Mythomania : tales of our times, from Apple to Isis

Resource Information

The work Mythomania : tales of our times, from Apple to Isis represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in Randwick City Library. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Language Material, Books.

Label

Mythomania : tales of our times, from Apple to Isis

Title remainder

tales of our times, from Apple to Isis

Statement of responsibility

Peter Conrad

Creator

• Conrad, Peter, 1948-

Author

• Conrad, Peter, 1948-

Subject

• Civilisation -- 21st century
• Culture -- 21st century

Language

eng

Summary

Despite a proclaimed respect for scientific reason, humans are still as intrigued by myth as their remote ancestors. Laptops and smartphones are sold under a logo that invokes the forbidden fruit of the Garden of Eden; skimpily clad classical nymphs cavort in TV reality shows; Narcissus makes a comeback whenever we snap a selfie. Mythical creatures such as handsome vampires abound in best-selling novels. Myth has also invaded the political realm, now that terrorists brandish black flags and recite theological mantras as they martyr themselves. In twenty-seven self-contained entries, Conrad illuminates in his own remarkable way subjects from the British Queen to the Kardashians, via Banksy, vaping, and the inception of the Large Hadron Collider. In Judge Judy, he shows a matronly Roman goddess dispensing justice with a fly swatter. In the metamorphosis of Caitlyn Jenner from Olympic athlete and paterfamilias into idealized female form, he finds parallels to the transformations of the residents of Mount Olympus. Myths used to tell us where we came from. Now, alarmed but also elated by the pace of change in our society, we need them to tell us where we are going

Cataloging source

YDXCP

Dewey number

306

Index

no index present

Literary form

non fiction