Monday, December 18, 2006
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
"man constructs according to an archetype"
When Mireca Eliade said, “Man constructs according to an archetype” he was commenting on the underlying themes that all of our stories share. There are certain ideas and images that pervade the human consciousness and that manifest themselves when we tell stories. These archetypes are easily recognizable and depending on how they are used can instill fear, love, anger, or allegiance to a character or a real live leader.
I believe that archetypes are very much alive in our world today and that we cannot escape them. From history I see that every leader who has been able to grasp the power of the archetypal figures and ideas has been able to rally his respective people and do great or terrible things, but most importantly, that leader is remembered and becomes part of the collection of archetypes themselves. Man does not just construct his reality through archetypes, we live archetypes whether we know it or not. We create groups for ourselves with certain characteristics that we must meet in order to belong to said group. The characteristics make each individual adhere or identify to much older archetypes which evolve with men, but we can always find our way back to the original.
The Original figure of each archetype is immortalized and to varying degrees others come along and copy the actions of the original and make new the original, the power of that individual is strengthened even more by the underlying history of the archetype they fit into. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has several strong references to much older archetypes and it also creates a new category based on older ideas. The scientist Viktor Frankenstein fits into archetype of Prometheus, Viktor attempts to harness a power reserved for God and only regrets his actions when his fruits of labor destroys his life from the outside in. Viktor also becomes the original mad scientist who acts without considering the possible consequences or the morality of the action. In Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park, geneticists recreate dinosaurs from DNA sealed in frozen mosquitos, one character remarks that the scientists were so preoccupied with the idea of whether they could they didn’t stop to think whether they should. Ultimately humans have to deal with the most powerful archetype of God, we fear the power but we yearn for the power to create and to yield that power to control what is uncontrollable. We construct according to an archetype because we long to be gods ourselves, when we create a powerful idea we share some small part of that dream of being a god.
I believe that archetypes are very much alive in our world today and that we cannot escape them. From history I see that every leader who has been able to grasp the power of the archetypal figures and ideas has been able to rally his respective people and do great or terrible things, but most importantly, that leader is remembered and becomes part of the collection of archetypes themselves. Man does not just construct his reality through archetypes, we live archetypes whether we know it or not. We create groups for ourselves with certain characteristics that we must meet in order to belong to said group. The characteristics make each individual adhere or identify to much older archetypes which evolve with men, but we can always find our way back to the original.
The Original figure of each archetype is immortalized and to varying degrees others come along and copy the actions of the original and make new the original, the power of that individual is strengthened even more by the underlying history of the archetype they fit into. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has several strong references to much older archetypes and it also creates a new category based on older ideas. The scientist Viktor Frankenstein fits into archetype of Prometheus, Viktor attempts to harness a power reserved for God and only regrets his actions when his fruits of labor destroys his life from the outside in. Viktor also becomes the original mad scientist who acts without considering the possible consequences or the morality of the action. In Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park, geneticists recreate dinosaurs from DNA sealed in frozen mosquitos, one character remarks that the scientists were so preoccupied with the idea of whether they could they didn’t stop to think whether they should. Ultimately humans have to deal with the most powerful archetype of God, we fear the power but we yearn for the power to create and to yield that power to control what is uncontrollable. We construct according to an archetype because we long to be gods ourselves, when we create a powerful idea we share some small part of that dream of being a god.
Existence and Power
How scary can it be to really realize that you exist? For so many of us we take it for granted and accept the distractions of modern life without really thinking about the mystery of our own individual existence, and what it means to ignore our senses and turn inward to ask, do I really exist, and furthermore for what purpose and why continue if I actually do exist? There is something to the question in that in asking whether I exist I do not cease to exist at least as far as I know.
A bit off subject but relevant is the question of why others feel power over others by controlling them in some fashion? Control through means of brainwashing, distraction, lies, leverage, training, etc... What need does control over others satisfy if satisfying at all? What effect would ensue if people who long for power stopped and thought about their need for power and control of others?
It is important that I make a difference between leaders and manipulators. There are leaders who lead because they care about the progress of their people/followers, then there are those who manipulate their followers to do their bidding and accumulate property or services.
What would happen to the world if tomorrow all of civilization had access to unlimited energy and food (through replication) eliminating the need to farm or ranch? Energy independence would bring down the number of jobs that employ energy workers in oil/gas/electricy. Farmers and ranchers would be nearly extinct except for people who wanted to grow gardens or live like their ancestors. It would remove a whole section of the worlds economy and perhaps stabilize some conflict areas.
With so many people in need of a job to serve as their purpose in life, we would need a new industry, something easily learned. Of course there will be people opposed to the change, even if it is for the greater good of mankind and the planet.
A bit off subject but relevant is the question of why others feel power over others by controlling them in some fashion? Control through means of brainwashing, distraction, lies, leverage, training, etc... What need does control over others satisfy if satisfying at all? What effect would ensue if people who long for power stopped and thought about their need for power and control of others?
It is important that I make a difference between leaders and manipulators. There are leaders who lead because they care about the progress of their people/followers, then there are those who manipulate their followers to do their bidding and accumulate property or services.
What would happen to the world if tomorrow all of civilization had access to unlimited energy and food (through replication) eliminating the need to farm or ranch? Energy independence would bring down the number of jobs that employ energy workers in oil/gas/electricy. Farmers and ranchers would be nearly extinct except for people who wanted to grow gardens or live like their ancestors. It would remove a whole section of the worlds economy and perhaps stabilize some conflict areas.
With so many people in need of a job to serve as their purpose in life, we would need a new industry, something easily learned. Of course there will be people opposed to the change, even if it is for the greater good of mankind and the planet.
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