"When Myth Incarnates in the Waking World"
7 Signs that you might be looking at a Mythorealist’s work:
This list is not all inclusive...but are features of works that I consider to be mythorealist as described by CS in his post on the Noctiviganti series of books.
1) A sense of being under forces beyond one’s control-automated, repetitive, or ritualized.
2) Switching between two different states of awareness or two realities-one of which is ordered and predictable, the other chaotic or disorganized in nature.
3) A sense of the protagonist or subject of the work as being driven to madness by it all.
4) Getting a sense of justice being enacted in events-Warning: May be contrary to one’s normally perceived sense of justice.
5) Moving in and out of time/space, lost time sequences, or alternating states of consciousness-sleep/trance-like vs wakefulness/attentive.
6) A sense of being an outsider, outcast, or misanthropic elements vs with feeling in tune with certain other people or life in general.
7) The presence of chaotic elements in an otherwise harmonious environment or vice versa.
1) A sense of being under forces beyond one’s control-automated, repetitive, or ritualized.
2) Switching between two different states of awareness or two realities-one of which is ordered and predictable, the other chaotic or disorganized in nature.
3) A sense of the protagonist or subject of the work as being driven to madness by it all.
4) Getting a sense of justice being enacted in events-Warning: May be contrary to one’s normally perceived sense of justice.
5) Moving in and out of time/space, lost time sequences, or alternating states of consciousness-sleep/trance-like vs wakefulness/attentive.
6) A sense of being an outsider, outcast, or misanthropic elements vs with feeling in tune with certain other people or life in general.
7) The presence of chaotic elements in an otherwise harmonious environment or vice versa.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by CS Thompson on -
Very interesting analysis. In a certain sense, you have described me here. Some of these points, though, are more specific to my own writing- or perhaps my own worldview!- than to the broader possibilities of Mythorealism. It would be interesting to see whether or not you thought these points applied to The Red Dance, for example.
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Permalink Reply by alchemistra on -
From what I've read of The Red Dance, it would appear that elements 1,4, and 6 may figure in the story.
This list was compiled from looking at authors whom I believe to be mythorealist-type writers, some of whom I had mentioned to you in another post. Although I must say, I have been quite strict in my assessment as to whether they fit in. Grabinski (horror)and Meyrink (occult), are definitely on the list. George MacDonald's Phantastes (fantasy), a work described as mytho-poeic may fit as well.
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Permalink Reply by CS Thompson on
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I really need to check out some of these writers. I think a visit to Amazon.com is in order...
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Permalink Reply by Lani K. Thompson on -
Actually, all seven elements apply to The Red Dance...and I agree that your analysis is very interesting!
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Permalink Reply by alchemistra on
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Thank you, Lani. Let's me know that I have somewhat of a grasp on the general characteristics of the Mythorealist-type work of literature. I think it's interesting that The Red Dance is very, very different from Chris's novels, yet I get a sense of those characteristics, just the same.
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