Best research paper ever!

[Mermaid Marissa]

Even though my english teacher is a :soap box:. (excuse my language)

I am positive I have the best research paper topic ever! I'm doing mine of the scientific possibility of sea myths (including mermaids and sea serpents ;)). I'm trying to prove that myths that include sea monsters can often lead to scientific fact. Since I love myths and I want to be a marine biologist in college I thought this was a good way to go :D

I was thinking about using some of the actual facts in that Discovery Channel mockumentary about aquatic ape theory (Mermaids: Body found) but if anyone knows of a good source that I could possibly use please comment!!! I'm really excited to write this and I know that all of you have great ideas

[Elle]

I doing this for fun :) But I'm looking at describing purely the anatomical make up and general social behaviours.
There are lots of different threads that have our ideas and such in them.....I think it's just a case of searching them out.... :S

I know here we discuss mermaid reproduction,
http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?3627-How-mermaid-s-have-babies

If your going to go with the aquatic ape theory, the idea of a mammalian reproduction makes more sense, (ie, Dolphins and Whales) to our more fish-inspired options.

If you wish to support the possibility I recommend
http://www.beautiful-mermaid-art.com/real-mermaid.html

It shows from the first Century to 1857 of Mermaid sightings and then a few modern entries, either which way you look at it, it's an interesting read.
(there can't be that many different sightings all over the world from so far back and there being no link to it all)

Also look into the Karoo legend. Karoo is a desert in the middle of South Africa where there are cave paintings and local legends of half fish people :)
9652

[Mermaid Marissa]

I doing this for fun :) But I'm looking at describing purely the anatomical make up and general social behaviours.
There are lots of different threads that have our ideas and such in them.....I think it's just a case of searching them out.... :S

I know here we discuss mermaid reproduction,
http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?3627-How-mermaid-s-have-babies

If your going to go with the aquatic ape theory, the idea of a mammalian reproduction makes more sense, (ie, Dolphins and Whales) to our more fish-inspired options.

If you wish to support the possibility I recommend
http://www.beautiful-mermaid-art.com/real-mermaid.html

It shows from the first Century to 1857 of Mermaid sightings and then a few modern entries, either which way you look at it, it's an interesting read.
(there can't be that many different sightings all over the world from so far back and there being no link to it all)

Also look into the Karoo legend. Karoo is a desert in the middle of South Africa where there are cave paintings and local legends of half fish people :)
9652

Thank you so much! My paper isn't so much on reproduction as it is possibility of existence. I love this cave painting source! Here's a copy of my proposal just as a topic starter :)

Many people think that science and myth are two different things. Opposites even; what if they were in fact the same? What if all of those fairy tales and ghost stories you heard as a child had truth in them between the lines? I am going to not only tell you, but give you scientific proof that myths may not just be so, and eventually many become science fact.
Coming from a world knowing more about space than the vast oceans that cover more than 70% of this mysterious planet; there is still much we don’t know about what lives in our oceans. Though, all the things we do know about the ocean is still confusing to the many marine biologists who make it their mission to discover all we humanly can about the oceans. From glowing bacteria, sharks that are the size of whales, snakes that are more comfortable in the sea than on land, newts so large they could swallow a ten-year-old, vast coral formations they aren’t plants; but animals, and a octopus whom acts like a chameleon. There have been many stories of people getting lost at sea and coming back with stories beyond human comprehension. I’m here to show you that within every story and every myth, lies a grain of truth. I feel that it is important for people to know that many myths can in fact be true because people today are too close minded. People don’t stop to smell the roses; tell stories to a community, people have altogether stopped believing. It’s become a rarity that people have a sense of wonder. Wonder has been casted aside as childish fantasy. My goal, is to bring wonder back to eyes that have long forgotten it. Many skeptics have cast away myths like the Lochness Monster (Nessie) because they believe that there is no possible way a creature like that could survive in today’s world. In a world where animals are slowly becoming more and more rare due to human impact, I find it 100% possible that creatures like mermaids, sea serpents, and giant sea monsters could exist.

[MermaidBrittany]

Wow that sounds awesome! :D
I know in your paper you are supporting the fact that sea myths may lead to some scientific fact (which i totally agree) I found this video a while back and I don't know if it could support or deny (really it could go both ways) but it is a very interesting theory. It is a bit long but I really enjoyed it! :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-jOuLS0kKw

[roamingmer]

This sounds like a paper from school work - and so can take on the flavor of investigative journalism. As such it sounds like a good piece of writing (to start with). Some hints from my knowledge gleaned from many places - and some useful books perhaps.

Gossip from the Forest - Sara Maitland (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/184708429X/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i03?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
Sounds like it could be an interesting read.

The people of the Sea - Celtic Tales of Seal-Folk (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0857861859/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i05?ie=UTF8&psc=1). Cant wait to read - but Amazon delayed dispatch

The Mermaid of Zennor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zennor)
Although not directly listed on the wikipedia link, one of the stories around this is that Similar to Selkies, the Mermaid myth is used to explain away the death of young mothers; or those unfortunate children born with Sirenomelia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirenomelia). Indeed some mild cases may have survived long enough to give rise to myths in the past.

In Homers Odessy the Sirens were not half fish - so be careful with that red herring.

In tropical waters there were pearl divers; mainly young women; who would often free dive for minutes before surfacing to relax on the rocks. Jeff Talarigo's book (http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Pearl-Diver-Jeff-Talarigo/dp/1400034914/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1361097350&sr=8-3) is an interesting background. Certainly early sailors to those shores would have met the women and perhaps had mixed myths upon their return.
(Note I skipped through the video link above and saw the same mention; although the narrators voice sent me to sleep).

To really go back further with 'shape shifting' and the possibility of having kernels of truth in folklore becomes a PhD thesis in itself. However what you have to remember is the shear amount of propaganda which is included into the transcribed versions or oral history (if the Monks / Church did not agree, the character is painted as evil or given a minor bit part).

There are good books looking at these issues; the main way to resolve them is to compare the different versions from as many sources as possible; identify the ones which are derived from each other (i.e. not useful) but aim for those from different areas. For example Tristian and Isolde has many many similarities to King Arthur and Guinevere; yet one is 'English' and the other comes from Europe. Over time they have also been mixed and matched.

So to get back on topic for Mermaids are Real - start with your definition of what is a Mermaid? Half woman half fish? (popularised fiction) or someone with extra-ordinary swimming ability who lives beside the sea? Would the woman have been living with society - or outcast? Perhaps like Witch Folklore, the person did not match popular opinion and chose to live / swim alone? They would have had to have a much stronger character than the 'men-folk' (or Church) would like to admit. And their story would not be written down for posterity. Only their actions on the community...

[Mermaid Danielle]

Wow! Great idea! Please share when you complete it, I'd love to read it!

[SeaGlass Siren]

i want to read this too!

[mermaid mandy117]

Good luck on ur paper!!! Sounds great so far!!!

[mermaid mandy117]

I just researched the karoo legend! So interesting!:)

[Mermaid Linda Stephanie]

Hi, Mermaid Marissa, so I know you're looking at mythological creatures/sea monsters, but if you're just looking at "myths," this is a project I had to do once with sharks. It actually ended up being a lot of fact vs. fictions about sharks which led to a lot of scientific facts, which is what you said you're looking for. And sharks are considered monsters of the sea...just an idea. There's a lot to learn about their myths. Have fun with your project! :)

[Mermaid Marissa]

Thank you everyone! I'll be sure to post it when I'm done writing it! All of your articles and facts have been very useful thus far :D Special thanks to you guys for helping me out :mermaid kiss: