Mytho-Sonics and the Metamodern Muse: Harmonising the Past and the Present
In the metamodern cauldron, the ancient and the futuristic coalesce, breathing life into the transcendental language of sound and music. We are architecting the symphony of a new age, navigating the rich palette of Northern European mythology to illuminate the universal narrative of human experience. Welcome to the age of mytho-sonics.
In this mythic saga of sound, the unmistakable echo of Joseph Campbell’s mytho-genetics resonates, constructing aural tapestries that reflect the archetypal patterns in our collective unconscious. Drawn from the expansive repository of Northern European folklore – the Eddas, the sagas, the Grimm tales and beyond – we’re pushing the boundaries of sonic art into a space where myth meets metropolis, earth meets ether.
Visual, sonic, and kinaesthetic arts are converging to create these metamodern soundscapes. The rhythmic cadence of Thor’s storm or the haunting calm of the Grimm’s enchanted forest emerge from the depths of the past, coming alive in our digital dimension, layering naturalistic hums with technological pulses.
But these explorations are more than merely aesthetic indulgences; they are rites of individuation, as propounded by Carl Jung and Marie-Louise von Franz. Drawing from the depths of our unconscious, these mythical soundscapes give voice to our latent archetypes, embracing Jung’s concept of ‘holding the tension of the opposites’. The symphony of sound, shaped by tradition and technology, chaos and harmony, allows us to balance these opposing forces and embark on a journey of self-discovery.
The operatic works of Richard Wagner are a testament to the power of this balance. With his mastery of the leitmotif, he brought to life the narratives of Germanic myth, creating timeless epics like ‘The Ring of the Nibelung’. His approach to sonic storytelling resonates with our metamodern ethos – bridging the old and the new, the mythical and the modern.
In this fusion, the philosophies of Arthur Schopenhauer find a voice too. His concept of ‘Will’ – the ceaseless, restless striving inherent in existence, and its moments of transcendence – are mirrored in the relentless drone and sporadic melody of our soundscapes.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, whose principle of individuation influenced Jung, holds a vital place in this metamodern narrative. Like Faust, we grapple with existential dilemmas and dichotomies on this sound-strewn path of self-discovery. Jung’s concept of the ‘conjunctio’ – the union of these dichotomies in the pursuit of the ‘Self’ – serves as the beating heart of our metamodern sound art.
Each sonic piece is an act of ‘conjunctio’, an alchemical blend of earthly and ethereal, traditional and technological. Within the framework of Northern European mythological narratives, we observe this dynamic – like the saga of Odin sacrificing his eye for wisdom. When transposed into a sonic narrative, audiences are drawn into a transformative aesthetic experience, encouraged to navigate and reconcile their own dichotomies.
The metamodern movement is a harmonious symphony of ancient wisdom and modern practice, as demonstrated in our mytho-sonic art. It encapsulates the legacies of Campbell, Jung, von Franz, Wagner, Goethe, and Schopenhauer, using the amalgamation of sound and myth as a channel for introspection, self-expression, and individuation.
In the face of the polarisation and fragmentation of our times, the principles of ‘holding the tension of the opposites’ and the ‘conjunctio’ become not just relevant but crucial. Sonic art is more than an aesthetic; it’s a tool for transformation. As we plunge into our collective mythologies and personal narratives, our metamodern soundscapes serve as a harmonising force, helping us navigate the tumultuous seas of our own dichotomies.
In the metamodern soundscape, each listener is a hero embarking on a unique journey of growth. Through this symphony of self-discovery, we forge a deeper connection with ourselves and the world, crafting the narrative of our shared future.
by Max Sturm, Creative Director, Radio Lear.
Note: This post is fictional and bears no relation to any person or organisation, it was created using ChatGPT and the image with Midjourney.
