Mything in Action

I usually try to stay away from politics on this blog, but here it is: Election Night 2008. I’ve been following this election since December 2006, when Clinton and Guilliani both declared their intent to run. It’s hard to believe the day has finally come, and it’s pure torture to not have immediate return. I am looking for my moment of catharsis, and hopefully I will not have to wait for too long.

I should comment on the modern myth of our time. I am a member of the generation who has lived their entire life with a Bush or a Clinton in the White House (except for a couple short months, which saw Carter in office). My entire relevant adult life has been defined by the Bush Administration, including the events surrounding 9/11, the Middle Eastern Wars, the economy, and all that goes with it. I have developed a degree of skepticism and cynicism from paying too much attention to the news, but most importantly, I have lost a sense of what it means to be an “American.” What defines my patriotism? How legit is the Constitution? What is the real reason behind “airport security?”

I suppose one of the reasons I chose to become a mythologist is to try to answer these questions in a way that makes sense (to me). And I think the surge in popularity of fantasy (or as I call it, fairy-myth) is due to the same need to make sense of a world that seems to not make sense. As of today, I don’t have the answers, but I am hoping for a change from the same old crap, so that I can get out of the hole and start to look back on these last few years.

You know that line from Network? “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore!” it is a mantra that is relevant here. The question that follows is one of those logical ones; “So what are you going to do about it?” What can we do about it? Voting usually helps. It may not make a difference in the national sense, but if the popular vote is overwhelming in one direction, it will send a message.

I am holding on to hope for the electoral process. But I have to say this: If we start hearing wind of “recounts” or anything like that, PLEASE write to your congressperson and senator! While I care whether or not my nominee wins, I’m more interested in protecting the democratic process at this point. No more stolen elections, even if you don’t agree with the winner!

A few weeks ago, I went to a Brisingr booksigning party. Brisingr, for those who don’t know, is the third installment of the Inheritance cycle by Christopher Paolini. To launch the event, he did a little presentation during which he told a very interesting story. I hope he doesn’t mind my recounting it (a bit poorly) here. (And if he does, I hope he will come on my podcast and tell it for the record…): Early in Eragon’s life, before Paolini had made it very far in the major publishing world, he was playing an online video game and someone logged in under the nickname “Eragon.” Paolini engaged in battle with “Eragon,” and, if memory serves correctly, the words “You have been killed by Eragon” flashed across the top of Paolini’s screen at least twice, though I am remembering thrice.

What a fantastic opportunity for a young writer!

As often happens in our lives, a mythology will come and grab us in its Vulcan death grip and hold us fast until it’s through with us. During this time, we are molded and shaped by the hands of the myth. For example, look at the Harry Potter fan community. Many Potter fans are caught by the myth so strongly, they create music, fan fiction, dissertations, podcasts, etc., or, at least in my experience, they enroll in Hogwarts (Pacifica).

The idea of getting killed by one’s myth implies that the power of myth reaches beyond our control.

Thoughts?

I’m attending summer quarter this week and we had our first earthquake since I started at Pacifica. It was a 5.8 and centered about 50 miles east of Los Angeles. I’m located about 20 minutes south of Santa Barbara and we felt a relatively mild shaking. No one was worried, so I’m not either. It was kind of cool.

But the really mythical part was the conversation we were having when it occurred. We were discussing the need for imagination and practices that ensoul the world, and, also, the American practice of identifying the self with the car. It almost seemed as though the earth was agreeing with our conversation. The soul and psyche of each individual and culture is linked directly with Nature, with the soul of the world. Both will be equally unhealthy, but both can heal with mutual support. By identifying so strongly with material objects, we place a need on the Earth’s resources. The material objects block our inner soul work while also draining the Earth of what She has to offer. The archetypal argument suggests that if we tend to our inner soul and step away from materialism, identifying with the archetypes that link us with the numinous, then the world will also be restored.

I listen to PotterCast, a Harry Potter themed podcast sponsorder by the Leaky Cauldron. It occurs to me that podcasting is allowing for a whole new category of celebrity. People with a computer and a microphone can get their talent out to the world without corporate sponsorship, expensive marketing campaigns, or even professional studios.

 Does this mean our culture is becoming so burnt out on corporate copying that we can make celebrities out of “nobodies”?

Just a thought. Now back to work.