Today in class when we were talking about the theme of the fall in myths, it reminded me of this song by the Avett Brothers that addresses that very topic. (and it's a great song!)
enjoy!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Gods among men
"The change brought with it a new exhilaration and a new terror. All previous manifestations seemed tenative and cautious by comparison; they hadn't risked the boldest of adventures, which is precisely that of the gods' disguising themselves as human in a human world, having passed through the whole gamut of metamorphoses. Then this last disguise was more exciting than the others. More exciting and more dangerous. For it might well be that the gods' divinity may no longer be grasped in its fullness. On earth they would meet people who treated them with too much familiarity, maybe even provoked them." (54)
Calasso brings up an interesting point in this passage. The relationship between humans and their gods has been ever-changing throughout history, which in turn changes the way gods are portrayed in mythology. In my opinion, this stage of contact is the most interesting for the purpose of weaving tales about the gods, because if the gods appear in human form we humans can relate the best to them.
The second part of the quote refers to the "danger" of this change. It is dangerous for the gods, because if they lose their temper, or get embarrassed, or do any of a multitude of other things that modern society has come to think of God(s) as "above," they could lose some of their detachment to the world, and therefore some of their power (having personally invested themselves in it). This approach to religion obviously didn't work out, because now beliefs in god normally place him in a location distinctly separate from earth (Heaven) and not appearing to humans ever in their mortal lives. But it sure makes good stories!
Calasso brings up an interesting point in this passage. The relationship between humans and their gods has been ever-changing throughout history, which in turn changes the way gods are portrayed in mythology. In my opinion, this stage of contact is the most interesting for the purpose of weaving tales about the gods, because if the gods appear in human form we humans can relate the best to them.
The second part of the quote refers to the "danger" of this change. It is dangerous for the gods, because if they lose their temper, or get embarrassed, or do any of a multitude of other things that modern society has come to think of God(s) as "above," they could lose some of their detachment to the world, and therefore some of their power (having personally invested themselves in it). This approach to religion obviously didn't work out, because now beliefs in god normally place him in a location distinctly separate from earth (Heaven) and not appearing to humans ever in their mortal lives. But it sure makes good stories!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
9/6
"But how did it all begin? A group of girls were playing by the river, picking flowers. Again and again such scenes were to prove irresistible to the gods." (4)
This is one of the many quotes in the first chapter that alludes to abduction. In fact, it seems that much of mythology is riddled with this practice, if this book is any indicator. But there is one thing I don't understand about all this kidnapping and virgin-snatching. If the gods were so incredibly handsome, strong, and clever, couldn't they have gotten the girl without having to do it against her will? If Zeus was the king of all the gods, Europa probably would have come with him no matter where he said he was going, without the aid of a disguise. But maybe that's just another version of the story; if there is one thing I realized about mythology while reading this chapter, it is that myths tend to fold back upon and repeat themselves. Everything is connected in the world of myth, and chances are if you are a mythological character going through something in the present, one of your distant relatives has had that experience before.
Oh, here's me hugging a tree.
This is one of the many quotes in the first chapter that alludes to abduction. In fact, it seems that much of mythology is riddled with this practice, if this book is any indicator. But there is one thing I don't understand about all this kidnapping and virgin-snatching. If the gods were so incredibly handsome, strong, and clever, couldn't they have gotten the girl without having to do it against her will? If Zeus was the king of all the gods, Europa probably would have come with him no matter where he said he was going, without the aid of a disguise. But maybe that's just another version of the story; if there is one thing I realized about mythology while reading this chapter, it is that myths tend to fold back upon and repeat themselves. Everything is connected in the world of myth, and chances are if you are a mythological character going through something in the present, one of your distant relatives has had that experience before.
Oh, here's me hugging a tree.
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