Mythography: The Study of Myths and Rituals

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Summary: mythography
Review: I have to agree with the reviewer who find this book appalling. Mr. Doty seems to belong to the let it all hang out school of scholarship-don't deliver reasoned opinions, but any opinion as long as it is your own. This is not a scholarly book-for all of Doty's exhaustive knowledge-but a book of strange opinions spiced with Doty's all intrusive liberal opinions on current politics. This book is shameful, but probably accurately reflects the state of contemporary scholarship in out baby-boomer, narcissistic universities.

Rating:
Summary: Studying myth: the starting point
Review: If you want to understand what 'myth' is about you need a starting point: this is William Doty's 'Mythography'. Put boldly and simply there is none of the kind. What makes this book unique, is not only the toolkit provided for reading 'myth', but the relatively detailed and clear presentation of the different schools of thought and thinkers that have been concerned with understanding what 'myth' is about. This is exactly what the title 'Mythography' suggests: an outline of conceptualisations of 'myth'. As an outline though it is not just a list: it brings into perspective the historical development of the notion of 'myth' itself. But where William Doty has particularly succeeded is to take us further than the mere historical listing of notions of 'myth': he takes us across the disciplines. He goes beyond those traditionally concerned with 'myth' (i.e. religious studies, anthropology, depth psychology) in those we never imagined would be concerned with such controversial a notion (i.e. linguistics, literary studies, cultural studies, arts, science), since for better or for worse, to use Edgar Morin, the notion of 'myth' is found everywhere.

Rating:
Summary: Scholarly substance and extensive reference value.
Review: This work is indispensable as perhaps the only comprehensive and encyclopedic overview of the analytical study of myth and ritual. Every significant theoretical perspective is covered in depth and placed within a systematic context. I found the author's philosophic and discursive approach valuable as he provides both a broad conceptual framework and the specific tools and resources necessary for deeper investigation and study. The personalized style-- at times lighthearted, wry, or ironic-- leavens the deep insights and consistent scholarly substance of this updated edition.