I pretty much agree with much of the below - the use of the
Derleth-influenced Simon Necronomicon as the 'authoritative' text on the
Lovecraft mythos being a case in point.
Although I tend to think of Lovecraft as being either misread or
misunderstood in many occultural recensions of his work, I do think that a
tension exists between Lovecraft's mechanistic materialism and a kind of
romantic Gnostic sensibility sometimes found in his letters and fiction
- a tension which inadvertantly allows for a more 'supernaturalist'
interpretation of his work.
Justin
> I've noticed that those enthusiastic about Lovecraftian magical
> activities often disregard the considerable and growing body of Lovecraft
> (literary) criticism.
> And, although I
> tend not to look to an author's intentions for an appreciation of her or
> his works, Lovecraft seems not to have been successful at getting the
> supernatural out of his stories, as far as many of his readers are
> concerned.
>
> Another observation. The version of the Mythos that magical
> practitioners (that I've met) often turn to is not strictly Lovecraft's. It
> is the later expansion and reorganization carried out by August Derleth and
> the Arkham House editions. Derleth had no issue with the supernatural in
> the Mythos, and regularized the Mythos pantheon according to widespread
> occultural notions.
>
> Musing I Have Met Yog-Sothoth & ........ Rose,
>
>
> Pitch
>
>
--
Dr. Justin Woodman
Course Convenor
Integrated Degree in Social Anthropology
Department of Professional and Community Education
Goldsmiths College
New Cross
London SE14 6NW
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