Comments for Mythic America: Essays

Comment on WHY AND HOW TO STUDY AMERICAN MYTHS by beerfa

beerfa — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 22:58:38 +0000

Hi Ira–Nice work–Frank Beer

Comment on THE MYTHOLOGY OF HOMELAND INSECURITY by Chernus

Chernus — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 15:58:37 +0000

This is certainly an important question. A full answer would require another whole essay. I’ll just make a few basic points:

I am an American, and these essays are concerned only with what has happened, and is happening, in America. Even if many other societies had the same pattern of insecurity, it would still be just as important for us Americans to understand our own nation’s political culture as thoroughly as we can. Each society has its own unique pattern of insecurity that needs to be understood on its own terms. My goal is merely to contribute a little bit to that particular understanding.

America’s homeland insecurity is different from English villagers or neolithic people because ours is articulated in the context of the modern nation-state. It is not merely fear of what might happen to individuals. It is fear of the extinction of the nation-state. That’s a particular pattern that deserves to be studied on its own terms. We can see it in other nation-states; for example, the old Soviet Union, Israel, and no doubt others that I’m not so familiar with.

America’s homeland insecurity is unique because it arose in interaction with America’s mythology of hope and change, which many historians have seen as quite distinctive, perhaps even unique, among nation-states. The importance of homeland insecurity stands out most clearly when we see its contrast with “hope and change,” and recognize that since the late 1930s homeland insecurity has dominated over “hope and change” in the mainstream political culture. That particular dynamic is unique to America.

Comment on THE MYTHOLOGY OF HOMELAND INSECURITY by John Harris

John Harris — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 15:18:59 +0000

I do not dispute the peculiar expression of the myth in the American context, but I wonder that the fear of others (strangers, eccentric, foreign, deviant) is not a normal fear. I remember that English villagers sometimes attacked travelers who wandered into their villages, especially night visitors. I think of how terrified neolithic aboriginals are of most encounters with aliens. So how is the American fear expressed differently? How is it culturally important, and so important that it defines us in a manner that is significant?

Comment on INTRODUCTION by http://tinyurl.com/rollmahon17546

http://tinyurl.com/rollmahon17546 — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 18:42:36 +0000

“Mythic America: Essays” was indeed a
wonderful blog post and also I really was indeed very happy to read the blog.
I appreciate it-Bryan

Comment on THE TWO GREAT AMERICAN MYTHOLOGIES by Chernus

Chernus — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 21:23:46 +0000

I am familiar with Jungian theory. I’ve chosen not to use it, or any psychological theory, in my work because I do not know the theories well enough. However I certainly encourage people who do know Jungian theory well to apply it to the kinds of things I write about here. It’s great to have people studying the myths underlying American political-cultural life from as many different perspectives as possible. The popularity of Joseph Campbell’s work shows that there are lots of Americans eager for that kind of interpretation. I don’t mean that one should stick strictly to Campbell’s approach. But his success shows that there would be an audience for a variety of interpretations based in Jungian theory. The more people get thinking about American mythology, from whatever perspective, the better!

Comment on THE TWO GREAT AMERICAN MYTHOLOGIES by Eileen Sembrot

Eileen Sembrot — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 00:02:07 +0000

Professor Chernus,

Yes, I am a graduate student and I’m definitely listening. Information from your site will be included in an essay about the American political consciousness. My ultimate project is to use Jungian psychology in a way that raises personal self-awareness and progressive political consciousness. I’d love your feedback.

Comment on THE MEANING OF “MYTH” IN THE AMERICAN CONTEXT by Eileen Sembrot

Eileen Sembrot — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 04:33:39 +0000

Thank you so much Professor Chernus for this wonderfully inspiring article! I actually study myth at the graduate level, and plan to continue work, specifically on American myth, after graduation in April 2013. I study Carl Jung’s archetypal psychology, mostly in its application to literary material, however my Bachelor’s degree is in American Studies with minors in political science, English, and philosophy. I will continue to visit this site.