Seeing without Pictures (MCAD course on myth and ritual): Recent Episodes
Dawn Pankonien
Can we (human beings in all of our symbol-making glory) recreate the world with stories? Can we study myth, ritual, and their symbols in ways that are applicable -- that can matter -- to the present and future? And can we do all of this without colonizing the sacred narratives and practices of others? These are the questions I would like us to center in our thinking while here (even as we revisit theorists of the past). Welcome.
Why are we going to these 100 year old theoretical lenses? How are readers ever supposed to trust that anthropologists' observations and interpretations are accurate? And then, of course, what is functionalism anyhow? Plus a description of the assignments at the end of this week. Wishing you each a good week, D
A defense of Freud and of psychoanalysis by a non-Freudian. In the words of Paul Gray, "Psychoanalysis and all its offshoots may in the final analysis turn out to be no more reliable than phrenology or mesmerism or any of the countless other pseudosciences that once offered unsubstantiated answers or false solace. Still, the reassurances provided by Freud that our inner lives are rich with drama and hidden meanings would be missed if it disappeared, leaving nothing in its place" (nd).
Here I am in conversation with you and your questions on moral panics (and conspiracy theories, too). Just after, I introduce Freud and psychoanalysis, and we are ready for Week 6.
From "does language shape thought?" (Boroditsky 2017) to "For a people who are neither Spanish nor live in a country in which Spanish is the first language; for a people who live in a country in which English is the reigning tongue but who are not Anglo; for a people who cannot entirely identify with either standard (formal, Castillian) Spanish nor standard English, what recourse is left to them but to create their own language?" (Anzaldua 1986). Also, everywhere in between. Like, everywhere. Thank you for asking sooo many interesting and important questions.
Another whiplash filled ride, but I did manage to get lots of very important quotes and questions into this one. Enjoy, D
So much to say, so little time. What is a myth anyway? What is the problem with ritual as a concept? And then you problem-posed...
In my perfect world, I would be in actual, real-life conversation with Toni Morrison and Hanif Abdurraqib in this podcast. Instead, I am in conversation with their texts and with each of you in this audio.
This one is us getting started which means, mostly, I am trying to convince you that problem-posing education is cool. Next week we'll talk Toni Morrison and Hanif Abdurraqib and Bharti Kher.