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Robert S. Ellwood

The Politics of Myth (Suny Series, Issues in the Study of Religion): A Study of C. G. Jung, Mircea Eliade, and Joseph Campbell Paperback – August 26, 1999

by Robert Ellwood (Author)

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Examines the political views implicit in the mythological theories of three of the most widely read popularizers of myth in the twentieth century, C. G. Jung, Mircea Eliade, and Joseph Campbell.

Print length

224 pages
Language

English
Publisher

State University of New York Press
Publication date

August 26, 1999
Dimensions

6 x 0.51 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

079144306X
ISBN-13

978-0791443064
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“This book represents an insightful, balanced, historical, and critical assessment of the right-wing politics of three figures important specifically for the study of mythology and for religious studies in general. Ellwood does an excellent job of placing Jung, Eliade, and Campbell within their historical context and intellectual heritage, and he is not afraid to be critical of his subjects, although he is never unfair. It is a pleasure to read a work that does not trash figures for not being politically correct their entire careers and attempts to come to grips with the spiritual aspect of fascism without forgetting about the horrible suffering it caused. Moreover, Ellwood helps us to understand why someone might be attracted to fascism, and how it can be interpreted as a spiritual revolution.” ― Carl Olson, Allegheny College

About the Author

Robert Ellwood is Professor of Religion, Emeritus at the University of Southern California, and the author of numerous books including The History and Future of Faith, The Sixties Spiritual Awakening, and The Fifties Spiritual Marketplace.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ State University of New York Press (August 26, 1999)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 079144306X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0791443064
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.51 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,592,316 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #862 in Mythology (Books)
- #4,259 in Folklore & Mythology Studies
- #7,523 in History & Theory of Politics

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12 ratings

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Harry Marks

Vital material, academic approach

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 11, 2013

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Ellwood takes on the political side of the leaders of the mythological restoration. Without neglecting the inner dimension of their thought, he focuses on the relationship between the whole idea of innerness, presented in terms of a "gnostic" approach, and the currents of mid-20th century politics. None of the three subjects, Jung, Eliade or Campbell, comes off as heroic, but their dabbling in right-wing perspectives is placed in a larger, and for me, fascinating, context.

However it must be acknowledged that his approach is academic. At times lively and engaging, the book also slogs through the references to relevant thinkers, unable in the end to bring drama to this "gnostic" debate. If it weren't for the subject matter, I suspect it would be a dull book.

7 people found this helpful

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Kyle Prince

Outstanding

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 11, 2013

Verified Purchase

I love how this scholar writes. Not for the beginner though. Having some knowledge of at least one of the three mythologists listed in the title will be helpful.

3 people found this helpful

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B. Boozer

Any Mythologist knows the risks

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 21, 2007

As am academic who has indulged himself in the mystical insights that are commented upon in this text, I can only say that the academic who has taken his time to write about his interpretations is welcome...much as the other academics who have wrestled intellectually with these icons of the mystical nature of psychology, sociology, and religion.

I do not expect any academic to capture the full range of the ideas that these authors have authored. But, I do respect the academic who finds the time, energy, and passion to try...to engage the range of thought, experience, and emotions that these authors have offered for consideration.

Have you ever tried to factor analyze the soul? Such an endeavor is to be encouraged, regardless of the inevitable inability to do so. There is a certain joy in engaging these authors who worked so hard to engage the conundrum that modernity presents to a 500 year or so old ego.

Did they get it "right"? No way. Of course they did. They engaged. And the author of this text...for all the criticality presented...does no more than those whom he engaged.

Joyfully, I suppose.

3 people found this helpful

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Ian M. Slater

Ian Myles Slater on: Three World-Views

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 21, 2003

Professor Ellwood very properly informs the reader that he was himself a student of Mircea Eliade at the University of Chicago, so I suppose that I should mention that I am an acquaintance of Professor Ellwood (although not a student, but a fellow Tolkien-fan). However, I am taking the time to review the book mainly because I enjoyed it tremendously, and learned a great deal from it. I would suggest it to anyone who has read a little of any, or all three, of the writers it presents, and is considering reading more. Doing so should reduce arguments about these sometimes-controversial figures, or at least put them on a better intellectual foundation.

"The Politics of Myth" analyzes the political and social thought -- or lack of thought -- of three influential writers of the middle and late twentieth century. It provides enough biographical detail to keep the reader grounded in reality, and just enough information on their theories of mythology to show how much, or how little, they are related to the cultural and political environments in which the three men worked. The story of their influence also receives some coverage, particularly in connection with the Bollingen Foundation's publications of Jung and Eliade, and Campbell's role as editor for the Bollingen Series.

Eliade and Jung both have had large readerships for relatively difficult writers on often esoteric subjects, and simplified versions of their views are widely distributed, not always accurately, or with attribution. The large number of people who became familiar with Joseph Campbell through Public Television will here discover something of his place in the intellectual world.

The book is neither an indictment nor a defense of these writers on mythology (among other subjects). I finished my first reading with some definite impressions. Eliade, sometimes dismissed as a Romanian Fascist, comes off as a disturbingly unpolitical man in an age of totalitarianisms, never quite grasping that his early literary celebrity in his native country made him a valuable asset to any movement which, even falsely, claimed him as a supporter. Jung appears as a hearty Swiss peasant, deeply provincial despite his vast learning and (flashes of) genius, unable or unwilling to see beyond the symbolic exterior of the Nazi movement for a very long time. Campbell, fortunate to live in a more benign political environment, is seen rejoicing that he has freed himself of his Irish Catholic background, not noticing that his disdain for Judaism, distrust of England, and sympathy for Germany, might have something to do with his upbringing. A second reading reminded me that this short book is packed with telling details, and will probably suggest other interpretations to other readers

44 people found this helpful

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Gordon Hill

Steady at the helm

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 24, 2007

Frequently a scholar's review of other scholars work carries a personal bias, usually unintended, but present nonetheless. Professor Ellwood's progressive exploration of Jung, Eliade and Campbell lives and works as influenced by the political climate of their days is as evenhanded an effort as it has been my pleasure to experience.

For example, he (rightly) examined the varied interpretations of Campbell's mantra, "follow your bliss", without citing the 'correct' one which Campbell himself seemed to leave vague intentionally in accord with the best of human imperatives; e.g., "do unto other..." or "do not do unto others...".

As a bonus, the references are wide ranging and appropriate to the task. What a pity I was never his student, but I can read his work. That the used copies of this work sell for the "new" price may be the best review availble.

4 people found this helpful

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G. James

Wonderful debunker of running myths.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 22, 1999

A refreshing read that gives the details about the lives and times of these three brillian men. It helps to debunk all the soot that has accumulated upon their work from the burning fires of conservatives and the religious right. The attempts to tarnish their names with accusations of anti-semitism and other prejudices fall flat in front of the facts. This book shows that people must deal with the political waves of their own times, but it does not necessarily make them of the same dogmatic ilk.

44 people found this helpful

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The Politics of Myth (Suny Series, Issues in the Study of Religion): A Study of C. G. Jung, Mircea Eliade, and Joseph Campbell Paperback – August 26, 1999

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