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OverviewMyths are commonly associated with illusions or with deceptive, dangerous discourse, and are often perceived as largely the domain of premodern societies. But even in our post-industrial, technologically driven world, myths Western or Eastern, ancient or modern, religious or scientific are in fact powerful, pervasive forces. In Social Myths and Collective Imaginaries, Grard Bouchard conceptualizes myths as vessels of sacred values that transcend the division between primitive and modern. Myths represent key elements of collective imaginaries, past and present. In all societies there are values and beliefs that hold sway over most of the population. Whether they come from religion, political institutions, or other sources, they enjoy exalted status and go largely unchallenged. These myths have the power to bring societies together as well as pull them apart. Yet the study of myth has been largely neglected by sociologists and other social scientists. Bouchard navigates this uncharted territory by addressing a number of fundamental questions: What is the place of myth in contemporary societies and in the relations between the cultural and the social? How do myths take form? From what do they draw their strength? How do they respond to shifting contexts? Myths matter, Bouchard argues, because of the energy they unleash, energy that enables a population to mobilize and rally around collective goals. At the same time myths work to alleviate collective anxiety and to meet the most pressing challenges facing a society. In this bold analysis, Bouchard challenges common assumptions and awakens us to the transcendent power of myth in our daily lives and in our shared aspirations. Full Product DetailsAuthor: Gerard Bouchard , Howard Scott , Les Editions du BorealPublisher: University of Toronto Press Imprint: University of Toronto Press Dimensions: Width: 15.30cm , Height: 1.20cm , Length: 22.80cm Weight: 0.300kg ISBN: 9781442629073ISBN 10: 144262907 Pages: 176 Publication Date: 13 January 2017 Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Tertiary & Higher Education , Professional & Vocational Format: Paperback Publisher's Status: Active Availability: Temporarily unavailable  The supplier advises that this item is temporarily unavailable. It will be ordered for you and placed on backorder. Once it does come back in stock, we will ship it out to you. Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1 - Myths and Collective Imaginaries Chapter 2 - What is a social myth? Chapter 3 - The Mythification Process Chapter 4 - The Conditions for the Effectiveness of Myth Chapter 5 - Social Myths: A Pyramidal Structure General Conclusion Bibliography NotesReviews...Social Myths is an intriguing and potentially valuable analysis of cultural development. -- Scott Duchesne * Canadian Literature 236 2018 * By the early 1990s, Gerard Bouchard had become one of the few prolific authors who always deserved close reading. The wonderful translation of his latest book will further increase his reputation for rigorous thinking, wide-ranging reading, and engaging writing. -- Chad Gaffield, University of Ottawa * The Canadian Historical Review, vol 99 4, December 2018 * """…Social Myths is an intriguing and potentially valuable analysis of cultural development."" -- Scott Duchesne * Canadian Literature 236 2018 * ""By the early 1990s, Gérard Bouchard had become one of the few prolific authors who always deserved close reading. The wonderful translation of his latest book will further increase his reputation for rigorous thinking, wide-ranging reading, and engaging writing."" -- Chad Gaffield, University of Ottawa * The Canadian Historical Review, vol 99 4, December 2018 *" Author InformationGérard Bouchard is a professor in the Department of Human Sciences at the Université du Québec Á Chicoutimi. He is a past winner of the Governor General’s Award as well as the John A. Macdonald Prize. Howard Scott and Phyllis Aronoff won the 2018 Governor General’s Literary Award for their translation of Descent into Night by Edem Awumey. Tab Content 6Author Website:Countries AvailableAll regions |
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