Verbatim quote · defining passage

“We need not share Girard’s realist etiology to accept the view that myth is an attempt to make plausible the creation of significance in an event through the projection back into the past of a model of human intentionality (“anthropomorphism”). As sign-users, we reenact the origin of the sign that defers violence. Such tales may be detached from their original ritual context.”

— Eric Gans, The Post-Millennial Age · Saturday, June 3rd, 2000 · Chronicles of Love & Resentment