Thesis about... Merpeople !

[Claire the french mermaid]

Hello!


I am currently in the process of writing my master thesis entitled: From myth to subculture, mermaids communities on internet.
MerNetwork forum is a part of my "objects" of study. My goal is to demonstrate that merpeoples possess their own culture and the expansion of the community could not be done if internet did not exist. I also try to show how the community uses the myth of the mermaid and how it contributes to its modern transformation.

What do you think about it ? Do you have any suggestions / comments ?

[MerGrrl]

I think it's a great idea!

[Ithilindil]

I think it is a great idea. It will allow people to think differently about mermaids, especially in France.

[AniaR]

CKDU Radio is airing a documentary soon for which they interviewed my sister and I on the mercommunity. Once it airs and is published online I'll send you the link, if you find our quotes useful you can use them as an official citation since they're part of a documentary! <3 I may be able to provide you with a copy, I'll check with them.

Doreen Virtue's book about mermaids, Mermaids 101 is an excellent resources and covers SOME of the mermaid mythology but there is actually a LOT out there. I give a presentation on mermaids in mythology from all over the world and their evolution through pop culture at the university here and at our multicultural festival. I made notes from a variety of sources and purchased several books, I'll try and dig out the stuff so I can give you the official citations for it.

[AniaR]

Oh I also suggest that you research Annette Kellerman, the first known person to make and swim in a mermaid tail. I did an article about her that is supposed to be published, I may be able to send it your way as well :)

[Claire the french mermaid]

Thanks Raina :)
I have already wrote a first thesis of 100 pages about mermaid mythology and the modern representations of the mermaid myth ( cinema, adverts, feminism...), it was for my first year of master degree. the link is here but infortunatly is only in french... http://www.lasirenebleue.com/#!about-mermaids/cf1x
My second thesis focuses on the trajectory of the myth to a subculture. I read the book of doreen Virtue of course ;) I think yout interview will be very helpful for me :) Although I must admit that you're already quoted in my thesis ^^

And thanks Ithilindil, I hope it will change atitudes about merpeople in France ;)

[MerMar]

I think you're right without the internet. Most of us we never go further of a dream.

My suggestion is to make a parallelism between mermaids and spear free-divers, if they play to be soldiers we play to be mermaids. Take it as a raw idea.

The mercommunity might be the response to the domination of military and ultracompetitive of the others UW communities, scuba org, free-diving, UWP, etc ... Have you realised about the UWP Championships is only for photographers? but not for the UW models! The models are considered as any fish or rock but not as part of a team, two pair of eyes find more things than only one.

I have no French but I gave a look to your first thesis. I think you say nothing about one Historical mystery of the Canary Islands (I'm from there!) They ignored everything about maritime navigation. We're in the books since the ancients Greeks and Romans. Different civilizations recorded over the centuries the same not boat or any sailing knowledge ... Should The Canary Islands have been renamed as The Merpeople Islands? uhhhm maybe you can use it for the end, playing with the idea of where do they go and linking with the internet merpeople community.

Cheers!