Chapter 1
The brain on once upon a time
Chapter 2
Earth's shared story blueprint
Chapter 3
The dark side of safety
Chapter 4
The math of memorable patterns
YOUR GOAL
Master of The secret chemistry of once upon a time
Ch 2 · Earth's shared story blueprint
disney Folk Tale Phylogenetics
Six thousand years later we're telling the very same tale
disney A glowing holographic spider schematic floats over dark neon infographic data displays.
Fun Fact
Ancient stories: Researchers believe the fairy tale 'Beauty and the Beast' is actually over 4,000 years old.
Glossary
monomyth (noun)
A universal pattern or theme, such as the hero's journey, that is common to many cultures. Joseph Campbell popularized this structural template in his 1949 book exploring cross-cultural mythology.
A universal pattern or theme, such as the hero's journey, that is common to many cultures. Joseph Campbell popularized this structural template in his 1949 book exploring cross-cultural mythology.
Quiz
In which ancient region did the earliest recorded version of the Cinderella story, featuring Rhodopis, take place?
Quiz
What scientific method did anthropologist Jamie Tehrani use in 2013 to track the evolution of folk tales?
Quiz
Which West African trickster character uses wit instead of size to defeat larger animals?
Quiz
What term do anthropologists use for the small, memorable, and persistent units of a story?
Quiz
In the 850 AD Chinese version of Cinderella, what magical creature grants Ye Xian's wishes?
Quiz
According to Tehrani's research, approximately how many years old are some of our oldest fairy tales?