Classical Wisdom Speaks The Life of Stories
Oct 23, 2025
Join Joel Christensen, a Classics scholar from Brandeis University and author of Storylife, as he dives into the fascinating world of narratives. He explores how mythology breathes life into stories, treating them as living beings that shape our culture. Discover the difference between collective tradition and authorship, how Homer immortalizes oral tales, and the ethical responsibilities of storytellers. They also tackle the dangers of archetypes in hero myths and the impact of language on narrative perception. A thought-provoking discussion on the power of storytelling!
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Narrative As Living Structure
- Joel Christensen argues language and narrative function like living things, with Homeric formulae acting as genetic-like units.
- Treating narrative structurally reduces overemphasis on individual authorship and highlights collective tradition.
Credit The Tradition, Not Just The Author
- Recognize how cultural and biological conditioning exaggerates individual authorship of art.
- Credit traditions and structures that enable creation rather than only celebrating lone creators.
Homer Fossilizes Living Myths
- Christensen says Homeric poems fossilize living myths, marking ends rather than authoritative beginnings.
- The Homeric texts gained authority through two millennia of interpretation, not solely original oral contexts.