1st Edition
The Meaning of Myth in Uncertain Times How Classical Mythology Helps Us Navigate a World in Crisis
Introduction: Heracles in the Congo; Part 1: The meaning of myth in the digital age; 1. Definitions of myth: On the sexuality of Achilles; 2. A megaphone for mythology: Europa on Twitter; 3. Zeus in the multiverse: Are all myths true?; 4. Gaia in dystopia: Doomsday thinking in nuclear times; 5. Is Sisyphus happy? Meme culture and the absurdity of existence; Part 2: Uncertain times; 6. (Self)destructive man: On the eternal Trojan War; 7. Witch hunt from Kamala to Medea; 8. The monstrous climate: The Minotaur in the political imagination; 9. Hephaestus in the uncanny valley: Artificial Intelligence and the limitations of being human; 10. To live is to suffer: On the complex actions of Oedipus; Part 3: Together through the labyrinth; 11. On clay, fire, and tears: Prometheus’ visionary progress; 12. Medusa and the masses: The monster as manifest; 13. Activism in the shadow realm: On the barricade with Antigone and Ismene; 14. Weaving and waiting: Crisis management with Penelope; 15. Tentacles of kinship: Ode to an unlikely hero; Conclusion. A future for Pandora.
Biography
Evelien Bracke is an award-winning scholar of classical mythology and education. Through her research and public engagement, she is committed to widening access to the study of antiquity and demonstrating the enduring impact of ancient stories on modern life. She is currently affiliated with Ghent University, Belgium, and University College Dublin, Ireland.
Praise for the Dutch edition:
"[The book] testifies to a deep-seated conviction that classical mythology not only bridges Antiquity and the present but also offers a way of thinking about the fundamental big questions of our time. In times of uncertainty and major social challenges, such as the climate crisis, the author offers mythological stories as a guide to existential thinking: how do we keep hope when the world is changing? How do we find direction in a maze of complex problems?"- OIKOS (Onderzoeksinstituut Klassieke Oudheidstudiën)
Praise for the English edition:
"Evelien Bracke’s new book ‘The Meaning of Myth in uncertain times’ is a breathtaking read, providing unexpected, subtle, and brilliant analyses of the power classical mythology holds in a globalized and digital world. From a submarine named Agamemnon to the Minotaur as a symbol for climate change, and from Young Adult-Persephone to Kamala Harris as Medea: myth can be made to send all kinds of political messages, also destructive ones. Yet, like Ariadne, Bracke also throws us a lifeline, demonstrating how these same myths can be dynamic and hopeful instruments for thinking about the many ‘wicked problems’ of our own times."
- Jacqueline Klooster, Professor of Greek Philology, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
"This sparky monograph, which demonstrates a decidedly human and humane perspective on our contemporary crises, forms a valuable contribution to the ongoing conversation around the power of myth in our globalised world."
- Journal of Classics Teaching
