From: "Tom Craig" <tcraig-AT-spartan.ac.BrockU.CA>
Subject: Re: The Mythic Woman in Legend and Religion 
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 11:24:34 -0500


Judith and Beryl,
  I am introducing the notion of the "sacred" (and religion, for that
matter) in the very broad terms of Tillich's notion of "ultimate concern,"
or the deepest cultural values which (as Beryl notes) connect us to some
greater story.

After introducting this definition in class last night, a student asked me,
if this is the case, then is everyone in a culture "religious"?

  I don't think the cultural stories of Princess Diana can yet be classified
as "myth." According to Doniger O'Flaherty (_Other People's Myths_), a myth
has to be part of an ancient, group tradition that addresses "religious
questions" (life after death, divine intervention in human affairs, creation
of the world, etc.). Right now, Diana seems to be more of a cultural icon
and not yet connected to religious questions.

  I'm still pondering how the notion of the Mythic Woman might be connected
to French Feminism. Has anyone here done any work on the visceral,
"semiotic," rhythmic play of myth in practice?

  Tom
   tcraig-AT-spartan.ac.brocku.ca
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-----Original Message-----
From: bchalk <bchalk-AT-hotmix.com.au>
To: french-feminism-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
<french-feminism-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu>
Date: Wednesday, January 19, 2000 9:09 PM
Subject: Re: Uploaded Syllabus: The Mythic Woman in Legend and Religion


>Comment on the sacred - after much research into this during the last few
>years, I like what Sister Wendy Beckett says, 'the sacred takes us beyond
>ourselves to something which is more than us but intimately part of us'.
>(not a direct quote). In my own words it is that which opens our local
>personal story to the greater story so that we ask 'where am I in this
Great
>Play?' With regard to place/space I like the word tenemos - place set
apart.
>Beryl Chalk
>Perth, Western Australia
>-----Original Message-----
>From: J Poxon <poxon-AT-saclink.csus.edu>
>To: french-feminism-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
><french-feminism-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu>
>Cc: french-feminism-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
><french-feminism-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu>
>Date: Thursday, January 20, 2000 8:48 AM
>Subject: Re: Uploaded Syllabus: The Mythic Woman in Legend and Religion
>
>
>>
>>On Wed, 19 Jan 2000, Tom Craig wrote:
>>
>>>   For those of you who may be interested, the WS2P97 syllabus is now up
>and
>>> running on the web (with a few minor upload glitches). You may locate it
>at
>>> the following URL:
>>> http://members.tripod.com/~Cesura/WISE2P97--w2000.html
>>
>>I took a look at your syllabus, and it looks great, Tom. Really an
>>interesting course, and terrific readings.
>>
>>> Collegial comments and suggestions are always welcome, of course. I'm
>still
>>> working out the details of the second assignment on a "modern" (last 100
>>> years or so) example of a "mythic" woman. According to Wendy Doniger
>>> (O'Flaherty), one of the essential characteristics of a myth is that it
>>> address some element of the sacred. What do you think, does Princess Di
>now
>>> qualify according to this criterion? Any others come to mind?
>>
>>I don't know. How do you understand "the sacred" in this formulation? I
>>guess one could say that Princess Di has a numinous quality in the
>>popular imagination--is that what you mean?
>>
>>Judith
>>
>>Judith Poxon
>>poxon-AT-saclink.csus.edu
>>
>>
>>
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>
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