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First Published in 2002. Myth theorists characterize myths as stories that possess the status of sacred truth within one or more social groups. Flood discusses how political myth is an ideologically marked narrative that purports to give a true account of a set of past, present, or predicted political events, widely accepted as valid in its essentials. Among the topics explored are: the historical line of political myth in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Western political discourse; the characteristics of political myths and the forms they take in political life and the ends they serve; and the features of political ideologies that are most useful for understanding the nature of political myth.
List of contents
Introduction; Chapter 1 Political Ideology; Chapter 2 Sacred Myth/Political Myth; Chapter 3 Telling Myths; Chapter 4 Believing Myths; Chapter 5 Questions of Form; Chapter 6 Ideological Meaning In History; Chapter 7 Icons, Indexes, and Rituals; Chapter 8 Case Studies in Mythopoeic Narrative: (1) De Gaulle's "Bayeux Constitution"; Chapter 9 Case Studies in Mythopoeic Narrative: (2) The Story of Wilma Mankiller; Chapter 10 Case Studies in Mythopoeic Narrative: (3) A Note on Cassirer as Mythmaker;
About the author
Christopher G. Flood
Summary
Myth theorists characterise myths as stories that possess the status of sacred truth within one or more social groups. Flood discusses how political myth is an ideologically marked narrative, widely accepted as valid in its essentials.
Report
"...fulfils a need in a number of disciplines. Political scientists, anthropologists and sociologists as well as scholars of religion will find this book extremely useful." -- Religion
