191 replies to this topic

[Scott]

This might seem off topic but it really isn't...has anyone read Thomas Pynchon's _V_?

[drbill]

I think my Old Timers kicked in earlier... I'm pretty sure I did know Annasea liked Joseph Campbell. Why can't I remember what happened yesterday but have such vivid memories of my youth? Speaking of which, I had a strange guy walk up to my jeep today at the dive park and stare at me. It turned out to be one of my high school students who graduated in 1971. He was out at the park for his son's checkout dive! Fun to reconnect.

[annasea]

Wow, how did I miss that Annasea likes Joseph Campbell?

I know!!! How did you indeed, drbill?!? I even quoted him in a thread about changing careers mid-stream ... the one about getting to the top of the ladder only to find it's against the wrong wall (the quote, that is, not the thread).

drbill, although you don't scream *Couch Potato* ... did you ever see the interviews Bill Moyers did with Joseph Campbell shortly before he died for PBS? It was a multi-part series entitled, "The Power of Myth" that also came out in book form. Just fascinating! What an amazing man Campbell was!

"Follow your bliss" is my motto.

"You follow that and doors will open where there were no doors before, where you would not have thought there were going to be doors, and where there wouldn't be a door for anybody else.

There's something about the integrity of a life. And the world moves in and helps. It really does."

from The Hero's Journey

Campbell was part of a group that included my marine biological icon (Edward F. "Doc" Ricketts of Cannery Rowfame), John Steinbeck, Henry Miller and indirectly my favorite poet (Robinson Jeffers). They were all awesome in their own way.

Interesting! I only read Steinbeck once for school ... we had to read Of Mice and Men in junior high, but I did see East of Eden with James Dean! Does that count?! LOL!!!

As for Henry Miller ... Although the *Tropics* are probably his best known work, my personal favourite is The Colossus of Maroussi. I think I discovered it through reading Erica Jong's book on Miller, The Devil At Large.

Here's my favourite quote from it ...

"... nobody can enjoy the experience he desires until he is ready for it. People seldom mean what they say. Anyone who says he is burning to do something other than what he is doing or to be somewhere else than he is, is lying to himself. To desire is not merely to wish. To desire is to become that which one essentially is."

Although I haven't read anything by Jeffers yet, I do believe he was a favourite of none other than Charles Bukowski. Funny how things all dovetail together at times!

Edited by annasea, 30 July 2005 - 06:48 PM.

[annasea]

Do you read Bukowski as well?  I notice you also admire Joseph Campbell ... again!

Yep, I've read everything I have been able to find and although some of the horse racing stuff gets a little dry I love his writing for the most part.

Joseph Campbell is truly one of my heros, though...I studied comparative mythology as part of my Ethno-Botany research and he was so brilliant...he was able to clearly state things that I aleady understood but could not put into words...at least not as elloquently.

Scott,

I wholeheartedly agree re: the race track writings. Although, in the documentary, Born Into This, there's a clip of Bukowski giving a reading (in Vancouver!) in which he reads a poem about going to the track and dropping his wallet in the toilet. Funny stuff!! His writings, even the not so great ones, came alive when the man himself read them.

As for Joseph Campbell ... I just went on and on about him in my previous post, but once again, what an amazing man and teacher he was!

Good luck with your move, BTW!

[drbill]

I think Joseph Campbell felt a little bit out of the group. He didn't seem to like Steinbeck, largely because of Steinbeck's treatment of his then-wife Carol (who Campbell adored). Campbell and Ricketts got along much better, but ion many ways Ricketts was the brain of the Ricketts-Steinbeck collaboration (although Steinbeck was MUCH better at word crafting than Ricketts whose writing is torturous to read although full of interesting thoughts.

Yes, I'm familiar with Moyers PBS series on Campbell, although I don't think I've watched it all (my home TV does not get cable).

And if I remember correctly from my fellow teacher Bruce Boston (who knew Bukowski), he did like Jeffers (awesome breadth of mind).

Bill

[drdiver]

I think Joseph Campbell felt a little bit out of the group. He didn't seem to like Steinbeck, largely because of Steinbeck's treatment of his then-wife Carol (who Campbell adored). Campbell and Ricketts got along much better, but ion many ways Ricketts was the brain of the Ricketts-Steinbeck collaboration (although Steinbeck was MUCH better at word crafting than Ricketts whose writing is torturous to read although full of interesting thoughts.

That's an interesting connection between Joseph Campbell and Steinbeck that I never knew about. I remember the Moyer's special very well--wish I had a copy of it.

Is "Between Pacific Tides" worth a read?

[drbill]

Is "Between Pacific Tides" worth a read?

Well, it all depends. Much of it has been rewritten by Rickett's acquaintance Dr. Joel Hedgpeth who, if I remember correctly from his communications with me years ago, partied with the group as well. It needed updating over the years, but still stands as a classic. Largely focused on the marine life vs the philosophy.

Hedgpeth edited Ricketts' writings in a two volume set called The Outer Shores years ago. That would give you more insight into Ricketts' writings, although some of it is quite tortuous to read.

By the way, Krishnamurti was also a distant member of the group, mostly through his connection with Ricketts.

[drdiver]

Well, I just finished rereading "Cannery Row" and decided to get both "Between Pacific Tides" and "The Sea of Cortez" as an apres dive read for the Dry Tortugas. Now I have a hard time imagining Krishnamurti with some of Ricketts' homebrew, but, hey, anything is possible.

[annasea]

I remember the Moyer's special very well--wish I had a copy of it.

Dennis,

If you were so inclined, you could order a DVD copy of it from here:

Joseph Campbell Foundation

[drdiver]

Thanks very much, Caetllonn!

[annasea]

You are most welcome, Dennis.

Always glad to help out another Campbell fan!

[drbill]

Dennis- you might also read Sweet Thursday, the sequel to Cannery Row. Not as good as C.R. but fun for Ricketts fans. Of course the "About Ed Ricketts" in Cannery Row (taken with a grain of salt of course). You might also consider two fairly new books: Ed Ricketts, Renaissance Man of Cannery Row and The Outer Shores (?), a compilation of Ed's correspondence.