Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief — Season 1, Episode 1: Context and Background

Episode synopsis

In this lecture, I discuss the context within which the theory I am delineating through this course emerge: that of the cold war. What is belief? Why is it so important to people? Why will they fight to protect it? I propose that belief unites a culture's expectations and desires with the actions of its people, and that the match between those two allows for cooperative action and maintains emotional stability. I suggest, further, that culture has a deep narrative structure, presenting the world as a forum for action, with characters representing the individual, the known, and the unknown -- or the individual, culture and nature -- or the individual, order and chaos.

About Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief

This lecture series lays bare the grammar of mythology, and describes the relevance of that grammar for interpretation of narrative and religion, comprehension of ideological identification and understanding of individual choice.

More episodes from Season 1

• E2Marionettes and Individuals (Part 1)
• E3Marionettes and Individuals (Part 2)
• E4Marionettes and Individuals (Part 3)
• E5Story and Metastory (Part 1)
• E6Story and Metastory (Part 2)
• E7Images of Story and Metastory
• E8Neuropsychology of Symbolic Representation
• E9Patterns of Symbolic Representation
• E10Genesis and the Buddha
• E11The Flood and the Tower
• E12Final: The Divinity of the Individual