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Modern Mythology

Twentieth- and twenty-first-century works — Star Wars, The Matrix, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter — that now function as shared mythology for younger generations.

11 entries

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Core

Common

All

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Modern Mythology

Elvis Presley

The Mississippi truck driver whose hips, voice, and Black-music-on-a-white-singer recipe launched rock and roll — and the entire concept of the modern megastar.

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Modern Mythology

Marilyn Monroe

The Hollywood actress whose tragic blonde-bombshell image became the 20th century's template for sex symbol — and for the wreckage that role causes.

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Modern Mythology

Mario

Nintendo's mustached Italian plumber — the mascot of video games as a medium and probably the most recognized fictional character of the last fifty years.

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Modern Mythology

Michael Jackson

The Gary, Indiana child star who became the biggest pop star on Earth, invented the moonwalk, and ended as the most contested celebrity legacy of his generation.

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Modern Mythology

Pikachu

The electric yellow mouse of the Pokémon franchise — likely the most globally recognized fictional creature created since 1990.

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Modern Mythology

Princess Diana

The Princess of Wales whose marriage, divorce, charity work, and death in a Paris underpass made her the 20th century's most photographed person — and the case study for media-celebrity feedback.

character

Modern Mythology