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Loading... The Power of Myth (original 1988; edition 1988)by Joseph Campbell (Author), Betty Sue Flowers (Editor)
Work InformationThe Power of Myth by Joseph Campbell (1988)
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. The national bestseller, now available in a non-illustrated, standard format paperback edition The Power of Myth launched an extraordinary resurgence of interest in Joseph Campbell and his work. A preeminent scholar, writer, and teacher, he has had a profound influence on millions of people--including Star Wars creator George Lucas. To Campbell, mythology was the "song of the universe, the music of the spheres." With Bill Moyers, one of America's most prominent journalists, as his thoughtful and engaging interviewer, The Power of Myth touches on subjects from modern marriage to virgin births, from Jesus to John Lennon, offering a brilliant combination of intelligence and wit. This extraordinary book reveals how the themes and symbols of ancient narratives continue to bring meaning to birth, death, love, and war. From stories of the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece and Rome to traditions of Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity, a broad array of themes are considered that together identify the universality of human experience across time and culture. An impeccable match of interviewer and subject, a timeless distillation of Campbell's work, The Power of Myth continues to exert a profound influence on our culture. The national bestseller, now available in a non-illustrated, standard format paperback edition The Power of Myth launched an extraordinary resurgence of interest in Joseph Campbell and his work. A preeminent scholar, writer, and teacher, he has had a profound influence on millions of people--including Star Wars creator George Lucas. To Campbell, mythology was the "song of the universe, the music of the spheres." With Bill Moyers, one of America's most prominent journalists, as his thoughtful and engaging interviewer, The Power of Myth touches on subjects from modern marriage to virgin births, from Jesus to John Lennon, offering a brilliant combination of intelligence and wit. This extraordinary book reveals how the themes and symbols of ancient narratives continue to bring meaning to birth, death, love, and war. From stories of the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece and Rome to traditions of Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity, a broad array of themes are considered that together identify the universality of human experience across time and culture. An impeccable match of interviewer and subject, a timeless distillation of Campbell's work, The Power of Myth continues to exert a profound influence on our culture. Campbell writes well and draws exciting references into his argument. Classical myths power our thinking is his central thesis, and follows through much of his work. The problem is that this thesis is never really subjected to a rigorous test. And as such this simple general view of myth powering all thoughts fails to solve explain many of the memetic evolutions we have seen in the last 10 years or so. I had several problems with this book: The interview transcript format did not work for me, there was too much emphasis on Christianity and Star Wars, the illustrations seemed tokenistic, and in some curious way, remarks that should have been timeless seemed dated. But I opened this book with purpose and in some respects, I found the wisdom I was looking for. I had recently returned from an ancient mountain walk in Japan called the Kumano Kodo. I was struck by the number of small shrines to mountain spirits along the way as well as the way sacred space was delineated by gateless tori gates. So I resolved to assemble a shrine to the mountain spirits that surround me, and create a sacred space where I could be open to my feelings of mystery, awe, and humility. The stages of human development are the same today as they were in ancient times. As a child, you are bought up in a world of discipline, of obedience, and you are dependent on others. All this has to be transcended when you come to maturity, so that you can live not in dependence but in self-responsible authority. If you can’t cross that threshold, you have the basis for neurosis. Then comes the one after you have gained your world, of yielding it – the crisis of dismissal, disengagement. (p.70)With this comes an awareness that now, as an old man, I disengage from the from the secular dimensions of the world, I am engaging with the spiritual dimensions of my place in it – in nature. . Moyers: …What does it Mean to have a sacred space? Campbell: This is an absolute necessity for anybody today…This is a place where you can simply experience and bring forth what you are and what you might be. This is the place of creative incubation. At first you may find that nothing happens there. But if you have a sacred place and use it, something eventually will happen. (p.92)Curiously, Joseph Campbell then asserts that there are no longer any sacred spaces. Moyers: Where are the sacred places today? Campbell: They don’t exist. (p.94)
Theology and myth are stepsisters of truth. The one probes with questions, the other spins out tales on gossamer threads. But both serve a common mystery. I was reminded of this recently in reading Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyer's conversation on The Power of Myth. This wonderful book is filled with pictures of Tibetan and Native American art, photographs of aboriginal initiation rites and drawings by William Blake. Adapted from a six-part television series filmed at George Lucas's Skywalker Ranch shortly before Campbell's death, the book moves from the tales of ancient Greece and India to the latest episodes of Rambo and Star Wars. Here the power of story still lives. As Campbell once said, "The latest incarnation of Oedipus, the continued romance of Beauty and the Beast, stands this afternoon on the corner of Forty-second Street and Fifth Avenue, waiting for the traffic light to change." Belongs to SeriesPower of Myth (companion book) Is expanded inReference guide/companion toIs a commentary on the text ofNotable Lists
Conversations between Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers, a television journalist, discussing mythology and our ties to the past. No library descriptions found.
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)291.13Religions Other Religions Comparative Religion; Mythology (No Longer Used) Mythologies Archetypal MythologyLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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