|
On the other we break things down too much to find the original truth, as in language where you are trying to find that transcendental meaning, which does not exist, as in truth can never be one thing it is always dependent on some other meaning. How to use it is a different matter.
He explores commonality between these stories. its an idea that our stories arnt new, that they come from old dreams.
If you are a film maker writer you need it in your vocabulary. Its pretty good and you can see its influence in most films.
Its like a psychoanalytic exploration into story. On one hand its important to be aware of things, to be enlightened.
It is an interesting read.
Joseph Campbell's insights and life testimonie's bring the human condition into absolute focus.truly a wise and kind teacher of the ages. Thanks.
I think Mr. On the other hand, his explanation of the dualism of good and evil in a multifaceted deity that bears the seed of creation and destruction in itself is quite interesting.I personally enjoyed the first 90% of the The Philosophers' Secret Fire: A History of the Imagination much better.
This might be the effect of narrating only fragments of myths in each chapter (only the part that fits with the sequence of the hero's journey that is being explained) or maybe because by trying to rationalize the content of the myth, its magic dissolves.For me myths arise in our imagination and their power resides in their ability to help us deal with the paradoxes and dualities that all human beings have to face (male/female, good/evil, etc). The compilation of myths from throughout the world is both extensive and interesting, but I would say the myths as told in this book are missing their original "magic".
These philosophical/theological views make the reading obscure and difficult and the psychoanalytical mechanisms are also some of the obstacles you will need to overcome on your hero's journey to the end of this book. Campbell prefers to think of myths and the hero's journey they imply, as a mean to overcome an unresolved issue with the father (mainly, but sometimes also with the mother).
Apparently the hero succeeds only when he acknowledges that he is the same as the father ("He is in him and Him is he" or something put in equally difficult terms). The author probably read Campbell, but his work is more recent and succeeds in transmitting you his passion for mythology.
Harpur is more a follower of Jung than of Freud, so in his books you will meet the inhabitants of the "otherworld" (maybe archetypes), "but they will only come to haunt you if you try to annihilate their world".
Joseph Campbell's great books have been read and reviewed many times. His writings are timeless and need to be read and read again, for a person's own insight changes as they mature in thought and practice. This book is also a suburb example of excellent descriptive writing. When purchased as a CD, you have the extreme pleasure of hearing Joseph Campbell's ability to describe in profound detail - mastered by a skillful writer.
The company was great. The first cassette set that was mail was broken, they quickly replaced the whole set. Thank you.
|
