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The Mythic Dimension - Comparative Mythology
Joseph Campbell taught Mythology to students at Sarah Lawrence College, just north of New York City, for thirty-eight years. Late in his tenure, he made a proposal to use his introductory course as the basis for the then-new field of cross-cultural studies. The proposal gives a wonderful glimpse into Campbell’s pedagogical philosophy, but also into his approach to his chosen field. Included is one of the most-requested downloads from the Joseph Campbell Foundation's website: the reading list that Campbell used in that Introduction to Mythology course. These pieces, along with nine other essays ranging in subject from the numerology implicit in the Goddess mythologies to the erotic irony of modern novelist Thomas Mann, is included in the collection The Mythic Dimension. This volume was reissued in 2008 by New World Library as part of the Collected Works of Joseph Campbell series; this article is being published in electronic form by the Joseph Campbell Foundation.
Note: Not the complete text of The Mythic Dimension--just the two articles described above.
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Note: Not the complete text of The Mythic Dimension--just the two articles described above.
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37 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 11, 2011
91 people are currently reading
562 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Campbell
423 books6,154 followersJoseph Campbell was an American author and teacher best known for his work in the field of comparative mythology. He was born in New York City in 1904, and from early childhood he became interested in mythology. He loved to read books about American Indian cultures, and frequently visited the American Museum of Natural History in New York, where he was fascinated by the museum's collection of totem poles.
Campbell was educated at Columbia University, where he specialized in medieval literature, and continued his studies at universities in Paris and Munich. While abroad he was influenced by the art of Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, the novels of James Joyce and Thomas Mann, and the psychological studies of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. These encounters led to Campbell's theory that all myths and epics are linked in the human psyche, and that they are cultural manifestations of the universal need to explain social, cosmological, and spiritual realities.
After a period in California, where he encountered John Steinbeck and the biologist Ed Ricketts, he taught at the Canterbury School, and then, in 1934, joined the literature department at Sarah Lawrence College, a post he retained for many years. During the 40s and '50s, he helped Swami Nikhilananda to translate the Upanishads and The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. He also edited works by the German scholar Heinrich Zimmer on Indian art, myths, and philosophy. In 1944, with Henry Morton Robinson, Campbell published A Skeleton Key to Finnegans Wake. His first original work, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, came out in 1949 and was immediately well received; in time, it became acclaimed as a classic. In this study of the "myth of the hero," Campbell asserted that there is a single pattern of heroic journey and that all cultures share this essential pattern in their various heroic myths. In his book he also outlined the basic conditions, stages, and results of the archetypal hero's journey.
Throughout his life, he traveled extensively and wrote prolifically, authoring many books, including the four-volume series The Masks of God, Myths to Live By, The Inner Reaches of Outer Space and The Historical Atlas of World Mythology. Joseph Campbell died in 1987. In 1988, a series of television interviews with Bill Moyers, The Power of Myth, introduced Campbell's views to millions of people.
Campbell was educated at Columbia University, where he specialized in medieval literature, and continued his studies at universities in Paris and Munich. While abroad he was influenced by the art of Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, the novels of James Joyce and Thomas Mann, and the psychological studies of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. These encounters led to Campbell's theory that all myths and epics are linked in the human psyche, and that they are cultural manifestations of the universal need to explain social, cosmological, and spiritual realities.
After a period in California, where he encountered John Steinbeck and the biologist Ed Ricketts, he taught at the Canterbury School, and then, in 1934, joined the literature department at Sarah Lawrence College, a post he retained for many years. During the 40s and '50s, he helped Swami Nikhilananda to translate the Upanishads and The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. He also edited works by the German scholar Heinrich Zimmer on Indian art, myths, and philosophy. In 1944, with Henry Morton Robinson, Campbell published A Skeleton Key to Finnegans Wake. His first original work, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, came out in 1949 and was immediately well received; in time, it became acclaimed as a classic. In this study of the "myth of the hero," Campbell asserted that there is a single pattern of heroic journey and that all cultures share this essential pattern in their various heroic myths. In his book he also outlined the basic conditions, stages, and results of the archetypal hero's journey.
Throughout his life, he traveled extensively and wrote prolifically, authoring many books, including the four-volume series The Masks of God, Myths to Live By, The Inner Reaches of Outer Space and The Historical Atlas of World Mythology. Joseph Campbell died in 1987. In 1988, a series of television interviews with Bill Moyers, The Power of Myth, introduced Campbell's views to millions of people.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 17, 2016
fascinating look at how higher education used to be pursued, the general quest for intellectual rigour and knowledge as useful and essential in its own right and in the creation of self determined and self reliant individuals, as well as the mechanics of higher education. Powerful insight into Campbell's own influences and the reading list alone is a survey of human thought and philosophy. Excellent and informative short read.
July 9, 2014
This essay offers insight into how Campbell's Comparative Mythology course came into being. The reading selections and their order of presentation are explained for their contribution to the course objectives. Furthermore, it offers a complete reading list for the year-long course, which is quite an impressive list.
December 4, 2016
Short work by Campbell about his course he used to teach. Aside from it being Campbell, the best thing about this is the reading list. May need a new bookshelf.
November 5, 2017
I loved the book. I have always loved mythology. I have always been curious about Joseph Campbell, especially after I heard about The Hero's Journey. I need to read more about Joseph Campbell and read not only his books, but read the books mentioned in this book.
April 20, 2012
Contains a single essay from Mythic Dimension -- "Comparative Mythology as an Introduction to Cross-Cultural Studies", and a bibliography.
The essay is Campbell's notes on how he taught his Comparative Mythology class - how many weeks he spent on which cultures, in what order he taught them, the types of projects his students did, etc.
The interesting part is that he spends a few paragraphs here and there discussing WHY he teaches what he does, and in that order, and what he thinks is particularly important that people grasp.
The following bibliography is a list of the books Campbell most often used when teaching his class.
It doesn't function particularly well as an essay for a wide audience since nothing is discussed in depth, but it is a very good teaser for his other books.
The essay is Campbell's notes on how he taught his Comparative Mythology class - how many weeks he spent on which cultures, in what order he taught them, the types of projects his students did, etc.
The interesting part is that he spends a few paragraphs here and there discussing WHY he teaches what he does, and in that order, and what he thinks is particularly important that people grasp.
The following bibliography is a list of the books Campbell most often used when teaching his class.
It doesn't function particularly well as an essay for a wide audience since nothing is discussed in depth, but it is a very good teaser for his other books.
January 4, 2015
Comparative Mythology or Not
I thought this book was going to be a side by side comparative of mythology such as Greek, Egyptian, Celtic, Norse and Native American. This was not...... my mistake. However the book went into detail about the college he taught at and course content. There is a long list of different reading suggestions of individual mythologies. Mr. Campbell seemed extremely knowledgeable on the subject matter. I feel mislead with the title of Comparative Mythology. I do plan on reading some of his suggested titles. No offense to Mr. Campbell work. This e-book is very tedious.
I thought this book was going to be a side by side comparative of mythology such as Greek, Egyptian, Celtic, Norse and Native American. This was not...... my mistake. However the book went into detail about the college he taught at and course content. There is a long list of different reading suggestions of individual mythologies. Mr. Campbell seemed extremely knowledgeable on the subject matter. I feel mislead with the title of Comparative Mythology. I do plan on reading some of his suggested titles. No offense to Mr. Campbell work. This e-book is very tedious.
July 4, 2015
Joseph Campbell
I love the work of Joseph Campbell and his phenomenal work in comparative mythology. My only complaint is that Amazon doesn't offer any of his major works on Kindle. Are they copyrighted or something?
I love the work of Joseph Campbell and his phenomenal work in comparative mythology. My only complaint is that Amazon doesn't offer any of his major works on Kindle. Are they copyrighted or something?
September 20, 2015
Great overview
I enjoyed this quick read as an introduction to the world of Joseph Campbell. Most interesting that he was a professor at a women's college and was so intellectually stimulated there.
I enjoyed this quick read as an introduction to the world of Joseph Campbell. Most interesting that he was a professor at a women's college and was so intellectually stimulated there.
October 16, 2012
Rather dull, actually. Doesn't really say much. Reading list is intersting though.
November 17, 2015
Great information about Joseph Campbell life.
I look forward to reading more of his writing. I've downloaded three of his books and look forward to more in the future.
I look forward to reading more of his writing. I've downloaded three of his books and look forward to more in the future.
June 26, 2018
A sampler of Campbell, in particular his university class, with something alike the transcription of an opener introducing the man in his own words and the field of study. There's also a hefty biblio and something comprising a Wiki-style entry writ by the Campbell Foundation talking about his life's work and beyond. With Campbell as the subject of this by-numbers formula it's nothing less than captivating and engrossing. Particularly geared toward those beginning Campbellology.
April 12, 2021
Every mans Everyman
Campbell has been an inspiration and hero. The true shaman sharing the myths and defining the true sources of the path of self discovery for humankind . His work is epically monumental and will excite and guide all those who want to know where we come from why we exist .What we are and finally the eternal ethos and mythos of who we are.
Campbell has been an inspiration and hero. The true shaman sharing the myths and defining the true sources of the path of self discovery for humankind . His work is epically monumental and will excite and guide all those who want to know where we come from why we exist .What we are and finally the eternal ethos and mythos of who we are.
November 11, 2019
So prodigiously detailed, exhaustively researched, and immaculately collated; this collection reads more like an entertaining textbook, and it's insights -- especially those concerned with religion -- are truly eye-openingly life changing.
July 7, 2020
Informative
Informative, more apt to more books by Campelll. I had not realize how well versed he was in comparative mythology.
Informative, more apt to more books by Campelll. I had not realize how well versed he was in comparative mythology.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews