Joseph Campbell - Myth and Metaphor in Society (2002)

Joseph Campbell - Myth and Metaphor in Society (2002) Myth and Metaphor in Society: A Conversation with Joseph Campbell and Jamake Highwater Audio, Cassette, Mystic Fire Audio; Abridged edition (December 2002) Although this audio program is very brief, it is nonetheless packed with wonderful insights from Joseph Campbell. Recorded shortly after the writing of his book "The Inner Reaches of Outer Space" in 1986, the interview focuses on the concept of myth as metaphor. For Mr. Campbell, a problem exists when the metaphor is confused with fact, leading to the popular view that myths are "lies". Once one grasps the concept of symbolic meaning in the stories, images, and symbols, then the pathways to a deeper experience of life are opened. Another controversial topic covered in the interview was the conflict between "diffusion" and "parallel development" in understanding world religions. In this hotly debated issue, Mr. Campbell argues persuasively that while diffusion does exist, it cannot fully explain the coincidences of the nearly identical mythic patterns appearing concurrently in different parts of the world. For instance, the ancient Hindu practices in India and those of the Hopi Indians on the North American continent were occurring simultaneously with no evidence of the diffusion. As indicated by Mr. Campbell, the most recent discoveries in archaeology serve to offer abundant evidence that helps to shed light on this question. Indeed, the field of comparative religion that Mr. Campbell was influential in spearheading in the mid-twentieth century has grown exponentially since his death. In this program, the interviewer, Jamake Highwater, posed thoughtful questions and engaged in lively conversation. It was clear that Mr. Highwater was well-versed in the books of Joseph Campbell and was extremely knowledgeable about world mythologies. In one of the most charming and amusing anecdotes ever told by Mr. Campbell, he relates how after a celebration in New York City, he was approached on the street by a man with clipboard, who asked him the question, "Do you believe in God". Mr. Campbell's priceless response was, "That is a very complicated question. There are hundreds and hundreds of gods, and I know them all!". The man with the clipboard was so surprised and enthralled that he never wrote down the results of this interview! This anecdote alone made the audio a memorable experience. specs: 64kbps, mono, 01 hrs 02 min 31 sec technical: I've adjusted the speed (minus 17 percent), removed the humming, and reduced the noise of this old audio tape - a gentle audio restoration without any artefacts. tags: Campbell, mythology, history, legends, heroes, metaphors, society, culture, transformation