Classical Studies 1000 Lecture Notes - Walter Burkert, Oedipus Complex, Telling Stories

• School: Western University
• Department: Classical Studies
• Course: Classical Studies 1000
• Professor: Christopher Brown

Document Summary

Theoretical approaches to the problem of definition of myth continued from week 10. In a traditional society, every custom or institution tends to be validated or confirmed by a myth: explains why we do what we do (ex. Why does a king always have to belong to a particular clan; why does that class possess the richest land: myths help to explain and validate something within the society. Probably not: structuralism, this is a different than the first 3. It is not so much a reductionist explanation of myth but a theoretical model for the interpretation of myth. It was popular for a fairly long time: this theory is associated with claude levi-strauss and this movement began in the 60s into the 70s and 80s. The primitive mind worked like certain types of computers in terms of binary opposites that seek mediation or reconciliation between the opposites (ex.