Banter 16 - How to Make a Deal With the Devil 101

Faust, unknown artist, unknown date

Good afternoon,

Thanks Mitch, Stacy, Cristina, Julia, and Isaac for banter last weekend.  The only thing missing was a big, eye-blazing conflict about conflict.  (Damn it all, we missed the whole point of banter!)  Combining some thoughts from all, but particularly from Cristina and Mitch, I walked away from the evening feeling sure that, yes, to be triggered by a different perspective than one's own is a fairly deep, animal response that we're not going to rid ourselves of; however, we can raise the bar ever higher on what triggers us.  We can practice, as one must for a thesis defense (Cristina's ex.), how we will respond to attacks on or dismissal of our viewpoint, even conceding intelligently when a flaw in p.o.v. is realized.  But locking racks, of course, is not uber-effective at raising any bar of intelligent discourse or human exchange.  This we all know, whether or not we practice it.  Even if your opponent is an utter idiot or logic-weakling, it's likely going to feel best to extricate your rack from his/hers, concede, or at worst pretend to listen for peace's sake until you can run back to your like-minded posse for reassurance (T.I.N....that's banter lingo, in direct opposition to the LOL humans, for "tongue-in-cheek").

So, onto Banter 16.  I'd like to schedule it for Sunday, October 16th 7pm, unless that works for no one but me.  Let me know (soon) if you can make that date.  For a topic, how about we take on a text examination again, to hyperfocus us all on the same thing, as we did with Shakespeare's Macbeth?  As we all have varying interests and time constraints, I'm going to include varying prep on the same topic below.  I'd love for someone else to pick Banter 17 & its prep, as I don't want to be in the role of picking our discussions every time.

Banter 16 topic & questions:  Examine a classic "Deal with the devil" tale of Faust, and discuss the particulars of this concept personally, culturally, societally.  Why do we like to have Faust-like myths as humans (across all cultures, belief systems, and eras, as far as I can see)?  Why do we need a "devil" or trickster to help make sense of human action or choice?  Does this help offset accountability for one's actions in life...devil-made-me- do-it mentality...or is there some other reason as well?

Summary of topic:  Faust is the protagonist of a classic German legend. Though a highly successful scholar, he is dissatisfied, and makes a deal with the devil, exchanging his soul for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures. Faust's tale is the basis for many literary, artistic, cinematic, and musical works. The meaning of the word and name has been reinterpreted through the ages. Faust, and the adjective faustian, are often used to describe an arrangement in which an ambitious person surrenders moral integrity in order to achieve power and success: the proverbial "deal with the devil".  The legend was popular throughout Germany in the 16th century, then was popularised in England by Christopher Marlowe, in his play, "The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus," then in Goethe's reworking of the story 200 years later, Faust becomes a dissatisfied intellectual who yearns for "more than earthly meat and drink".  If you find contemporary examples of Faust in story or play form, please share.  The BBC discussion below mentions the Faust devil as trickster, so oral trickster tales would be quite relevant too for contrast to the white, Eurocentric angle on this cross-cultural concept of "deals with the devil" or "being undone by some Other."  

Prep:  Choose one piece below, based on your time constraints between now & Oct. 16 & apply it to the above questions.

1. Read Goethe's Faust here http://www.einam.com/faust/index.html  (German on left, English on right after you click Part I or Part II).

2. Listen to BBC discussion/lecture on Faust myths and society's changing attitudes to knowledge, ambition, and costs on our souls of acquiring such (45 mins.).  Click here http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p004y2bt

3.  Read Christopher Marlowe's "Dr. Faustus" (1616) here http://www.gutenberg.org/files/811/811-h/811-h.htm

4. Much like ancient Greek Sirens, or Pan/fairies/sprites, or raven/fox, or Biblical Eve/Salome consider how women, particularly in the femme fatale/fin de siecle era, were relegated to role of devil against men.  A perfect example are these images of Pandora & La Belle Dame Sans Merci, and this short John Keats poem herehttp://www.bartleby.com/126/55.html (all Eurocentric, apologies).

5. Watch the 1926 film of Goethe's Faust here.  Step aside Spielberg, this is worthwhile just for the special effects in the opening scene.

6. OR if you're swamped and the last thing you want is to add an hour or three of Faust to your life...Simply read above summary & take some time to contemplate the Faust concept on your own sans outside perspective, but avec La Belle Dame Sans Merci as your guide, "alone and palely loitering." 

Mike, there's also the Charles Gounod opera on youtube, here.

Sans Merci,

Sabine

Pandora, J.H. Waterhouse, 1896