Have you ever read René Girard? If not, you are in for a real treat. I used to run a Girard reading group, and I had to take to Campbell and his false ideas about down at the start. So many people have dismissed mythology (and Christianity) because of this cringe boomer guru. It's an insult to humanity. Also, if you interested in a modern day take on the grail that definitely embraces the allegory, I recommend the highly underrated film "The Fisher King." A sadly forgotten masterpiece because people have been dumbed down with Manichean heroes and villains crap via Campbell. It's "the Romantic lie", just in a hippie form. Amazing how often we can reinvent that so as to continue to be blind to the truth.
If you go to the Wikipedia page on Campbell, you will see some accusation made against him and his work that are consistent with mine. It misses my claims re. Christianity and anti-Christianism, but cites accusations of antisemitism. I would endorse this last element - so far - as a general anti-Judaeo-Christianism, which reminds me again and again of Nietzsche and Wagner, the latter whom he repeatedly references. I don't want to go too far in this, though, as, still, my reading of him is superficial. Also germane, his tendency to over-generalize. I can definitely agree with that part - so far. Finally, is it just me, or is he starting to remind you of Edward Casaubon of Middlemarch too? lol.
Have you ever read René Girard? If not, you are in for a real treat. I used to run a Girard reading group, and I had to take to Campbell and his false ideas about down at the start. So many people have dismissed mythology (and Christianity) because of this cringe boomer guru. It's an insult to humanity. Also, if you interested in a modern day take on the grail that definitely embraces the allegory, I recommend the highly underrated film "The Fisher King." A sadly forgotten masterpiece because people have been dumbed down with Manichean heroes and villains crap via Campbell. It's "the Romantic lie", just in a hippie form. Amazing how often we can reinvent that so as to continue to be blind to the truth.
If you go to the Wikipedia page on Campbell, you will see some accusation made against him and his work that are consistent with mine. It misses my claims re. Christianity and anti-Christianism, but cites accusations of antisemitism. I would endorse this last element - so far - as a general anti-Judaeo-Christianism, which reminds me again and again of Nietzsche and Wagner, the latter whom he repeatedly references. I don't want to go too far in this, though, as, still, my reading of him is superficial. Also germane, his tendency to over-generalize. I can definitely agree with that part - so far.
Finally, is it just me, or is he starting to remind you of Edward Casaubon of Middlemarch too? lol.
Nice to hear a different view of Campbell. I too hate such bias and mud slinging.