Student Question
What do "Apollonian" and "Dionysian" mean in Ruth Benedict's Patterns of Culture?
Quick answer:
In Ruth Benedict's Patterns of Culture, "Apollonian" and "Dionysian" describe cultural behaviors on a spectrum from restraint to abandon. Derived from Nietzsche's concepts, "Apollonian" refers to cultures with controlled and restrained behaviors, while "Dionysian" pertains to those with frenzied and wild behaviors. These terms illustrate how different societies conduct celebrations, with Apollonian cultures emphasizing order and calm, and Dionysian cultures embracing chaos and excitement.
Benedict's ideas, drawn from Nietzsche concept of opposites, of Apollonian and Dionysian cultures describe the cultural conception of behavior on a continuum from restraint to abandon. She notes that in some cultures, celebrations are conducted with great abandon of behavior, which takes on a frenzied, wild aspect, while in other cultures, celebrations are conducted with great restraint of behavior, which presents order and calm. Dionysian relates to the first frenzied, abandoned pattern while Apollonian relates to the second controlled, restrained pattern.
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