Artistic interpretation myths desolate land

Abstract

The Artistic Interpretation of the Mythologeme of the Wasteland. The mythological belief in the mystical role of the ruler demanded the proper kind of behavior both from the subjects and the ruler himself. This complex of rules was known as "the Truth of the King". The violations of the "Truth" was believed to lead to the disruption of the social and Cosmic laws. One of the results was the turning of the realm into the Wasteland. The mythologeme of Wasteland is well-known in most European cultures, especially in British, where it is connected with the Arthurian cycle and the search for the Grail. However, the role of the mythologeme is much more important, as it can be traced in many works of art, from Shakespeare to T.S. Eliot and far beyond. In the modern culture there are three main variations of the theme: 1) the "Return of the King", 2) the revolution, 3) the anti-utopia. All these variants are to be found in different national cultures in different media and genres, from Soviet children’s tales to Hollywood blockbusters.