Crisis and Creativity: The Changing Faces of Religious Studies Programs

IAHR Quinquennial MeetingToronto, 17 August 2010

“Negotiating Generational Change” Ivan Strenski

New London, CT 1970 St. Petersburg, RU 2010

Negotiating Generational Change

Modern Meets Post-Modern Meets….?

‘Father Killing’ as

Academic Practice?

D”””Dad! You Lied!”

ExbiCase A: Heidegger

The Heidegger We “Know”The Heidegger We “Know”

The Heidegger We Didn’t KnowThe Heidegger We Didn’t Know

What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?

You Did What?! (1982)

But, We’re Not InterestedBut, We’re Not Interested

“We” Are the JAAR“We” Are the JAAR

Après… La DélugeFarias’ ‘J’Accuse!’ (1987) Neske’s Defence (1990)

“But, Dad! You Said…!”“But, Dad! You Said…!”

Case B: Mircea EliadeCase B: Mircea Eliade

The Eliade Many KnewThe Eliade Many Knew

with Carl Gustav Jungwith Carl Gustav Jung Hyde Park Days

The Eliade Known & LovedThe Eliade Known & Loved

Chicago Chicago Last Days Last Days

The Eliade We Knew a Bit

Young Yogi in India S. N. Dasgupta’s Pupil

And, Oh Yes, Maitreyi Devi

ArtistArtist SchoolboySchoolboy

A Bucharest Eliade Few Knew

Or, The Eliade None Knew(or would say they knew)

Voice of the

‘New Generation’

With the Romanian

Heidegger, Nae Ionescu

Julius Evola Tantra and Power

And, @ Eliade & “Traditionalism”

(Italian Style)Who Knew?

Religion & Politics:Italy 1920’s and 1930’s

Likewise, Few Knew @ThisLikewise, Few Knew @ThisArchangel Michael’s

Legionaires

The Boy Corneliu Codreanu

Legion’s Founder

Telling Some of Eliade’s Romanian “Traditionalist” Story

Telling Some of Eliade’s Romanian “Traditionalist” Story

A Generational Shift?Who Now Reads…?

• Eliade

• Lévi-Strauss

• Malinowski

• E. O. James

• J. G. Frazer

• The phenomenologists of religion

• And, of course, Don Wiebe

So, Who’s Your Daddy Now?So, Who’s Your Daddy Now?

Foucault?Foucault? Derrida?Derrida?

Or, Yo’ Momma?Or, Yo’ Momma?

Judith Butler Mary DalyMary Daly

The ProblemThe Problem1. Can old and new

integrate easily?

2. Can senior complacency co-exist with junior arrogance?

3. So? “Kill” fathers & mothers, or strangle Oedipus in the crib?

1. No. Foucault inverts Eliade, and Derrida dissolves Lévi-Strauss.

2. Not likely. Stodgy seniors won’t budge; arrogant juniors won’t zip it.

3. = Worst scenario of our state of play.

1. No. Foucault inverts Eliade, and Derrida dissolves Lévi-Strauss.

2. Not likely. Stodgy seniors won’t budge; arrogant juniors won’t zip it.

3. = Worst scenario of our state of play.

Exacerbating Factors

1. MLA = 900 lb gorilla sets the agenda;

2. A new generation’s need to ‘flock’;

3. A new generation’s thrill to make a mark;

4. An older generation’s ‘theory weariness’;

5. An older generation’s suspicions of ‘fad’;

6. Any incentives for inter-generationalism?

7. It has ever thus been so….

1. MLA = 900 lb gorilla sets the agenda;

2. A new generation’s need to ‘flock’;

3. A new generation’s thrill to make a mark;

4. An older generation’s ‘theory weariness’;

5. An older generation’s suspicions of ‘fad’;

6. Any incentives for inter-generationalism?

7. It has ever thus been so….

What Then Must Be Done?What Then Must Be Done?

1. Old dogs can learn new tricks (viz. “brainage”), and should take first steps!

2. Revive debating – but especially across generations! No holds barred. Have fun!

3. Refuse to let theory choice be arbitrary – another reason for debate-style colloquia.

4. Get everything out into the open – everything

Conclusion

“Lively up yourself” (Bob Marley)

“Lively up yourself” (Bob Marley)