Gao Li-fen
The development of academic research is a process of discovering phenomena, uncovering truths, and proposing explanations, reflections, and solutions through continuous dialogue across different fields. Therefore, the pursuit of knowledge and truth should include both orthodox, mainstream academic thought and unorthodox, non-mainstream ideas and cultures for a comprehensive understanding. Michel Foucault (1926-1984)’s works, such as “The Order of Things” (French: Les Mots et les choses: un archeologie des sciences humaines), highlight that the concept of “Man” is shaped by recent knowledge. Foucault’s research is particularly enlightening for contemporary humanities in exploring the interaction between words and objects. While traditional humanities have long focused on textual records, “Objects” possess greater visual and physical reality, playing a crucial role in the genealogy of human knowledge. In modern humanities research, there is an increasing focus on “material” and “material culture,” interpreting diverse cultural messages from objects, artifacts, and images that textual records may not capture.
With the growing interest in material and image studies within the humanities, the boundaries between disciplines such as archaeology, history, literature, art, religion, philosophy, and communication are increasingly blurred. Mythology, inherently interdisciplinary, has adopted the multiple evidence approach. Modern research now extends beyond textual limitations, incorporating excavated documents, oral traditions, non-material culture, objects, and images to explore dynamic oral narratives and the narratives of “things.”
Myths, both as sacred narratives and broader oral traditions, convey human interpretations of existence, the world, and the universe. These narratives are preserved in ancient histories, literature, and various material cultures such as ritual vessels, everyday objects, paintings, sculptures, and architecture. They are crucial for understanding human thought and culture. In this context, the special topic “Material, Images, and Myth” invites scholars and experts to contribute. The aim is to foster dialogue and reflection on human knowledge, enriching the understanding of the humanities through diverse narratives. Submission for this special article column section ends by the beginning of March 2025.
The development of academic research is a process of discovering phenomena, uncovering truths, and proposing explanations, reflections, and solutions through continuous dialogue across different fields. Therefore, the pursuit of knowledge and truth should include both orthodox, mainstream academic thought and unorthodox, non-mainstream ideas and cultures for a comprehensive understanding. Michel Foucault (1926-1984)’s works, such as “The Order of Things” (French: Les Mots et les choses: un archeologie des sciences humaines), highlight that the concept of “Man” is shaped by recent knowledge. Foucault’s research is particularly enlightening for contemporary humanities in exploring the interaction between words and objects. While traditional humanities have long focused on textual records, “Objects” possess greater visual and physical reality, playing a crucial role in the genealogy of human knowledge. In modern humanities research, there is an increasing focus on “material” and “material culture,” interpreting diverse cultural messages from objects, artifacts, and images that textual records may not capture.
With the growing interest in material and image studies within the humanities, the boundaries between disciplines such as archaeology, history, literature, art, religion, philosophy, and communication are increasingly blurred. Mythology, inherently interdisciplinary, has adopted the multiple evidence approach. Modern research now extends beyond textual limitations, incorporating excavated documents, oral traditions, non-material culture, objects, and images to explore dynamic oral narratives and the narratives of “things.”
Myths, both as sacred narratives and broader oral traditions, convey human interpretations of existence, the world, and the universe. These narratives are preserved in ancient histories, literature, and various material cultures such as ritual vessels, everyday objects, paintings, sculptures, and architecture. They are crucial for understanding human thought and culture. In this context, the special topic “Material, Images, and Myth” invites scholars and experts to contribute. The aim is to foster dialogue and reflection on human knowledge, enriching the understanding of the humanities through diverse narratives. Submission for this special article column section ends by the beginning of March 2025.
