if there is a collective unconscious, the things that arise from
it aren92t dignified mythic archetypes. Those, people find because
they want to find them;
This seems to imply that mythic archetypes are an analytical tool
applied to works rather than legitimate patterns that can be
analyzed and distilled from works. I think that mythic archetypes
are more than just interpretive inkblots and that they are
legitimate patterns that permeate our stories and tales because
they arise from very real patterns in our consciousness.
This is not to say that everything the collective subconscious
spits out is a mythic archetype. Stephen King is probably one of
the greatest novelist that has ever charted the collective
subconscious on the tacky postcard level while avoiding mythic
archetypes. I just think that the collective subconscious is a
swirling mixture of the hero, the femme fatal, feminine hygiene
products, and cures for athletes foot.
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