The Ecstasy of Being

Mythology and Dance

Nancy Allison

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English

New World Library
01 January 2018

Religion & beliefs; Sociology & anthropology

Many know Joseph Campbell as the charming, erudite, best-professor-you-ever-had figure chatting with Bill Moyers in the The Power of Myth series. But Campbell's posthumously published Collected Works (500,000 copies sold) reveal a perhaps unsuspected range of interests and knowledge. The Ecstasy of Being is a prime example. Modern dance was the profession of Campbell's wife, Jean Erdman, and the project the pair collaborated on when Campbell retired from teaching and the couple formed their Theater of the Open Eye. In these writings Campbell explores the rise of modern art and dance in the 20th century; delves into the work and philosophy of Isadora Duncan; and, as ever, probes the idea of art ""as the funnel through which spirit is poured into life.""

By: Nancy Allison
Imprint: New World Library
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 140mm,
ISBN: 9781608683666
ISBN 10: 1608683664
Pages: 256
Publication Date: 01 January 2018
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Joseph Campbell (1904 - 1987) is widely credited with bringing mythology to a mass audience. His works, including The Masks of God and The Hero with a Thousand Faces are bona fide classics. Dancer, choreographer, and filmmaker Nancy Allison is the artistic director of Jean Erdman Dance.

Reviews for The Ecstasy of Being: Mythology and Dance

"""Unusual insights . . . with a great deal of new information. [Campbell's] writing reveals deep knowledge of dance and aesthetics, and clarity of thought. There are also excellent notes related to both Parts I and II at the end of the book, and these add to the reader's understanding of the various issues and artists under discussion. Readers will find a great deal to think about in this small collection of Campbell's work, and the book will also serve as an introduction to the thoughts of an important American writer -- one who influenced many with his teaching, ideas, and books."" -- Journal of Dance Education Praise for Joseph Campbell ""No one in our century -- not Freud, not Thomas Mann, not L�vi-Strauss -- has so brought the mythical sense of the world and its eternal figures back into our everyday consciousness."" -- James Hillman ""Campbell has become the rarest of intellectuals in American life: a serious thinker who has been embraced by the popular culture."" -- Newsweek"