Cultural Mythology and Global Leadership in Israel (original) (raw)

National Academy of Managerial Staff of Culture and Arts Herald, 2018

This paper aims at exploring myth as a phenomenon of culture. The authors have used anthropological integrative approach, semiotic method of representing myth as a language of culture, as well as phenomenological method. Myths provide meaning and purpose to all elements of culture. Myth underlies cultural reality – it is a core of culture. If we imagine culture as an onion comprised of different layers (the “onion” model of culture), than myth is the center of it – it is a core beyond articulation. It generates our beliefs and assumptions that are rarely explicated, however there beliefs and assumptions shape both the structure of personality and culture. They are taken for granted, but support any culture. They manifest themselves in an explicit form in values, purposes, goals, strategies, philosophies, which motivate us and shape our reality. Mythology is one of the ways to comprehend and interpret the world around us. Its basic concepts are the “world” and “human”. Through the lens of these concepts, people realized their destiny in the world and formed life attitudes during the early stages of human development. Giving place to philosophy and science, mythology has not lost its important place in human history. Mythological narratives were borrowed by many religions. In recent decades, representatives of literature and art have intentionally used myths to express their ideas. They have not only rethought ancient myths, but have created new mythological symbols. Nowadays, an interest in myths and mythologies has dramatically increased, and it is not by chance. The famous researchers of the primitive cultures and mythologies as the ways of mastering and interpreting the world have demonstrated the creative power and heuristic potential of myths that will be manifested in the future.

THE TRUTH AND THE FALSEHOOD OF MYTHS

Departing from the proposition that the formation of myths is a typical feature of being human, their truth or falsehood is explored. Referring primarily to classical mythology, a myth is defined as a story which attempts to make sense of our inner and external environments. Supernatural agents are the main actors. Various theories about the functions of myths are discussed. Their basic embeddedness within the premodern three-storeyed vision of the cosmos, is set out. The value of myth analysis is illustrated by referring to New Testament Studies, Political Studies, Film Studies, Sociology, Psychology, Communication Studies, and the Science of Management. The article concludes by demonstrating the dangers of reading myths literally, as in fundamentalist Christianity, undermining free and open critical inquiry and leading to mind-control, manipulation, and persecution.

412-415 EXPLORING MYTH AND TRADITION.pdf

Myth is primarily a certain type of story in which some of the chief characters are gods or other beings larger in power than humanity. Very seldom it is located in history: its action takes place in a world above or prior to ordinary time. Hence, like the folk tale, it is an abstract story pattern. The characters can do what they like, which means what the storyteller likes. There is no need to be plausible or logical in motivation. The things that happen in myth are things that happen only in stories; they are in a self-contained literary world. Myths are stories of unacertainable origin or authorship accompanying or helping to explain religious beliefs. Often (though not necessarily) their subject is the exploits of a god or hero, which may be of a fabulous or a superhuman nature and which may have instituted a change in the working of the universe or in the conditions of social life. In this paper, I have discussed how Girish Karnad has broughtout tradition and culture in his plays.

Anthropological perspectives on Myth

Anuário Antropologico, 2002

In this paper, I explore anthropological interpretations of myths. Myths have fascinated scholars in various disciplines - as well as ordinary people. They have recorded and presented history, expounded philosophical ideas and moral values (Plato, Sophocles, Aeschylus), as well as provided patterns for interpreting language, (Müller), psychology (Freud, Rank, Jung) and structure (Lévi-Strauss, Greimas). One of the more puzzling moments in all these studies was the apparent incommensurability between “myth” and “reality.

The Precipice of Myth: Mythology/Epistemology

Chapter 3 in the forthcoming book: 'Myths and Narratives in International Politics: An Interpretative Approach to Studying International Relations', ed. B. Bliesemann de Guevara, published by Palgrave Macmillan.

Place of myth in traditional society

Journal of Education, 2013

The article deals with the place and function of mythology in traditional society. It is mentioned that mythology has defined the structure and lifestyle of society together with religion. The main universal themes are outlined based on which it became possible to classify myths, i.e. group them by the content. A description of these groups is provided and it is mentioned that a great role in the formation of mythological thinking was played by advancement of farming in agricultural activities. On its part, mythology played a significant role in the development of culture in general and in literature in particular.

Myth, Folklore and Ancient Ethics

SSRN Electronic Journal, 2000

In primitive and civilized cultures alike, myth has served as a foundational component of social structure and societal cultural self-image. For peoples with limitation on their skills of scientific inquiry and/or detached social observation, myth has served purposes ranging from explanation of the natural world to early visions of civil justice and a moral ethos. Such application of myth has necessarily and simultaneously provided adherents with the means of rationalizing the caprice and harshness of the natural world, as well as giving a means of accepting, even a fatalism, concerning injustice. In general terms, myths and mythic figures have provided primitive and ancient peoples a means of mediating and understanding (1) man's relation to nature; and (2) the requisites of a successful society. Folk lore, in turn, has occupied a subordinate role of providing illuminating, illustrative, and sometimes admonitory parables that reinforce ordinarily pre-established community norms. With regard to community norms, therefore, both myth and folklore have played mediating roles in aiding and enhancing a people's ability to achieve orderly and successful societies. Just as evidence of primitive and ancient cultures informs us of the cultural antecedents of much of modern civil justice, so too myth and folklore not only provide great storytelling, but also insights into the moral and ethical aspirations of prior cultures.