The Sekhmet Hypothesis

Last updated

The Sekhmet Hypothesis was first published in book form in 1995 by Iain Spence. [1] It suggested that pop trends of an atavistic nature could be analysed in relation to Dr. Timothy Leary's interpersonal circumplex model. It also suggested that major youth trends could be correlated to peaks in the 11 year solar cycle; this idea was later rejected by the author in 1999. [2]

Contents

The hypothesis was published in 1997 in the journal Towards 2012 [3] and covered in 1999 by journalist Steve Beale in Sleazenation magazine. [4]

French hippie - the hypothesis suggests that atavistic youth trends can be viewed as recurring archetypal symbols. FrenchHippie.jpg
French hippie - the hypothesis suggests that atavistic youth trends can be viewed as recurring archetypal symbols.

Origins of the hypothesis

The origins of the hypothesis can be traced back to Robert Anton Wilson's 1983 book, Prometheus Rising , in which Wilson makes a singular correlation between the symbol of the flower child with the mood of friendly weakness. [5] Spence extended the comment into a study of various youth archetypes and linked in their behaviour to the four atavistic life scripts.

The life scripts relate to each other with the following dialogue: [6]

Friendly Weakness - I'm not okay, you're okay

Hostile Weakness - I'm not okay, you're not okay

Friendly Strength - I'm okay, you're okay

Hostile Strength - I'm okay, you're not okay

A diversified and holistic guide to the four life scripts was first introduced by Dr. Leary and three of his colleagues in 1951. [7] Leary suggested there were balanced, healthy forms of behaviour in relation to each of the life scripts and extreme, unhealthy forms of behaviour in relation to each of the scripts. [8] [9] By the late 1960s psychologists such as Eric Berne, [10] Thomas Harris [11] and Claude Steiner [12] had changed Leary's holistic guide to one which favoured the life position of 'I'm okay, you're okay' over all the other scripts.

Influence on comic book mythology

The author Grant Morrison later incorporated the idea into their Invisibles comic book series (1994–2000) [13] and their New X-Men comic book series (2001–2004). [14] [15] [16] [17] Morrison has discussed their own views on the hypothesis in their book Supergods (2011) [18] citing the topic as an influence on their New X-Men story arc 'Riot at Xavier's'. [19] The story's lead character, Kid Omega, develops hostile strength tendencies which run out of control with dire consequences for his school.

Robert Salkowitz discusses the Sekhmet hypothesis in Comic-Con and the Business of Pop Culture, in which he questions Morrison's take on the hypothesis suggesting instead that the Strauss-Howe generational theory may explain deeper moods within pop culture. [20]

Bilious body language: Crass punk culture, early 1980s. Crass steve 1981.jpg
Bilious body language: Crass punk culture, early 1980s.
A typical early example of an atavistic quaternity, from the Book of Kells. KellsFol027v4Evang.jpg
A typical early example of an atavistic quaternity, from the Book of Kells.

The hypothesis suggests that the flower children of the sixties and the mellow side of reggae culture presents a collective mood of "friendly weakness" while punk culture and certain aspects of rap culture present an archetype of 'hostile weakness'. In the late eighties and nineties, rave culture along with early drum and bass supposedly presents a mood based mainly on 'friendly strength'. [21] The hypothesis suggests that most people are not hard wired to any particular life script and likewise young people are generally fluid enough to move between different pop trends with ease and some humour. Grunge for example is viewed as an atavistic hybrid, drawing on elements of both punk and hippie culture. [22]

The social symbolism of the hypothesis is also compared to the archetypal symbolism of Ezekiel's quaternity in the Christian Bible. [23] Ezekiel is said to have had a vision of the winged man (angel), the bull, the lion and the eagle. The same quaternity was later incorporated into illuminated manuscripts such as the Book of Kells. Spence has corresponded flower power and late reggae culture (Bob Marley, cannabis use, dub, dreadlocks) to the gentle angel; the rebellious mood of early rap and punk culture to the sullen bull and the leonine strength of drum and bass and rave culture to the proud lion. [24]

Grant Morrison and Iain Spence have split views on the subject of hostile strength played out through youth culture. Morrison suggests that the trend has come and gone with the film The Matrix (1999) along with commanding symbolism in the nu metal scene. Spence meanwhile suggests that the mood has emerged through the more commanding aspects of hip hop, gabber and metal sub-cultures.

The sequential integration of the life scripts

Babymetal - playful commanding symbolism within Pop Metal culture. Babymetalfondatheatrelosangeles11.jpg
Babymetal - playful commanding symbolism within Pop Metal culture.
Ravers 2010 - wearing children's "kandy" beads, along with teething symbolism. Rave in Brooklyn.jpg
Ravers 2010 - wearing children's "kandy" beads, along with teething symbolism.

The hypothesis suggests that teenagers recapitulate infancy and childhood through pop culture. This self-referencing process supposedly leads to the manifestation of social symbols. Spence proposes that the life scripts start in infancy from the state of friendly weakness, an idea already proposed by Thomas Harris in his book, I'm OK, You're OK in 1970. [25]

Thomas Harris had split from Eric Berne's view that the scripts start from the stage of Friendly Strength. [26] There is still some argument as to the sequence and timing of the scripts. [27] Spence has proposed the life scripts are integrated in the sequence of friendly weakness (at birth), hostile weakness (infancy), friendly strength and then lastly the commanding behaviour of hostile strength, some time in late childhood. Unlike Harris and Berne, Spence argues that hostile strength does not have to be "demonised or criminalised" as a mood, claiming that it is only one part of a balanced quaternity of behaviour. [28] In this respect he has returned to Leary's view of approaching the life scripts from a holistic perspective. Timothy Leary himself has also commented on the relationship between infancy and atavistic pop trends. [29] Other writers such as Jon Savage have applied the same view to punk culture. [30] Spence also draws on children's fiction to illustrate the "four timeless scripts" referring for example to the four main characters in The Wind in the Willows and the four children in The Polar Express . [31]

The Hare Hypothesis

By 2000 Spence had rejected any solar links to the hypothesis suggesting it might best be treated as a psychological puzzle or game. He rewrote a web-site version of his ideas as, The Hare Hypothesis in a move to keep the hypothesis playful and devoid of any solar connection. [32] Grant Morrison revived the original solar link in 2011 in their book Supergods but didn't offer any scientific evidence in support of their views. [33]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timothy Leary</span> American psychologist (1920–1996)

Timothy Francis Leary was an American psychologist and author known for his strong advocacy of psychedelic drugs. Evaluations of Leary are polarized, ranging from bold oracle to publicity hound. According to poet Allen Ginsberg, he was "a hero of American consciousness", and writer Tom Robbins called him a "brave neuronaut". During the 1960s and 1970s, Leary was arrested 36 times. President Richard Nixon called him "the most dangerous man in America".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hippie</span> Person associated with 1960-1975 counterculture

A Hippie, also spelled hippy, especially in British English, is someone associated with the counterculture of the 1960s, originally a youth movement that began in the United States during or around 1964 and spread to different countries around the world. The word hippie came from hipster and was used to describe beatniks who moved into New York City's Greenwich Village, San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district, and Chicago's Old Town community. The term hippie was used in print by San Francisco writer Michael Fallon, helping popularize use of the term in the media, although the tag was seen elsewhere earlier.

Transactional analysis is a psychoanalytic theory and method of therapy wherein social interactions are analyzed to determine the ego state of the communicator as a basis for understanding behavior. In transactional analysis, the communicator is taught to alter the ego state as a way to solve emotional problems. The method deviates from Freudian psychoanalysis, which focuses on increasing awareness of the contents of subconsciously held ideas. Eric Berne developed the concept and paradigm of transactional analysis in the late 1950s.

<i>OK Computer</i> 1997 studio album by Radiohead

OK Computer is the third studio album by the English rock band Radiohead, released on 21 May 1997. With their producer, Nigel Godrich, Radiohead recorded most of OK Computer in their rehearsal space in Oxfordshire and the historic mansion of St Catherine's Court in Bath in 1996 and early 1997. They distanced themselves from the guitar-centred, lyrically introspective style of their previous album, The Bends. OK Computer's abstract lyrics, densely layered sound and eclectic influences laid the groundwork for Radiohead's later, more experimental work.

<i>OK</i> Word from the English language

OK, with spelling variations including okay, okeh, O.K. and many others, is an English word denoting approval, acceptance, agreement, assent, acknowledgment, or a sign of indifference. OK is frequently used as a loanword in other languages. It has been described as the most frequently spoken or written word on the planet.

<i>The Doors</i> (film) 1991 biographical film directed by Oliver Stone

The Doors is a 1991 American biographical film directed by Oliver Stone and written by Stone and Randall Jahnson. It is based on the history of American rock band the Doors and their influence on music and counterculture. The film stars Val Kilmer as singer Jim Morrison, Meg Ryan as Morrison's girlfriend Pamela Courson, Kyle MacLachlan as keyboardist Ray Manzarek, Frank Whaley as lead guitarist Robby Krieger, Kevin Dillon as drummer John Densmore, Billy Idol as Cat, and Kathleen Quinlan as journalist Patricia Kennealy.

The Crucial Three were a short-lived band that existed for approximately six weeks in early 1977. They are nevertheless notable on account of the individual success of all three founding members: Julian Cope formed The Teardrop Explodes and has enjoyed a long and successful solo career as an author, photographer and singer, Ian McCulloch formed the very successful Echo & the Bunnymen, while guitarist Pete Wylie formed Wah! Heat and enjoyed major chart success with "The Story of the Blues". In those early days, McCulloch sang, Cope played bass, and Wylie played guitar. A drummer, Stephen Spence, also joined at some point in their brief life.

<i>Im OK – Youre OK</i> Book by Thomas Anthony Harris

I'm OK – You're OK is a 1967 self-help book by psychiatrist Thomas Anthony Harris. It is a practical guide to transactional analysis as a method for solving problems in life.

Wakanda, officially the Kingdom of Wakanda, is a fictional country appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the country first appeared in Fantastic Four #52. Wakanda is located in sub-Saharan Africa and has been depicted as being in East Africa. It is home to the superhero Black Panther.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flower child</span> Synonym for Hippie

Flower child originated as a synonym for Hippie, especially among the idealistic young people who gathered in San Francisco and the surrounding area during the Summer of Love in 1967. It was the custom of "flower children" to wear and distribute flowers or floral-themed decorations to symbolize ideals of universal belonging, peace, and love. The mass media picked up on the term and used it to refer in a broad sense to any Hippie. Flower children were also associated with the flower power political movement, which originated in ideas written by Allen Ginsberg in 1965.

<i>Prometheus Rising</i> Book by Robert Anton Wilson

Prometheus Rising is a 1983 guidebook by Robert Anton Wilson. The book includes explanations of Timothy Leary's eight-circuit model of consciousness, Alfred Korzybski's general semantics, Aleister Crowley's Thelema, and various other topics related to self-improvement, occult traditions, and pseudoscience. In the introduction written by Israel Regardie, Wilson's purpose for writing the book is given as unleashing humanity's "full stature".

<i>The Stone Tape</i> Television film directed by Peter Sasdy

The Stone Tape is a 1972 British television horror drama film written by Nigel Kneale and directed by Peter Sasdy and starring Michael Bryant, Jane Asher, Michael Bates and Iain Cuthbertson. It was broadcast on BBC Two as a Christmas ghost story in 1972. Combining aspects of science fiction and horror, the story concerns a team of scientists who move into their new research facility, a renovated Victorian mansion that has a reputation for being haunted. The team investigate the phenomenon, trying to determine if the stones of the building are acting as a recording medium for past events. However, their investigations serve only to unleash a darker, more malevolent force.

<i>Saint Dominics Preview</i> 1972 studio album by Van Morrison

Saint Dominic's Preview is the sixth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was released in July 1972 by Warner Bros. Records. Rolling Stone declared it "the best-produced, most ambitious Van Morrison record yet released."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No Surprises</span> 1998 single by Radiohead

"No Surprises" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, released as the fourth and final single from their third studio album, OK Computer (1997), in 1998. It was also released as a mini-album in Japan, titled No Surprises / Running from Demons.

<i>Hour of the Gun</i> 1967 film by John Sturges

Hour of the Gun is a 1967 Western film depicting Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday during their 1881 battles against Ike Clanton and his brothers in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and the gunfight's aftermath in and around Tombstone, Arizona, starring James Garner as Earp, Jason Robards as Holliday, and Robert Ryan as Clanton. The film was directed by John Sturges.

Self-acceptance is acceptance of self.

Evolutionary approaches to depression are attempts by evolutionary psychologists to use the theory of evolution to shed light on the problem of mood disorders within the perspective of evolutionary psychiatry. Depression is generally thought of as dysfunction or a mental disorder, but its prevalence does not increase with age the way dementia and other organic dysfunction commonly does. Some researchers have surmised that the disorder may have evolutionary roots, in the same way that others suggest evolutionary contributions to schizophrenia, sickle cell anemia, psychopathy and other disorders. The proposed explanations for the evolution of depression remain controversial.

Cultural differences can interact with positive psychology to create great variation, potentially impacting positive psychology interventions. Culture differences have an impact on the interventions of positive psychology. Culture influences how people seek psychological help, their definitions of social structure, and coping strategies. Cross cultural positive psychology is the application of the main themes of positive psychology from cross-cultural or multicultural perspectives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1916 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team</span> American college football season

The 1916 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represented the Georgia Tech Golden Tornado of the Georgia Institute of Technology during the 1916 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association football season. Georgia Tech was a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA). The Tornado was coached by John Heisman in his 13th year as head coach, compiling a record of 8–0–1 and outscoring their opponents 421 to 20. Georgia Tech played its home games at Grant Field. One writer claimed the 1916 team "seemed to personify Heisman." This was the first team to vault Georgia Tech to national prominence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toxic positivity</span> Construct in psychology

Toxic positivity, also known as excessive positivity or positive toxicity, is dysfunctional emotional management without the full acknowledgment of negative emotions, particularly anger and sadness. Socially, it is the act of dismissing another person's negative emotions by suggesting a positive emotion instead.

References

  1. ↑ Spence, Iain (1995). The Sekhmet Hypothesis. Bast's Blend. ISBN   9780952536505.
  2. ↑ Spence, Iain (2019). The Hare Hypothesis. Bast's Blend. pp. 13–15. ISBN   9781797458762.
  3. ↑ Spence, Iain (1997). "The Sekhmet Hypothesis". Towards 2012 (Part 3 Culture and Language). Unlimited Dream Company/Slab-O-Concrete. ISBN   189986606X . Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  4. ↑ Beale, Steve (1999). "1999". Sleazenation. Swinstead. ISSN   1742-5506.
  5. ↑ Wilson, Robert Anton (1983). Prometheus Rising. Falcon Press. p.  55. ISBN   9781561840564. 'She/He is self-critical, shy, timid, easily led, "spineless," and always looking for somebody to Take Charge and Give Orders. The unearthly Angel, or in modern symbolism, the Flower Child'.
  6. ↑ Wilson, Robert Anton (1983). Prometheus Rising. Falcon Press. pp.  50 to 59. ISBN   9781561840564.
  7. ↑ Leary, Timothy; Freeman, Mervin; Ossorio, Abel; Coffey, Hubert (1951). The Interpersonal Dimension of Personality. Journal of Personality, Volume 20, Number 2. pp. 143–161.
  8. ↑ Leary, Timothy (1957). Interpersonal Diagnosis of Personality: A Functional Theory and Methodology for Personality Evaluation. The Ronald Press Company. ISBN   9781592447763.
  9. ↑ Wilson, Robert Anton (1983). Prometheus Rising. Falcon Press. p.  52. ISBN   9781561840564. 'For instance, a widely used psychological test in this country the Leary Interpersonal Analysis Grid (1957) divides the four quadrants into sixteen sub-quadrants and allows one to grade each in terms of moderate-to-excessive tendency to behave that way.'
  10. ↑ Berne, Eric (1975). What Do You Say After You Say Hello?. Corgi. ISBN   978-0552098069. Chapters 3 and 11.
  11. ↑ Harris, Thomas (1973). I'm OK – You're OK . Pan Books. p.  36 to 51. ISBN   0 330 23543 5.
  12. ↑ Steiner, Claude (1990). Scripts People Live:Transactional Analysis of Life Scripts. Grove Press. ISBN   978-0802132109. Chapters 6 to 12.
  13. ↑ Morrison, Grant (2002). The Invisibles, Volume 7, The Invisible Kingdom. Vertigo. pp. 31, 34, 192. ISBN   1-4012-0019-2.
  14. ↑ Morrison, Grant (2001). New X-Men: E is for Extinction. Marvel. p. 7. ISBN   0-7851-0811-4.
  15. ↑ Morrison, Grant (2002). New X-Men: Imperial. Marvel. p. 6. ISBN   0-7851-0887-4.
  16. ↑ "New X-Men#114 Annotations". Deep Space Transmissions. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  17. ↑ "New X-Men#118 Annotations". Deep Space Transmissions. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  18. ↑ Morrison, Grant (2011). Supergods - Our World in the Age of the Superhero. Random House. pp. 301 to 307. ISBN   9781400069125.
  19. ↑ Morrison, Grant (2011). Supergods - Our World in the Age of the Superhero. Random House. p. 357. ISBN   9781400069125. "It was the darkside of Spence's imperial youth Stormer generation..."
  20. ↑ Salkowitz, Robert (2012). Comic-Con and the Business of Pop Culture. McGraw Hill. pp. 72 to 73. ISBN   978-0071797023.
  21. ↑ Spence, Iain (2012). The Hare Hypothesis. Bast's Blend. ASIN   B009E2YUJM. Chapter 2 - The Four Life Scripts.
  22. ↑ Spence, Iain (2019). The Hare Hypothesis. Bast's Blend. p. 35. ISBN   9781797458762.
  23. ↑ Spence, Iain (2019). The Hare Hypothesis. Bast's Blend. pp. 20–22. ISBN   9781797458762.
  24. ↑ Spence, Iain (2019). The Hare Hypothesis. Bast's Blend. pp. 29–38. ISBN   9781797458762.
  25. ↑ Harris, Thomas (1973). I'm Ok - You're Ok. Pan Books. p.  42. ISBN   0 330 23543 5. 'I'm not ok - you're ok: this is the universal position of early childhood, being the infant's logical conclusion from the situation from birth and infancy.'
  26. ↑ Steiner, Claude (1974). Scripts People Live: Transactional Analysis of Life Scripts. Grove Press. pp.  8–9. ISBN   9780802132109.
  27. ↑ Stewart, Ian; Jones, Vann (1987). TA Today – A New Introduction to Transactional Analysis . Lifespace Publishing. p.  118. ISBN   1 870244 00 1.
  28. ↑ Spence, Iain (2012). The Hare Hypothesis. Bast's Blend. ASIN   B009E2YUJM. Chapter 5 - The Sequential Integration of the Four Life Scripts.
  29. ↑ Leary, Timothy (1994). Chaos and Cyberculture. Ronin. p. 99. ISBN   9780914171775.
  30. ↑ Savage, Jon (1991). England's Dreaming, Sex Pistols and Punk Rock. Faber and Faber. p. 374. ISBN   0 571 16791 8. 'On the legs were the bondage trousers of claustrophobia and babyish incapacity.'
  31. ↑ Spence, Iain (2018). The Hare Hypothesis. Bast's Blend. p. 128. ISBN   9781797458762. 'Recently the four Life Scripts have turned up each Christmas with the popularity of, The Polar Express. Lonely Boy offers the Optimistic Weakness of a melancholic, gentle lamb; Know it All Kid is the angry complainer of Pessimistic Weakness; Hero Boy is the helpful, protective Optimistic Strength and Hero Girl is the leading child of tough, Pessimistic Strength'.
  32. ↑ Spence, Iain (2019). The Hare Hypothesis. Bast's Blend. pp. 6–7. ISBN   9781797458762.
  33. ↑ "An Evening with Grant Morrison and Gerard Way". Meltdown Comics. September 12, 2011. Retrieved March 20, 2014. Grant Morrison interviewed by Gerard Way: contains discussion on the early Sekhmet hypothesis.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.