Abstracts
Abstract
Black metal uses negative language and negation as affirmation in the opposite direction to the Christian mystical tradition. Here, I argue that black metal completes the direction of negation to its proper conclusion in a turning away from God rather than using negative language to eulogise God. My first claim is that all worship is a form of curse, where negative theology demonstrates the inadequacy of language in its attempt to attest to the very thing it aims to affirm. I maintain that black metal demonstrates a consistency in apophatic thought where the mystical approach of Pseudo Denys and Meister Eckhart fail. Applying Milem’s desire theory and renunciation theory, and using lyrics from black metal bands, I argue that rather than negating the self, black metal’s apophatic approach reaffirms the self’s material existence in opposition to God. The affirmation rooted in negation of the bounded physical nature of humanity is the source from which a curse against the Christian God emanates.
Résumé
Le black métal utilise du langage négatif et de la négation comme une affirmation contraire à la tradition mystique chrétienne. Ici, je soutiens que le black métal pousse la direction de la négation jusqu’à sa conclusion appropriée en se détournant de Dieu plutôt qu’en utilisant le langage négatif pour faire l’éloge de Dieu. Ma première affirmation est que tout culte est une forme de malédiction où la théologie négative démontre l’inadéquation du langage dans sa tentative d’attester la chose même qu’il vise à affirmer. Je soutiens que le black métal démontre une cohérence dans la pensée apophatique où l’approche mystique de Pseudo Denys et de Maître Eckhart échouent. En appliquant la théorie du désir de Milem et la théorie du renoncement, et en utilisant des paroles de groupes de black métal, je soutiens que plutôt que de nier le soi, l’approche apophatique du black métal réaffirme l’existence matérielle du soi en opposition à Dieu. L’affirmation enracinée dans la négation de la nature physique bornée de l’humanité est la source d’où émane une malédiction contre le Dieu chrétien.
Appendices
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