"Each new mask is another mysterious discovery of an ancient or contemporary mythology that speaks across cultural and temporal divides," he said.

The Marshalls are brought to the mysterious world by means of a dimensional portal, a device used frequently throughout the series and a major part of its internal contemporary mythology.

Later, the series evolves into an elaborate fantasy series, incorporating elements of classical and contemporary mythology, ultimately placing its protagonist in the role of a tragic hero.

IN contemporary mythology, the sommelier is an unsmiling, self-important type whose role in life is to embarrass and anger as many restaurant customers as possible in the course of an evening.

The 25th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing is marked by this detailed and candid account of man's race to the moon, an event now enshrined in contemporary American mythology.

But the very confusion that has made him so unpredictable and funny onstage makes this on-screen exploration of contemporary racial mythologies curiously tentative and unfocused.

Antonio's inspiration often derives from various contemporary "mythologies", with the artist articulately stressing that his concept of mythology goes beyond the common Greek and Roman notion.

He's concerned with exploring dark contemporary mythologies, those of science fiction, pornography, dreams, sensational news stories, conspiracy theories.

After making the first films of his initial "Star Wars" trilogy, Mr. Lucas explained, "I wanted to make a kids' film that would strengthen contemporary mythology and introduce a kind of basic morality.

There's this piece of contemporary mythology that the forties are the best time of your life.