From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: ross@rosslaird.info (Ross A. Laird) Subject: Re: unicorn Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:33:11 -0800 Message-ID: <87ljrru3vc.fsf@rosslaird.info> References: <49A5BF02.1090400@rk-f.me> <874oyggml6.fsf@gnu.org> <56DD71CD-D7DD-4639-80D1-2888472DA7E8@uva.nl> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Return-path: Received: from mailman by lists.gnu.org with tmda-scanned (Exim 4.43) id 1Ld7Wd-0001Bo-Sr for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:33:32 -0500 Received: from exim by lists.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.43) id 1Ld7Wd-0001AG-0S for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:33:31 -0500 Received: from [199.232.76.173] (port=55757 helo=monty-python.gnu.org) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.43) id 1Ld7Wc-0001A0-JE for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:33:30 -0500 Received: from main.gmane.org ([80.91.229.2]:37353 helo=ciao.gmane.org) by monty-python.gnu.org with esmtps (TLS-1.0:RSA_AES_256_CBC_SHA1:32) (Exim 4.60) (envelope-from ) id 1Ld7Wc-0002He-7H for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:33:30 -0500 Received: from list by ciao.gmane.org with local (Exim 4.43) id 1Ld7WY-00062L-Tr for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:33:26 +0000 Received: from h24-207-49-95.dlt.dccnet.com ([24.207.49.95]) by main.gmane.org with esmtp (Gmexim 0.1 (Debian)) id 1AlnuQ-0007hv-00 for ; Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:33:26 +0000 Received: from ross by h24-207-49-95.dlt.dccnet.com with local (Gmexim 0.1 (Debian)) id 1AlnuQ-0007hv-00 for ; Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:33:26 +0000 List-Id: "General discussions about Org-mode." List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Errors-To: emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org To: emacs-orgmode@gnu.org Carsten Dominik writes: > On Feb 27, 2009, at 12:12 PM, Bastien wrote: > >> Carsten Dominik writes: >> >>> I guess it is something like an official logo, yes (even though >>> some people don't like it, I have seen it being called >>> "demasculinating" >>> ...) >> >> Hehe... Since I picked up this "animal", I entirely assume any queer >> connotation it may have. The IT world is already "masculine" enough! >> Bastien > > I like it, and I really do like the list of reasons > we have (in hindsight) for choosing it... > I teach several courses in mythology at my university (it's my area of concentration), and I feel inclined to say that the unicorn, as a mythological animal, does not have any type of queer of emasculating connotation in myth. In fact, it is sometimes quite a masculine animal that is related to the stag in the grail quest (the stag stabs, with his antler, the inner thigh of the grail knight, thus showing the stag's greater masculinity). These animals are symbols of divinity, essentially, of the fusion of purity and power. They don't really have a sexual connotation other than the idea of generative power (like the bull). Queer is a new idea in myth; it's about fifty years old. Myth itself, on the other hand, is about 70,000 years old. So, the application of queer terminology to mythological items such as unicorns is a modern practice which has no real impact on ancient myths and myth items such as the unicorn. In a thousand years we will still have myths of the unicorn, but the idea of queer will probably have evolved into something else (it already is evolving into something else...). As to the question of whether or not unicorns still exist (see org FAQ), this falls within the same domain as the question of whether Atlantis exists. The answer (as much as there can be one) is that they do exist, as mythological items that Carl Jung called "archetypal;" they are essential to, and foundational of, human nature. They will always be a part of human culture, and exist timelessly in that sense whether or not they exist in fact. I can hardly ever contribute anything useful to this list. Today is an exception. Cheers. Ross -- Ross A. Laird, PhD www.rosslaird.info