The term myth broadly refers to a story originating from historical traditions. Myths usually tell supernatural tales that describe the origin of Gods and Demons and also help communicate customs. Folktales are traditional narratives that are passed down from one generation to another and may not necessarily have supernatural or religious themes. Myths and folktales help conserve culture.
There are several theories that attempt to understand and explain these age old stories. One theory states that myths are distorted versions of actual historical events, another claims that they are allegories for natural elements and occurrences like most of Greek mythology. Myths can also be examined as personifications of objects and events. Some myths are also tied to rituals in the sense that they try to explain these rituals.
Today, most legends are considered historical and outdated. The advent of films has given mass recognition to myths and folktales. Several movie themes are based on traditional stories. These films are watched by the masses and are circulated on a larger platform. Fairytales are very popular themes for movies. The Disney Corporation is known for its works based purely on folktales. Even though other films may not so obviously portray these tales, their stories are usually a reconstructed versions of myths put into present day contexts.
With the advancement in technology, the mediums for expressing these myths have increased considerably and so has their popularity. Even though the new stories do not conform to the traditional tales accurately, they communicate the myths and folktales to newer generations. | 
