Posted by Ben Curran on February 06, 2016 at 05:13:26:
In Reply to: West and East posted by Elana Janson on January 15, 2016 at 04:23:38:
Dear Dr Janson,
You make a lot of good points in 'West and East'. I
am specially interested in your remark that we have
"a younger generation that seeks spiritual solace in
science fiction".
I recently read an article on Disney Studios (STAR
WARS, DISNEY AND MYTH-MAKING: The Economist, Dec 19,
2015) which commented on the success of the latest
Star Wars movie. The writer noted how George
Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, is a student of the
work of Joseph Campbell, an American comparative
mythologist. Campbell outlined the 'monomyth'
structure in which a hero answers a call, is
assisted by a mentor figure, voyages to another
world, survives various trials, and emerges
triumphant.
All of which seems to indicate that the Economist
agrees with you that the post-Christian population
of the western world prefers its spiritual
nourishment in the form of science fiction based on
the storylines of ancient mythology.
POSTSCRIPT: I have had an email from our friend
Elijah. He is thinking of visiting us.