Modern Mythology

Which one? There are 3 images.

2012-05-31T18:24:59.394-07:00

Which one? There are 3 images.

A more complete / edited version of this appears i...

2012-05-31T18:13:58.891-07:00

A more complete / edited version of this appears in Apocalyptic Imaginary: Best of Modern Mythology 2011. (See Amazon.com)

artist for the image = Stas Prohortsev i think

2012-05-31T08:27:06.492-07:00

artist for the image = Stas Prohortsev i think

Sea Fang by Stas Prohortsev

2012-05-31T07:39:58.831-07:00

Sea Fang by Stas Prohortsev

I'm thinking it might be good to follow up thi...

2012-05-27T17:02:22.767-07:00

I'm thinking it might be good to follow up this piece with some others... we'll see what "strange birds will hatch" as Jhon said.

True, though there is some evidence the original t...

2012-05-27T00:24:41.009-07:00

True, though there is some evidence the original tradition came from further south. But you are correct. As for knowing about it -- it's hard to say. I certainly don't have those connections, and there's nothing readily available.

It's also not very important to me. Those are not my people. I am not looking to re-create their myth. It wouldn't be genuine.

"We will never know." I'm sure you ...

2012-05-27T00:22:45.622-07:00

"We will never know."

I'm sure you could find out more if you wanted to. A lot of these cultures are still around and being researched as we speak, or are speaking for themselves. (Also, Mexico is in Central America.)

Love is life and love is most precious thing in th...

2012-05-16T10:44:06.111-07:00

Love is life and love is most precious thing in this world. Thanks for sharing
love stories

There's another way of looking at the naming i...

2012-05-12T08:23:34.158-07:00

There's another way of looking at the naming issue -- the Jaws perspective.

The movie was so powerful because Spielberg didn't show you the shark for the first 3/4 of the film. By not being shown, the audience had no framework for the thing, and its potential was able to exceeded its power in our imaginations.

Seeing the shark gave us a framework for the thing, and thus contained its potential. Similarly, a name provides a framework or form for some content. When you have the name of a thing, it gives you knowledge of that thing and some measure of power over its potential, or protection from it. If you get bit by a poisonous snake or spider, you're a lot more likely to survive if you can tell a doctor the name of the creature that bit you. When you know the name of a person you've never met, you have some kind of common ground the first time you do meet. Rumpelstiltskin only had power when his name was unknown.

What seems to unsettle many is the imagined potential of unformed content; a thing that exists but escapes the frame of a name escapes category, definition and control. It's a psychological response, and we can see it being used allegorically in myths, legends and religions, or as a tool in narrative or even political purposes (see Red Scare, color-coded terrorist alerts for unnamed threats, etc.). After all, whenever you look at political polls, no candidate does well against a generic, unnamed opponent.

I read the story a while ago in a book and a frien...

2012-05-11T10:27:01.218-07:00

I read the story a while ago in a book and a friend of mine was told a variation of the story when he was in Hebrew school. It was a Jewish myth developed to explain Christianity. In his version, Jesus took a piece of stone from a tablet with God's name in the temple and embedded it in his body. Here is an account I found on the internet:

http://jeromekahn123.tripod.com/enlightenment/id19.html

----
"Yeshu fled to Jerusalem. In the Temple he learned the Ineffable Name. And to thwart the brass dogs who guarded the place of sacrifice and barked at those who had learned the name, making them forget, Yeshu wrote the name on a piece of leather and sewed it in the flesh of his thigh. He gathered around him in Bethlehem a group of young Jews and proclaimed himself the Messiah and Son of God. He rebuked those who rejected his claim, saying that they were only after their own greatness and wished to rule in Israel. To confirm his claim, he healed a lame man and a leper by the power of the Ineffable Name. For this, he was summoned before Queen Shalminon [or Helena], who found him guilty of acts of sorcery and beguilement."
----
This one Jesus sews the name onto his leg. It is interesting to me that not only are these myths utilized by the Jews to explain Jesus as a charlatan, but in each version he attained his power by doing something that was forbidden by God in the Torah (ie: body modification.)

yes where did you find that info on the gate and b...

2012-05-11T09:41:55.381-07:00

yes where did you find that info on the gate and barking dog. this is interesting.

I would very much like to know more about the open...

2012-05-11T09:21:26.216-07:00

I would very much like to know more about the opening story of the Temple gate, barking dogs, etc. Where did this story come from?

@James, I'm happy to hear you're not deali...

2012-05-09T09:04:29.410-07:00

@James, I'm happy to hear you're not dealing with the blasted Tower this go round, as I am, but the Death card can still be rather difficult.

I can say I'm happier since that thing was blasted and recovering from it, while not easy, has created new life... literally and figuratively... new friendships, new projects, etc. Seeing the Silver Lining has it's benefits.

And since you've been through the blast, I'm confident you'll find a way to reconcile this situation; a challenge, yes, but hey... anyone who recovers from a blast zone shows strength and courage to endure just about anything.

@Austin, good point regarding wholeness.

My thoughts regarding your points about identity- ...

2012-05-09T03:26:20.214-07:00

My thoughts regarding your points about identity-

It is quite possible, and useful, to be selective about how you display yourself without fracturing your identity. It is, I would argue, inevitable, and therefore better harmonized with than opposed.

Also, the quest for wholeness and the quest to have other people see your wholeness are different things.

Best of luck,
-Austin

I'm happy to see that I've reached someone...

2012-05-08T17:10:49.284-07:00

I'm happy to see that I've reached someone. And I'm sorry to hear that you've had to go through anything like I have.

To be honest, I've actually lost a lot more than I have this time one of the previous times around - yeah, I've died/been reborn many times without QUITE ever making it across the physical death threshold. One time before this it was all belongings, all friends, my wife and life as I knew it, and new friends appeared anew.

This time is... different. It'd be hard to explain, and has much more to do with life direction and frustration about feeling lost in the noise. I mean, I follow a lot of pro writers and pro media this and that, and a lot of times I have done the things "you're supposed to do" and though I've had results I've had nothing near the kind of results you need to make a living off it, I've worked my ass off for it, and there was that bitterness. But I don't want to degrade what I've said here with that one little gripe, I guess I'm just trying to say that this wasn't the total blasted tower thing this time. It was more like the Death card in its natural form (not necessarily meaning death), and I'm not quite sure where it's headed yet - but I am starting a business with someone that I trust more than I've trusted any human being I've known before, and she's really been a major reason that I'm dead, physically, right now.

Anyway, I'm happy to hear I've reached you - I hope you can help our words and works reach more of "us" whatever that means - and I guess we'll all just keep trying to keep on keeping on until we don't.

I do see some of my work as 'giving back,' but it is nice when I actually get to hear back from the void that it is. Sometimes I'll produce a podcast or write something and see 1000 people downloaded it that day, but 0 comments, and it makes you wonder like-- what happened on the other end? Is anything?

I've nothing left to lose; already lost it all...

2012-05-08T16:47:48.996-07:00

I've nothing left to lose; already lost it all, so I'll share my experience here within the comments for all to read, share, gawk at, because this is reality at it's finest.

This name is my doppleganger and what you describe is what I've been wanting (and to some degree, attempting) to do for about a year; but as you also describe, it can't be done without losing everything already digitally tied to the name. However, I'm tempted to start fresh because what's tied to it no longer matters.

I lost everything... EVERY FUCKING THING. I nearly lost my life by taking over 160 pills. I had to be resuscitated, ended up in a coma for three days, in the ICU for seven, and did anyone care? Well, for about a month, maybe. There was then this idea that I should get over it all... somehow pick myself back up and get over it.

I'm sure you're aware it isn't that easy.

I then ended up homeless, lost my house, my entire life savings, family, friends... internet friends as well as real life friends... quite a bit of personal stuff I owned (because I had to sell stuff off to pay bills, creditors, etc).

Who was there to help me out while I continued to endure suicidal feelings, find safe shelter from the storm... just listen perhaps?

Nada.

Those internet friends I thought were the bomb? They blew up in my face because I did not do what THEY expected, when THEY expected, while all I was attempting to do was hold my own shit together.

Those real life friends and family? Same, same.

Your story is the same as mine in so many ways and I weep when I read it. You have support and I wish you well. I wish you the best from the bottom of my heart.

I only know that you (we) are stronger than we feel. I should have died that day, and truth be told I still sometimes wish I did. My number wasn't up. Perhaps I have more to do here... perhaps I'm simply delusional as others still insist. I really don't know and I no longer care.

I wanted you to know someone has heard you; read your series of posts here and identified; listened; understood; and has been working behind the scenes on her own to create change by working on a project.

I just don't publicize it because as your bullying posts point out, bullying still happens to adults... covertly, usually by incredibly manipulative, twisted, sick individuals. I'm tired of it, so I remain silent about what I do until it's done these days. I don't need assholes screwing up my projects for kicks anymore. Once I'm done with this last one, I may take all my stuff down, reassess, decide if I come back with a fresh identity or just as myself as I was meant to be.

If I come back at all...

We'll see.

I say bravo to you for being so honest, brave, and doing what you feel you need to do for you.

Honesty is rare these days. You have it in spades! I highly admire that.

I am not saying this to get your sympathy, I am sa...

2012-05-08T09:48:35.417-07:00

I am not saying this to get your sympathy, I am saying it so you understand I didn't just go off the rails because I'm a crazy bitch. I was pushed, I was pushed again, and there is a long history behind this. I was bullied and abused for years, and just when I thought it was fucking done, it came back and bit me in the fucking neck. I don't deserve this. NO ONE DESERVES THIS. All people deserve is either your respect, or for you to leave them the fuck alone. That's it. Those are the only two options. If you try any other option, you don't get to be called a "person."

Amen to this!

Death isn't the issue. I'm pretty ready to...

2012-05-08T06:10:58.402-07:00

Death isn't the issue. I'm pretty ready to die, and if I died this moment, I would mostly just regret I hadn't fucked more young girls before my time came (no, I'm serious. That's pretty much the only regret I've got left.)

But I'm pretty sure my life partner wouldn't want me to get stabbed to death over jumping into a knife fight.

It's easier to stand up if you have made peace...

2012-05-07T22:12:47.357-07:00

It's easier to stand up if you have made peace with death. It's even easier to step up if you have a little crush or a big love affair with death. It also makes your stepping more effective.

Beyond that you can remember that the energy of all existence is pregnant in your every word and deed. Let it course though your veins as you strike with righteous vengeance or (better yet) simply make your intentions clear. Size and number may make some difference but even an idiot will respond to the words of a righteous lunatic with nothing to lose. You normally won't even come to blows. It's worked for me before. (Once when it was just me and one guy my size with a knife.)

Perhaps I'm emotionally stunted, because I was...

2012-05-07T15:58:38.648-07:00

Perhaps I'm emotionally stunted, because I wasn't viscerally shocked by Mr. Curcio's abandonment of his identity. In a sense, it's more of a burden than suicide: with suicide, you give up yourself but you don't have to continue living with the absence of an identity or work toward building up a new one. Even without a good rationale (and he had one), it's sure to be an interesting experience, and I hope someone who comes out of the other side of such an experience will fill us in later on how it went.

Catharsis, resurrection, death, rebirth, the head ...

2012-05-07T08:36:14.603-07:00

Catharsis, resurrection, death, rebirth, the head of chaos biting the tail of order.

The appreciation for the small things like a perfect rose or a sweetly smiling child or the smell of trees in bloom. Profundity in the small and the quiet.

Even the dark of space is filled with matter, gravity, particles.

Whatever doesn't kill you, doesn't kill you. You pick what happens next.

Rebirth, reinvention can be healing... as long as it doesn't go hand-in-hand with negative kinds of avoidance.

A friend directed me to your blog. I've been ...

2012-05-07T06:19:38.262-07:00

A friend directed me to your blog.

I've been in your shoes, I know your pain. That was almost 10 years ago.

I had a mustard seed's worth of hope left, but that was all it took.

The person I used to be did die that day, but a new person was reborn... the person I wanted to become. Yes, it was a hard and painful journey; but it IS possible.

I know from our mutual friend that you have people around you that love you dearly. Focus on those people and they will help you through the journey; they will carry you until you are strong enough to stand on your own.

Just PLEASE, don't give up... There is a light at the end of the tunnel and blessings beyond what you can conceive.

We must go on. How? I don't precisely know. Wh...

2012-05-06T21:51:57.437-07:00

We must go on. How? I don't precisely know. What I do know is that we're faced with a choice between reinvention in light of what has been and what still is, or allow our little "post-apocalyptic civilization" collapse and let all we've done decay into ruin and fade away.

Interesting article. I have to say, I'm a lit...

2012-05-05T14:02:48.955-07:00

Interesting article. I have to say, I'm a little surprised that they discussed a decline in publishing and music with barely a mention of the massive disruptions in distribution that have happened over the last 10 years.

I also appreciated the analysis of American narratives that position art and artists in a particular place.

However, what is lacking is an analysis of the narratives that the creative class has about itself. Perhaps it is beyond the scope of the article, but it is relevant.

If we missed it, that classroom audio is here - ...

2012-05-03T11:44:25.514-07:00

If we missed it, that classroom audio is here -

http://www.modernmythology.net/2012/04/modern-mythology-podcast-3-pornography.html