Imagination and Symbolism in Contemporary Cultural Studies: Gilbert Duran's Anthropology as an example

This critical analysis seeks to shed light on the characteristics of imaginary and symbolic anthropology and legends through contemporary cultural studies. In particular, it focuses on the study of imaginary and symbolic anthropology by the contemporary French anthropologist Gilbert Duran. In an attempt to highlight this aspect of anthropology, we read critically the anthropological text related to myths, based on Gilbert Duran's book, ‘Les structures anthropologiques de l'imaginaire’.

Reading this anthropological text, we found that the analysis of the various human cultural phenomena was interpreted symbolically, taking into consideration different disciplines including the humanities, philosophy, linguistics and biology. Duran attempted to highlight the various dimensions of the norms shaping cultural features of people's ideas, perceptions and behaviours through imaginary and symbolic anthropology. He defended the role of the imaginary and the myth in understanding many cultural phenomena, folk representations of people around the world, and life.

His book, one of the most important scientific publications in the field of the humanities and cultural studies, tackles symbols and literary topics, cultural and psychological subjects through two methods upon which the author relies in his research in anthropological studies: le régime diurne and le régime nocturne.

The reader of this book quickly discovers Duran’s ability to move between different concepts, models, images, symbols and various ancient and contemporary cultural patterns. This leads the reader to the richness and possibilities of contemporary anthropology and new horizons, such as the study of the imaginary and of language, myths and cultural constructs.

 

Hussain Akhdush

  Morocco