:

I've been reading books of old
The legends and the myths
Achilles and his gold
Hercules and his gifts
(emphasis added)

The second is an Olympic pillow fight set, created by the company Heavy Baggage which includes Heracles' club alongside Zeus' thunderbolt, Cupid's arrow and Poseidon's trident. I can see lots of potential for the club at least for the activities I am designing.

More soon I hope!