Wictor Stoczkowski (2002) describes many of the tropes (or myths, as he calls them) surrounding human origins taught in French grade schools. Do any of these stories sound familiar to you? Were you taught or told any of them? Do you still hear any of these today? What kinds of stories about prehistory are popular right now?
In your first response essay of the semester, I'd like for you to reflect upon the version of human prehistory you've been taught in school, seen in museums, or heard about in popular media, books or movies. First, describe these tropes. Are they similar or different to what Stoczkowski describes? Note, these tropes can include anything from images to narratives to generalized ideas. Then, begin to probe these 'myths' a bit further. Do you see any broad themes emerge? Why do you think these particular tropes are so popular?
Your response should be roughly 500 words (about 1 page) that you submit in text through courseworks. You may wish to draft your essay in the word processor of your choice before copy and pasting it here. Proofread your essay for spelling and grammatical errors, and make sure your ideas are written clearly and concisely.