Tricksters: An Introduction: Crash Course World Mythology #20

Summary

In this episode of Crash Course Mythology, Mike Rugnetta explores the fascinating world of trickster stories. Tricksters, often mischievous and morally ambiguous, are celebrated for using their wit to overcome obstacles, rather than brute strength. The episode delves into African trickster Anansi’s story, where his greed leads to unintended consequences, and Hercules' eleventh labor, where he tricks Atlas. These tales highlight the rebellious, clever nature of tricksters, but also show that their actions can blur moral lines, offering insights into human behavior and the allure of breaking rules.

Takeaways

• 😄 Trickster stories are popular because they feature underdogs winning through cleverness rather than strength.
• 🌀 Tricksters are transgressive characters, often acting as rebels, and this makes them appealing.
• 🌍 African trickster stories, like Anansi's, are known for their morally ambiguous endings and animal characters with human traits.
• 🤔 In the story of Anansi, greed leads him to accidentally kill the king's favorite jester and try to shift the blame onto his son.
• 😲 Anansi's attempt to outdo his son backfires, but he manages to avoid long-term punishment by tricking Ant into carrying the jester's coffin.
• 🕷️ The Anansi myth explains the natural phenomenon of ants carrying heavy burdens, showing the trickster's lasting impact.
• 🧠 Tricksters often trick others through cleverness, even fooling other tricksters like in the Hercules and Atlas story.
• ⚖️ Trickster myths can serve as moral counterexamples, showing the consequences of lying and cheating, though the tricksters often escape justice.
• 💡 Tricksters, such as Br’er Rabbit, can symbolize resistance, using wit to outsmart more powerful oppressors, especially in contexts like slavery.
• 🎭 Trickster stories are compelling because they reflect human tendencies to bend rules, and they challenge conventional ideas of morality.

Q & A

What are trickster stories, and why are they popular?

Trickster stories are myths where clever, transgressive characters outsmart others. They are popular because they often feature underdogs who succeed using intelligence rather than strength, and their rebellious nature appeals to audiences.

What makes tricksters appealing despite their morally ambiguous behavior?

Tricksters are appealing because they challenge societal norms, offering a sense of rebellion and freedom. Their actions may be unethical, but they highlight human desires to break rules and outsmart authority, reflecting relatable qualities.

What lesson can be drawn from Anansi's story involving the dwarf?

Anansi’s story teaches that greed and deceit can lead to one's downfall. Although Anansi initially tricks others, his own greed causes him to fail, but he still manages to escape long-term punishment by tricking someone else.

How does the story explain a natural phenomenon involving ants?

In the story, Anansi tricks an ant into carrying the burden of the dead dwarf, which serves as an explanation for why ants are seen carrying heavy loads in the natural world.

How does the story of Hercules relate to trickster myths?

Hercules uses trickster tactics when he outsmarts Atlas by pretending to need padding for his shoulders, tricking Atlas into resuming his task of holding up the world. This mirrors tricksters' cleverness in outwitting others.

Why do trickster stories often have morally ambiguous endings?

Trickster stories frequently have ambiguous endings because tricksters don't always face the consequences of their actions. They often get away with their misdeeds, making the stories less about morality and more about the cleverness and unpredictability of human behavior.

What role do animals play in African trickster stories like Anansi’s?

In African trickster stories, animals with human traits interact in human-like situations. These stories use animals like Anansi the spider to explore human behavior and morals in a playful, yet meaningful way.

What is the significance of tricksters in oppressed communities, as seen in Br’er Rabbit stories?

In stories like Br’er Rabbit, tricksters represent the oppressed using cleverness to resist and outwit those in power. These tales were especially resonant in the context of slavery, where enslaved people used trickery to assert some form of autonomy.

How does the story reflect a Quentin Tarantino-like style?

The Anansi story, with its morally ambiguous protagonist and lack of clear punishment for wrongdoings, is likened to a Quentin Tarantino film because of its dark humor, complex morality, and unexpected twists in the plot.

What broader question does the script suggest about the consequences of tricksterism?

The script asks what would happen if tricksters always won and if their behavior was left unchecked. It suggests that while a little rule-breaking can be fun, if everyone acted like tricksters, society would descend into chaos.