Modern Mythology

"Modern Mythology" by Andrew Lang is a scholarly critique and exploration of mythological studies, written in the late 19th century. This work engages particularly with the theories of Professor Max Muller, challenging his philological approach to mythology and advocating for an anthropological perspective. Lang aims to establish that myths are not merely products of language development but rather reflect broader human experiences and primitive beliefs that have persisted through evolution. At the start of the text, Andrew Lang sets the stage for a critical examination of existing mythological theories, particularly those proposed by Max Muller. He comments on the nature of scholarly controversy, elaborating on his anthropological perspective, which sees myths as survivals from primitive beliefs rather than merely linguistic phenomena. Lang highlights the debate between anthropologists and philologists, emphasizing that myths of civilized cultures can offer insights into the collective psyche of humanity, rendering them relevant for understanding contemporary myths. He also discusses the importance of examining myths in situ, through the lens of folklore and rituals still present in living cultures, thereby positioning his arguments against Muller's views and setting up the foundational arguments for the subsequent chapters. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Andrew Lang was a Scottish poet, novelist, literary critic, and contributor to the field of anthropology. He is best known as a collector of folk and fairy tales. The Andrew Lang lectures at the University of St Andrews are named after him.