The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Archetypes in Faerie

davem · 04-11-2003, 08:04 AM

I fear we're always on dangerous ground with Jung. What too many people forget is that he saw himself first & foremost as a physician, not a philosopher or theologian. His approach to everything from myth to alchemy was intensely practical, & he would happily alter meanings & emphasis in ancient texts if it suited his purpose (ie helping his patients).
Jungians tend to do the same. They also have an annoying tendency to think they can add somthing of value to art, literature & human creativity generally by dragging Jung in. I wish they'd stick to dream analysis & leave art to the Elves.
I'm not saying there's nothing good in this essay, but I think the valid points could have been made without dragging Jung into things. In fact, the really interesting ideas in the essay come out of Christianity rather than Jungian theory.
There aren't any 'archetypes' in Faerie, anyway - whether you understand Faerie in the way Tolkien himself understood it, or in the way our ancestors understood it. Faerie is too complex, shifting & 'alive'. Archetypes, ultimately are 'labels'. Faerie, as Tolkien would be the first to state, is about something much deeper & more alive, than 'labels'.

04-11-2003, 08:04 AM	#6
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	I fear we're always on dangerous ground with Jung. What too many people forget is that he saw himself first & foremost as a physician, not a philosopher or theologian. His approach to everything from myth to alchemy was intensely practical, & he would happily alter meanings & emphasis in ancient texts if it suited his purpose (ie helping his patients). Jungians tend to do the same. They also have an annoying tendency to think they can add somthing of value to art, literature & human creativity generally by dragging Jung in. I wish they'd stick to dream analysis & leave art to the Elves. I'm not saying there's nothing good in this essay, but I think the valid points could have been made without dragging Jung into things. In fact, the really interesting ideas in the essay come out of Christianity rather than Jungian theory. There aren't any 'archetypes' in Faerie, anyway - whether you understand Faerie in the way Tolkien himself understood it, or in the way our ancestors understood it. Faerie is too complex, shifting & 'alive'. Archetypes, ultimately are 'labels'. Faerie, as Tolkien would be the first to state, is about something much deeper & more alive, than 'labels'. __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."