Symbols and Myth-Making in Modernity: Deep Culture in Modern Art and Action

'Symbols and Myth-Making in Modernity' unpacks the deep culture that nourishes human perception of reality through symbols. From ancient mythical creatures and rites through masterpieces of Renaissance to modern art and cinema, the book illustrates how ever-present cross-cultural symbols erupt in popular culture today, and what work they do in transforming the self and society. Cover Page Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Acknowledgments 1. Introduction: Culture Is Deep Myth and Modernity: Toward a Deeper View of Culture Popular/Culture Mything the World and the Self “Action!”: Ritual and Art Symbol Statement Method Structure of the Book 2. Complex Transformations of the Self: The Hero as a Symbol Revisiting Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces Brains, brawn, and break-up: Odysseus’s transformative return Psyche and the journey of the soul Modern Masks: Vogler’s Journey Star Wars: Rey and her (incomplete) journey Transformation, Complexity, and Gender: Heroes Ancient and Modern Discussion: Living the Hero 3. The Uncanny: Monsters, Blood, and Other 3: A.M. Horrors Introduction to the Self The Uncanny Shake Us to Wake Us Here there be monsters Ghosts and demons: “Please allow me to introduce myself” Threatening aliens and artificial intelligence The Uncanny in Myth: Death, Dismemberment, and Rebirth Blood and Wine: The Uncanny in Ritual Blood and wine in Eastern Orthodox Christianity Wine and blood in qawwali music Discussion: Disquiet in the Cultural Operating System 4. The Feminine: Citadel of Metaphors The Symbolic Feminine Polarity Birthing and containing Containing and devouring Modern expressions Many Shades of Gray Old witch Young witch and Sophia Medusa Singularity versus Multiplicity Artemis: goddess of modernity Demeter and Persephone The Matrix and Pirates of the Caribbean Discussion: The Symbolic Feminine in Deep Culture 5. It’s culture all the way down Introduction Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue: The Symbolic Dimension Fish Chalice Toward imaginal dialogue The Veil: Politics, Poetics, and Play of Religious Symbols Mona Lisa Mary Play: Facing the veil Conclusion Mythical truths Deep culture Culture All the Way ... Bibliography Index