Living Myths in a Living World: Mythological Studies and Green Studies Implications of Fandom

Defining Myth

Before mythological studies and fan studies can usefully be discussed, it is important to clarify what the first field actually encompasses. For many Western people, the term ‘mythology’ conjures up either serene marble images of Greek gods or charming and childlike collections of tales associated with premodern tribal peoples. The more widely-read individual might also think of Classical literature of the Homer or Virgil persuasion, and possibly recall the cheerful universalism of comparativists like Joseph Campbell, the cultural particularities of structuralists like Claude Lévi-Strauss, or the depth psychological tradition stemming from the archetypal work of Carl Jung. The word ‘myth’ also has strong modern connotations of something falsely believed to be true. This multiplicity of meaning breeds a certain kind of common confusion which every mythologist must face before trying to discuss the importance of mythology in today’s postmodern world.

There are also as many definitions of mythology as there are mythologists, which does little to dispel any of that confusion. While current thought on the subject often veers into semiotic and/or phenomenological territory (Barthes, 1972 and Scarborough, 1994 are representative examples), this chapter will try and avoid delving too deeply into such terrain. Here the terms ‘myth’ and ‘mythology’ will refer instead to a composite concept found at the meeting point between religion, lore, and psychology. The generally understood meanings of religion and psychology are suitable for use in this context, but the term ‘lore’ requires a bit more explanation.