[Johanna Fisher]

Hello ,

I am Johanna, a professor of medieval lit. Colleges have been affected severely in my area and it looks like people in my field will find it difficult to continue to teach in our fields. I am a long time student of Campbell’s work and am interested in a variety of topics that evolve from studying his work.

I am particularly interested in his understanding of the metaphoric and myths elements in medieval lit and ancient texts. I try to bring this understanding into my teaching of these texts. But by extension, i am also interested in how these resonant in our lived experiences and understanding of transcendence , especially as we try to make sense of our current situation in the world. It is important to listen to the scientists and experts that give us information about the particulars of this virus, but beyond all of this is a recognition of something greater at work.

We have done considerable damage to our world, to our communities, and to one another as human beings. What does this crisis say to us about the other forces at work that at this moment appear to stymie us? We seem only to be able to respond on a certain level, but there is little talk about the other factors that got us here in the first place. What can Campbell in his work tell us about living, not merely trying to survive this force? Personally, I think there is  much his work can guide us in understanding what is now and perhaps how we ought to shape what is to come. Myths give us many clues-the mistakes made by those you came before and what answers they found -might this help us in the coming times?

I am not sure the focus for this forum. Perhaps some clarification is in order?

[Stephen Gerringer]

Welcome, Johanna!

Thanks for coming to play with us. This is the Meet & Greet forum, where people new to Conversations of a Higher Order (which at this point is almost everyone) pop in to introduce themselves – which makes yours a perfect post: you tell us what you teach, and then jump right in to what concerns you most

… and, frankly, what you say syncs with my experience.

There are many reasons we study the Humanities – but the one that rings most true for me is these offer a window into ourselves, individually and collective, through the lens of the humanity we all share. Those who teach are tasked with illustrating how these remain relevant for us today (I taught junior high English and Literature – at twelve and thirteen no one is into literature for literature’s sake, so keeping one foot in the real world while we plumbed the realm of imagination proved essential).

So I especially appreciate your interest in looking beyond the surface of this current crisis.

You write

But by extension, i am also interested in how these resonant in our lived experiences and understanding of transcendence , especially as we try to make sense of our current situation in the world. It is important to listen to the scientists and experts that give us information about the particulars of this virus, but beyond all of this is a recognition of something greater at work.

” . . . something greater at work” – yes.

There are some nascent discussions on the coronavirus crisis in one of the forums (Myth in the News, perhaps); you might want to reply to one of those – or perhaps introduce the topic you raise here in The Conversation with a Thousand Faces forum. What that “something greater at work” cries out for further exploration..

Don’t worry if there aren’t immediate replies. Conversations here are leisurely, and can extend over days (or weeks, or more). We move at a slower pace than Facebook and such; sometimes a person needs to let an idea simmer and percolate for a day or two before responding.

[Johanna Fisher]

Hello Stephen,

Thank you for the reply. I am happy to be able to “talk” to others who are interested in wresting with Campbell’s work-his wisdom. I will talk more about the “greater things at work” in one of the forums. Looking forward to our continued “play”.

 

 

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