Chthonic
The Chthonic is associated with females, wild/chaotic nature, and unconstrained sex/procreation. Paglia argues that masculinity revolts against the Chthonic forces of nature, and turning instead to the Apollonian trait of ordered creation. Rejection of—or combat with—Chthonianism by socially constructed Apollonian virtues accounts for the historical dominance of men in science, literature, arts, technology, and politics.
When
- First attested
- 1990 CE
- Attested period
- 1990 – 1990
- Historical notes
- Described in Camille Paglia's 1990 book Sexual Personae.
Relationships
- enemy of
- Apollonian
- manifests as
- Dionysian
- manifested by
- Dionysian
Mentioned by
Sources
Source passages
“For Paglia, the Apollonian is light and structured while the Dionysian is dark and chthonic (she prefers Chthonic to Dionysian throughout the book, arguing that the latter concept has become all but synonymous with hedonism and is inadequate for her purposes, declaring that "the Dionysian is no picnic"). The Chthonic is associated with females, wild/chaotic nature, and unconstrained sex/procreation”
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