This episode argues that the commonly held belief that myth is dead - a relic of the past replaced by modern science and reason - is itself a framing myth of modernity. Instead, myth is alive and well, but often hidden within mediums that lack the traditional aura of the sacred.

The Sacred and the Profane:

The tension between the sacred and propaganda, arguing that the sacred cannot be manufactured or controlled.

The transformative power of the sacred.

The relationship between myths and meaning. We argue that meaning is not inherent in myths but is rather a by-product of our engagement with them, and caution against attempts to codify the meaning of myths, arguing that such attempts are often driven by a desire to appropriate the power of myth for personal gain.

Myth is not primarily about conveying meaning in a literal sense.

Building on Episode 1's discussion of strange attractors, Episode 2 highlights how myths, like strange attractors, can drive cultural evolution toward specific values and structures.

Myth is not something separate from our construction of reality but is rather an integral part of it.

The episode begins to examine how myths can be used for political purposes, both for good and for ill, paving the way for further analysis in subsequent episodes. We will explore this much more closely in subsequent episodes.

It cautions that authoritarianism, fascism, totalitarianism, etc can exploit the power of myth for their own ends.

For more, visit Jamescurcio.com/narrative-machines or ModernMythology.net for more affiliated podcasts.

This first episode of Narrative Machines argues that while we may call some stories myths and others not, all stories have the potential to become myths as they are repeated and embedded in our culture.

We use the analogy of strange attractors to describe how myths function. Just as a strange attractor represents the underlying structure toward which a system tends to evolve, myths provide a framework for understanding and organizing our experiences. The episode connects this idea to Richard Dawkins' concept of memes, which are self-reproducing information structures analogous to genes. The episode argues that memes are not just silly pictures on the internet; they represent any idea that can become a social act and shape our beliefs and actions.

Emphasizing the importance of moving beyond simplistic interpretations of myths and recognizing the complex ways they function in our lives, we introduce several key functions of myths:

They inform the relationships between things.

They define our identities, place in time, and roles in society.

They arise from and bleed back into the material world, shaping history and the future.

They serve as a selector for social mobility.

They must be understood in the context of their use.

They function as strange attractors.

The episode concludes by emphasizing the immanence of myth and its role as a fundamental aspect of human experience. It calls for recognizing the power of myth in our lives and engaging with it critically and consciously.