Chapter 24 10/28

In this chapter, Harvey Cox’s ideas and the symbolic significance of the “American girl” are discussed. As mentioned in previous chapters, a hero plays an important role in all people’s lives as they connect us to the unconscious psyche within our minds. However, in this chapter, the author believes girls in such pageants as Miss America or Miss Universe, who were once looked upon as goddesses are now being overlooked by more prominent female icons, such as Britney Spears and Madonna. Miss America used to represent a type of innocent “virginal” girl, but has now been replaced by women who exploit themselves sexually with the hopes of selling more albums or music videos. Miss America also used to symbolize the All-American girl, who was an icon in American society. The term paradigmatic figure is also used to describe the pageant queen. This term is used to describe people that are exemplary and models for the rest of us to follow. Another term found in the chapter is mythical motif. This term is used to describe a part of our thoughts and dreams, of the things that we wish were real, but later find to only be in our minds. Paradigmatic figures and images are a part of these mythical motifs, which include the maiden, the hero, hell, etc.