Principia Discordia
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
| Revision as of 11:43, 8 January 2008 Jahsonic (Talk | contribs) ← Previous diff |
Revision as of 11:43, 8 January 2008 Jahsonic (Talk | contribs) Next diff → |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| {{Template}} | {{Template}} | ||
| + | '''''Principia Discordia''''' is a [[sacred text]] of the [[Discordianism|Discordian]] [[religion]] written by [[Gregory Hill (writer)|Greg Hill]] ([[Malaclypse The Younger]]) and [[Kerry Thornley]] (Omar Khayyam Ravenhurst). It was originally published under the title "Principia Discordia or How The West Was Lost" in a limited edition of 5 copies in 1965. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The ''Principia'' describes the Discordian Society and its Goddess [[Eris (mythology)|Eris]], as well as the basics of the [[Discordianism#POEE|POEE]] [[religious denomination|denomination]] of Discordianism. It features typewritten and handwritten text intermixed with clip art, stamps, and seals appropriated from other sources, possibly in violation of copyright laws. | ||
| + | |||
| + | While the ''Principia'' is full of literal contradictions and unusual [[humor]], it contains several passages which propose that there is serious intent behind the work, for example a message scrawled on page 00075: "If you think the PRINCIPIA is just a ha-ha, then go read it again." | ||
| + | |||
| + | The ''Principia'' is quoted extensively in and shares many themes with the [[science fiction]] book ''[[The Illuminatus! Trilogy]]'' by [[Robert Shea]] and [[Robert Anton Wilson]]. While Wilson was not directly involved in writing the Principia, both the letter signed "Mad Malik" and the stamps used were his. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Notable symbols in the book include the [[Apple of Discord]], the [[pentagon]], and the "Sacred Chao", which resembles the [[Taijitu]] of Taoism, but the two principles depicted are "Hodge" and "Podge" rather than [[yin and yang]], and they are represented by the apple and the pentagon, and not by dots. Saints identified include [[Emperor Norton]], [[Yossarian]], [[Don Quixote]], and [[Bokonon]]. The ''Principia'' also introduces the mysterious word [[fnord]], later popularized in ''[[The Illuminatus! Trilogy]]''; the trilogy itself is mentioned in the afterword to the Loompanics edition, and in the various introductions to the fifth editions. | ||
| + | |||
| {{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} | ||
Revision as of 11:43, 8 January 2008
|
Related e |
|
Featured: |
Principia Discordia is a sacred text of the Discordian religion written by Greg Hill (Malaclypse The Younger) and Kerry Thornley (Omar Khayyam Ravenhurst). It was originally published under the title "Principia Discordia or How The West Was Lost" in a limited edition of 5 copies in 1965.
The Principia describes the Discordian Society and its Goddess Eris, as well as the basics of the POEE denomination of Discordianism. It features typewritten and handwritten text intermixed with clip art, stamps, and seals appropriated from other sources, possibly in violation of copyright laws.
While the Principia is full of literal contradictions and unusual humor, it contains several passages which propose that there is serious intent behind the work, for example a message scrawled on page 00075: "If you think the PRINCIPIA is just a ha-ha, then go read it again."
The Principia is quoted extensively in and shares many themes with the science fiction book The Illuminatus! Trilogy by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson. While Wilson was not directly involved in writing the Principia, both the letter signed "Mad Malik" and the stamps used were his.
Notable symbols in the book include the Apple of Discord, the pentagon, and the "Sacred Chao", which resembles the Taijitu of Taoism, but the two principles depicted are "Hodge" and "Podge" rather than yin and yang, and they are represented by the apple and the pentagon, and not by dots. Saints identified include Emperor Norton, Yossarian, Don Quixote, and Bokonon. The Principia also introduces the mysterious word fnord, later popularized in The Illuminatus! Trilogy; the trilogy itself is mentioned in the afterword to the Loompanics edition, and in the various introductions to the fifth editions.
