tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229116074975538397.post1981253706952354599..comments2023-12-30T08:56:43.315-08:00Comments on Language Scraps: In Response to Torben’s “Worn Out Metaphors” Post and Scott’s Comment About ItTorben Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04898308267210987998noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229116074975538397.post-20267001307986492342007-10-10T06:13:00.000-07:002007-10-10T06:13:00.000-07:00It's amazing how an idea can change something you'...It's amazing how an idea can change something you've known for a long time. Travis's thoughts about death and shitting took me right to the scene near the end of Herzog's "Kaspar Hauser," in which Kaspar Hauser is sitting in an outhouse when he is killed.<BR/><BR/>And, by the way, why do we say (not my mother) "no shit!"Scott Abbotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01782322856303315648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229116074975538397.post-89557809935023239282007-10-09T17:54:00.000-07:002007-10-09T17:54:00.000-07:00Here's the url to purchase the book I was citing:h...Here's the url to purchase the book I was citing:<BR/><BR/>http://www.amazon.com/Death-Society-Human-Experience-9th/dp/0205482627/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-2445676-1576455?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1191977626&sr=8-1Torben Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04898308267210987998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-229116074975538397.post-12495717277727818152007-10-09T17:52:00.000-07:002007-10-09T17:52:00.000-07:00Travis, this is a great addition to my post and Sc...Travis, this is a great addition to my post and Scott's comment. In fact, I'm hoping to present a paper at UCUR about death in film and the purging of existential death anxiety (which is largely founded in Becker's existential death anxiety theories). I thought that I might add just a bit, if you don't mind, to clarify what Becker believes. <BR/><BR/>Freud believed that "[...]when we express death anxiety it is only a cover story that conceals the real fear. For many years psychoanalysts spoke of thanatophobia as the expressed fear of death that serves as a disguise for the actual source of discomfort" (Kastenbaum 20). For Freud, we cannot really be anxious about death because we cannot truly conceive of our own death. He said: "[...]in the unconscious everyone of us is convinced of his own immortality" (Kastenbaum 20).<BR/><BR/>However, Becker takes the existential approach, which is an opposite approach from Freud. For him, "awareness of our mortality is the basic source of anxiety. Our fears may take many forms but can be traced back to our sense of vulnerability to death" (Kastenbaum 20). In fact, there is a term for what Carlin, Scott, and Travis are talking about called ontological confrontation, which is, the awareness that we are always acutely mortal. Becker would argue that "society's primary function is to help us all pretend that life will continue to go on and on. This is accomplished by a belief system that is supported with rituals and other practices that produce a sense of coherence, predictability, and meaning" (Kastenbaum 21). This "striving for immortality" inevitably includes symbol building, asserting beliefs, etc. Flight From Death, which Travis mentions, is a wonderful overview of some of Becker's main ideas. <BR/><BR/>Hmm...shit. It's not just shitting :) It seems that most "profane words" stem from the body. I bet Rikker could give us a great etymology of some of these words, and perhaps he will. I think the fixation with abstractions has a little to do with what we've all been saying. I also think it's important that we don't neglect religion's role in breaking from the body --- the transcendent spirit. Is the natural man really an enemy to God?<BR/><BR/>I could go on and on, and maybe I'll post a bit more after other people post, but for right now, I'll finish :) Great post Travis! This blog is so constructive!Torben Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04898308267210987998noreply@blogger.com