Conrad Kottak is an American anthropologist. He did extensive research in Brazil and Madagascar, visiting societies there and writing books about them. He then wrote several textbooks which are often used by colleges and high schools in the United States. He is currently an anthropology professor at the University of Michigan. He believes that various American legends and stories, such as Star Trek, Star Wars and the Thanksgiving story are growing into a type of mythology which someday might be comparable to Greek, Roman, or other stories which today are considered to be myths.