MYTH

What is a modern mythical figure? If it is no longer the gods of the archaic mythical figures eliminated by the Enlightened society, then either mythical figures no longer exist or they exist in a form unrecognizable in reference to past conceptions.

Instead of looking at the myth itself, consider the effects of the mythical figure: he or she exists in illo tempore, and performs acts of significance that reveal truth that would otherwise be unknown. (Sacred and the Profane 95) Essential to the mythical figure is his creative action and the revelation of a point to orient upon; when there is a myth, there is a point of absolute truth breaking the homogeneity of the profane world. Kurt was a paradox-- he was a orienting point opening up a world of the sacred for society with his music, but the nature of that point was disorientation:: rebellion and discontent.

"Religious man assumes a humanity that has a transhuman, transcendent model. He does not consider himself to be truly man except in so far as he imitates the gods, the culture heroes, or the mythic ancestors This is as much as to say that religious man wishes to be other than he is on the plane of his profane experience" (100)

If man can transcend his profane existence, then he is oriented by sacred space. However, Cobain was an interesting individual to imitate. Obviously, one cannot imitate him by being a cultural icon. Cobain is most accessible to imitation through music either in listening or performance. This music, however, is based around a theme critical of the societal norms of orientation. At times Cobain seemed to despise the very mythical lyrics and image he was projecting; consider what he says in his suicide note: I have a "daughter who reminds me of everything I used to be, full of love and joy, kissing every person she meets because everyone is good and will do her no hard. And that terrifies me to the point where I can barely function. I can't stand the thought of Frances becoming the miserable, self-destructive, death-rocker that I have become."

So why did Kurt Cobain continue his life in the way he did, though he despised it?

Again, in his suicide note, he says, "I haven't felt excitement of listening to as well as creating music along with reading and writing for too many years now. I feel guilty beyond belief about these things."

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Eliade, Mircea. The Sacred and the Profane. New York: Harper, 1960.