I did a paper/presentation on Art and Allegory as part of my FC proficiency work back in April. Among other things I wanted to ask: Why? Why not just come out and say what you mean instead of veiling it in allegory? I never expect to get a definitive answer to these questions when I start reading up on them, but in this case I did! Or at least I got an answer that satisfied me.
It all starts with protecting thought that could get you in trouble. Makes sense....you could be burned at the stake up until the 1400s for suggesting the earth revolves around the sun, so we have allegories like the 12 Labors of Hercules which is an allegory for the earth transitioning through the 12 signs of the zodiac. It tells a story and conveys a truth we all understand today...and it was written in 600B.C.
The next thing is language. Language changes every few generations if not sooner. One just has to read Shakespeare to see this is true, or ask a senior citizen to decipher texting language today to see that it is changing even faster!! LOL
So my final question was: Is there room for allegory in our modern society today, outside of the craft? The answer I got back was: Yeah, probably. Case in point, there is a specific field of obscure science called nuclear semiotics. This field is concerned with protecting nuclear waste sites from being inadvertently compromised by future generations. Just like words like cool, dope, sweet etc. have slang meanings perhaps in 100 years Danger! could mean something else. I can't help by think of the movie Idiocracy. One potential solution to this problem is the creation of a "Nuclear Priesthood" where allegories, ritual etc. may be created to convey this truth to those in the know for generations to come regardless of how our language and society change. Interesting huh? I also find it interesting that one concern here is that this knowledge could be used/abused by those in power.
Anyway, it scratched an itch for me.
It all starts with protecting thought that could get you in trouble. Makes sense....you could be burned at the stake up until the 1400s for suggesting the earth revolves around the sun, so we have allegories like the 12 Labors of Hercules which is an allegory for the earth transitioning through the 12 signs of the zodiac. It tells a story and conveys a truth we all understand today...and it was written in 600B.C.
The next thing is language. Language changes every few generations if not sooner. One just has to read Shakespeare to see this is true, or ask a senior citizen to decipher texting language today to see that it is changing even faster!! LOL
So my final question was: Is there room for allegory in our modern society today, outside of the craft? The answer I got back was: Yeah, probably. Case in point, there is a specific field of obscure science called nuclear semiotics. This field is concerned with protecting nuclear waste sites from being inadvertently compromised by future generations. Just like words like cool, dope, sweet etc. have slang meanings perhaps in 100 years Danger! could mean something else. I can't help by think of the movie Idiocracy. One potential solution to this problem is the creation of a "Nuclear Priesthood" where allegories, ritual etc. may be created to convey this truth to those in the know for generations to come regardless of how our language and society change. Interesting huh? I also find it interesting that one concern here is that this knowledge could be used/abused by those in power.
Anyway, it scratched an itch for me.