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135th out of 404 books
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819 voters
Primitive Mythology (The Masks of God #1)
The author of such acclaimed books as Hero With a Thousand Faces and The Power of Myth discusses the primitive roots of mythology, examining them in light of the most recent discoveries in archaeology, anthropology, and psychology
paper, 528 pages
Published
November 1st 1991
by Penguin Arkana
(first published 1959)
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I wish I could like Campbell's Masks of God series more than I do. I keep having the same experience -- I pick one up and read 15 pages that are magnificent, electrifying, and truly brilliant in their scope and perspicacity.
Then the long digressions accumulate and I start to lose the line of his analysis. He leaps hither and yon without much coherence or organization. It's almost as if he's a collector with an impressive set of artifacts, and he's hardly done showing you one before he's showing...more
Then the long digressions accumulate and I start to lose the line of his analysis. He leaps hither and yon without much coherence or organization. It's almost as if he's a collector with an impressive set of artifacts, and he's hardly done showing you one before he's showing...more
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This was one of the best books on mythology I've ever had the pleasure of reading. I only say it is "one of the" because I've started reading some others of Campbell's that are just as awesome. I've been a fan of mythology for as long as I can remember but this was the first time I was able to read a book by someone who shares my enthusiasm with the topic. I was enthralled by his re-tellings and his explanations. I was going to read all three of Masks of God Volumes but I decided to hold off on...more
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this is the first Campbell I'd read, and because much of it is based on anthropology that was current when he wrote and revised it (both decades ago), I have to say I took some of his conclusions with a little salt. But the wealth of information here about ancient cultures from the paleolithic to the premodern is amazing. Great store of folk tales, crazy stuff about early kingdoms where the monarchs were ritually sacrificed. Fascinating analysis of famous cave art, like the ones from Lascaux. Ve...more
Campbell is best known because of the PBS series The Power of Myth with Moyers that aired in 1988 and for his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces that influenced George Lucas of Star Wars fame and influential with many a writer, especially in speculative fiction. Primitive Mythology is the first part of his four-book series The Mask of God. This first book was published in 1959 and tried to incorporate then current findings in psychology (primarily Freudian and Jungian theories), archeology and...more
Staggering book. In a similar vein to Frazer's Golden Bough, an attempt to find underlying mechanisms to the various world mythologies.
Campbell examines the prevelence of some very specific motifs, across all varieties of unconnected cultures: Ghosts, "voodoo dolls", the power of hair/nail clippings of victims in magic, the use of totem figures in hunting societies, and birth/rebirth gods in planting cultures.
For myself, I was frustrated by some of the lengthy debate over whether Meso-American...more
Campbell examines the prevelence of some very specific motifs, across all varieties of unconnected cultures: Ghosts, "voodoo dolls", the power of hair/nail clippings of victims in magic, the use of totem figures in hunting societies, and birth/rebirth gods in planting cultures.
For myself, I was frustrated by some of the lengthy debate over whether Meso-American...more
What Joseph Campbell lacks in objectivity he makes up for in his enthusiastic endorsement of his own personal myth, his unified psychological theory of myths. He stretches his interpretations of the myths so far that they fall apart. I am left incredulous. I would like to find a more objective work on historical and comparative mythology. One with a more clear and concise writing style.
I could only manage to make it half way through the first volume before I considered his work a waste of time.
I could only manage to make it half way through the first volume before I considered his work a waste of time.
I'm by far not as into 'progress' and its so-called beacon, the heiarchic city-state as Joseph Campbell is, nor do I see as much worth in the works of Freud, Jung and psychoanalysis as him. However, otherwise it's a fascinating and well-tied together read full of the brutal, the beautiful and the brutiful. To my western socialized mind the myths described were both terrifying and awesome. Campbell is a damn good, tho not perfect writer, who nonetheless makes the extremely vast range of subjects...more
I read every Joseph Campbell book I could get my hands on. He charismatically brings stuffy church teachings, zany mythology events or stories, historical events in cave man time, inner conflict and all the diverse religions in the world to one concept. Joseph explains the abstract so that the reader 'gets' the symbolism without having to interpret it; he shows one how to experience the real and points out when and why the masks go on. I just love his teachnigs~~~
I have re-watched and re-watched, and will continue to re-watch the PBS interviews with Bill Moyers. It's what drives me to keep trying to get through this book. But, sadly, I have not succeeded this time around. It's just too scholarly for me. I enjoy rifling through and falling upon Campbell's glorious and very real descriptions of mythologies surrounding creation and deity worship. But when it comes to reading the book straight through, uh uh, not this time. Maybe next time. I am sure I will...more
Re-reading. This is bk 1 of 4 vol work. I read the 1st time as a graduate student yrs ago and find myself drawn back to this 4 vol work every 10 yrs or so. Stunning, stoking, how one man could hold the sum total of world mythology and religious tradition in his head, chelate and analyze thru the lens of modern psychology and archeology, and tell us all abt it in a way that is accessible and makes sense.
When I first saw this book, I knew what I was getting into. I knew I was facing a man who knew what he was talking about, and wasn't going to spare any details for the sake of audience. So I stepped knee-deep in Campbell's world, and I came out soaked.
I learned a lot, and this is only volume 1 of 4. From his ideas on the origin of mythology in general, to his ideas on separate stories from around the world, I was never left without information to digest.
The only complaint I have is that it was s...more
I learned a lot, and this is only volume 1 of 4. From his ideas on the origin of mythology in general, to his ideas on separate stories from around the world, I was never left without information to digest.
The only complaint I have is that it was s...more
The second Campbell book I have read this year and his attention to detail is uncanny and unmatched. If you are on a spiritual journey and you need to find how ancient mythology affects your current spirituality, there is no better book. To the modern reader, most of the stories here are freak shows.
I've never been all that interested in mythology and I read this book pretty much only because my husband really enjoys Campbell's writing. I must say that Campbell's enthusiasm for the topic is (almost) contagious. He writes with a joy and an intimacy that I wish all other writers brought with them. If you are into mythology, highly recommend!
I have a goal to read all 4 of Campbell's Masks of God series, and i started in the beginning. I like other cultures myths. I like finding out what sustains other groups of people. What stories give them their identities. This is a book i could put down and pick back up again at any time and dip into any one of the chapters. Specifically the different cultures puberty rites where interesting to me in this book. As a 24 year old american male i am still trying to find out how to transition from b...more
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2010.0924-2010.1222
Primitive Mythology is Campbell's first volume of The masks of God. This insightful, enjoyable, and slightly bizarre text is an interesting intersection of several disciplines, anthropology, history, phycology, and myth. The text is a bit dense in subject material and suffers (only slightly) from Campbell characteristic rambling. Several over arching theses seamed to be articulated late and not fully formed. At points I had to ask myself, what the point of given passages where...more
Primitive Mythology is Campbell's first volume of The masks of God. This insightful, enjoyable, and slightly bizarre text is an interesting intersection of several disciplines, anthropology, history, phycology, and myth. The text is a bit dense in subject material and suffers (only slightly) from Campbell characteristic rambling. Several over arching theses seamed to be articulated late and not fully formed. At points I had to ask myself, what the point of given passages where...more
After plowing into Occidental Mythologies, I decided to backtrack to the first volume for an easier jog into the dense material. I have read and re-read the opening pages, which sound alternately beween poetry and textbook. Out of many passages I have underlined, here is my favorite description of why the book is important from the first page of the forward: "I can see no reason why anyone should suppose that in the future the same (spiritual) motifs already heard will not be sounding still--in...more
Jul 15, 2011
Gwnhwyfer
marked it as looks-interesting
From the bibliographies of Ann Moura's Green Witchcraft (1996) and Green Witchcraft II (1999), and Scott Cunningham's Wicca (2004). Cunningham notes: "These three books (The Masks of God trilogy) cover the whole sweep of worldwide mythology."
Like a lot of generalists, he probably overreaches, but still, there are riches here. I haven't anything like "finished" this book, or the others in the series, and don't expect to in my lifetime. But they will be an ongoing source of reference and inspiration.
I have just started reading this book, but I am already fascinated with it. This work by Joseph Campbell, which is Vol.-1 of a four volume series, is the place to start a study of the mythology of man. Guaranteed to shake the foundations of belief systems!
Unfortunately I haven´t found any consistent theory in this book. Quotations are without regular references so one can not find from where Campbell took the ideas he presents. Sometimes it seems like he is imagining the whole thing. There are some good points but I think this could took only a half of its size to write it down.
But to be honest, I read it in the Czech translation (by Jana Novotná) and it can be the reason why I can not enjoy it.
But to be honest, I read it in the Czech translation (by Jana Novotná) and it can be the reason why I can not enjoy it.
Joseph Campbell is the Man. I read this book in a variety of settings, and despite my fascination with the subject matter, especially the paleolithic cave art of southern France, found it was a great way to fall asleep at night. After reading this, I have a better sense of the symbolism of ritual regicide, the difference between the mythologies of planting versus hunting cultures, and the role of gender dominance in the uses of myth.
A bit of a difficult read due to his writing style, but definitely an interesting comparison of the breadth of mythology across a rich list of cultures. JC is incredibly knowledgeable, no doubt.
This is an all encompassing book of history but for me I learned about supernormal sign stimuli in this wonderful work. The book is worth reading just for that section.
Dec 10, 2010
David Melbie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Students of mythology
Recommended to David by:
I'm a big fan.
Love everything about this, and the entire four-book series. This is vintage Campbell. --From A Reader's Journal, by d r melbie.
Jung me deixou muito impressionada com a história do vazio mítico ser a mãe de todas as neuroses.
Currently rereading along with several other books on various burners.
Exactly right book to start reading about comperative mythology and religion.
Only read the first third or so of this and would refer back to the rest
Feb 09, 2010
Br0k3nglass
added it
The Masks Of God: Primitive Mythology by Joseph Campbell (1959)
A very interesting book.
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Joseph John Campbell was an American mythology professor, writer, and orator best known for his work in the fields of comparative mythology and comparative religion.
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“Clearly, mythology is no toy for children. Nor is it a matter of archaic, merely scholarly concern, of no moment to modern men of action. For its symbols (whether in the tangible form of images or in the abstract form of ideas) touch and release the deepest centers of motivation, moving literate and illiterate alike, moving mobs, moving civilizations.”
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