mythology
Mythology is the discipline of collecting ancient daydreams born of fear and imagination, then conveniently interpreting them to fit modern anxieties. Scholars pretend to uncover distant legends while arming themselves with theories to justify their own insecurities. It is considered fashionable to be enthralled not by the deeds of gods and heroes, but by the subtle power structures and social norms lurking beneath. At conferences, one wields a fragile arsenal of interpretive tools, and dissenters are branded as ‘people who just don’t get the times.’ Ultimately, mythology is a pulpit that parades ancient lies to prop up contemporary vanity.