Rene Girard and Myth - An Introduction

In this comprehensive introduction to the work of contemporary French critic Rene Girard, Richard Golsan focuses on Girard's theory of myth and its connections to his broader exploration of the origins of suffering and violence in Western culture. Golsan highlights two of Girard's primary concepts--mimetic desire and the scapegoat--and employs the concepts to illustrate the ways Girardian analysis of violence in biblical, classical, and folk myths has influenced recent work in theology, psychology, literary studies, and anthropology. The book concludes with an interview between Golsan and Girard, who offers his own analysis of the appropriation (and criticism) of his work by a politically and intellectually diverse company of scholars.

List of contents

Series Editor's Foreword; List of Abbreviations; Introduction; Chapter One: From Triangular Desire to Interdividual Psychology; Chapter Two: Sacrificial Violence and Scapegoat; Chapter Three: Myth; Chapter Four: The Bible: Antidote to Violence; Chapter Five: Girard's Critics and the Girardians; Interview; A Venda Myth Analyzed by Rene Girard; Bibliography

About the author

Richard Golsan is Professor of French at Texas A & M University. He is editor of The Papon Affair (Routledge 2000).

Product details

• Authors: Richard Golsan, Golsan Richard
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 02.01.2002
• EAN: 9780415937771
• ISBN: 978-0-415-93777-1
• No. of pages: 254
• Weight: 470 g
• Series: Theorists of Myth
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Religion: general, reference works; RELIGION / General, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Folklore & Mythology, HISTORY / Social History, Religion: general, Literary studies: general, Folklore studies / Study of myth (mythology)