Narrative Reflections: Philosophy in Literature & Film

When the gods of ecstasy, wilderness, sexuality, and animality begin to resemble the Devil, are we watching the discovery of evil—or the invention of a new way of judging human nature?

How did characteristics that once represented nature, fertility, wilderness, power, and divine otherness become a visual vocabulary for moral evil? Dionysus represents intoxication, ecstasy, loss of individuality, sexuality, madness, and the collapse of boundaries. Pan represents animality, wilderness, sexuality, instinct, and irrational terror. Early Christianity encountered a cultural world in which these things can be dangerous and frightening without necessarily being morally evil. Later cultures increasingly associated that imagery with temptation and the demonic.

• Does civilization require suppression of the Dionysian?
• Should animality be a metaphor for moral degradation?
• Is “evil” something positively existing or a disorder of otherwise natural desires?
• Do we owe our modern imagery of the devil to biblical descriptions of se'irim, or something else?

Join us for the first part of a discussion about the history of religion, mythology, moral philosophy, psychology, Nietzsche, and how a culture decides which parts of human nature are sacred, dangerous, sinful, or evil.

***This will be the first discussion of the “Genealogy of the Devil” series. Future topics (dates TBD) include:

• Nietzsche’s Ass Festival and Hegel’s Topsy Turvy World
• Augustine, Manichaeism, and God's evil problem
• The Grand Inquisitor (a Gnostic Fever Dream)
• Goethe's “Faust” (Close Reading)

Since 1964, Festival in the Park has been bringing good music, good art and good times to Charlotteans and visitors from around the world. The sounds of “big band music” drift across Freedom Park’s lake whose still surface reflects the lights strung from Camelot exhibit tents.

The scents of a variety of food fill the air, as small children with painted faces happily produce their first art work. Others find the many talented artists who can create an original work of art to grace their home or to give as the perfect gift.

First time visitors are taken by the simple, relaxed atmosphere. Old timers marvel at the freshness of each year’s offerings, as memories from long ago festivals are revisited. Unlike most festivals our lighting system allows us to continue into the night.

Directions/Parking:
Festival in the Park is held around a lighted lake area and other areas at Freedom Park, Charlotte, North Carolina. Located near the historic Dilworth and Myers Park neighborhoods directly off East Blvd.

Freedom Park
1908 East Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28203

I am planning to park in neighborhood side streets near the park and walking. Please be mindful of driveways and parking signs.