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King’s Cross

Imagination as “Third Characteristic” of Humanity

by Travis Prinzi on December 26, 2008

In between the strict rationalism of the scientific fatalist and the elusive, esoteric musings of gnostic spiritualism, and as a necessary alternative to both, is “Myth.” Clyde S. Kilby writes,

We intellectualize in order to know, but paradoxically, intellectualization tends to destroy its object. The harder we grasp at the thing, the more its reality moves away.

So what is to be done? Man finds himself a third characteristic called imagination, by which he can transcend statements and systems. By some magic, imagination is able to disengage our habitual discursive and system-making and send us on a journey toward gestures, pictures, images, rhythms, metaphor, symbol, and at the peak of all, myth….

Myth is necessary because reality is so much larger than rationality. Not that myth is irrational, but that it easily accommodates the rational while rising above it. (Forward to Christian Mythmakers)

Note the place of imagination in discovering and comprehending truth. [click to continue…]

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Portus 2008, Day 3: Midday Report

by Travis Prinzi on July 12, 2008

This morning, I got up early enough to make it to the hotel for a small press gathering with Jim Dale.  In the next week or so, I’ll do a podcast with audio clips and reflections on that.  His talk was excellent; he’s a very engaging speaker.

My second talk went well, I think.  ”Hogwarts, A (Haunted) History” is still a bit organizationally challenged, but it was well-received, and I was pleased that well over half the people in the room were Lovecraft fans.  What is particularly validating for me was this simple observation from James Thomas: Fear and Sacrificial Love are the two key thematic elements of the series.  My two talks were on those two precise themes, and, in fact, I constructed the major thematic analysis in my book around those two key themes.  I feared, to an extent, that I had oversimplified, but I am more convinced than ever that those two issues are at the crux of the series, and that they make up the central conflict in a series that is “about death” – and that all the issues of power flow from there.

The rest of this afternoon will be spent enjoying other talks without having to think about my own.  I’m meeting for “afternoon tea” with James Thomas, trying to arrange a few other meetings, and hopefully, if our schedules work out, grabbing a beer later with a friend from the Boar’s Head Tavern (great name, right?) later tonight.  Next on the schedule, I’m heading to hear Edmund Kern argue that “King’s Cross” in Deathly Hallows was entirely Harry’s imagination, and that Dumbledore wasn’t really there at all.  I disagree, but it will be fun, and I do admit Rowling left the ambiguity there on purpose.  This afternoon, I’m utterly torn between three different presentations.  I need a Time Turner.  Too bad they all got smashed.

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