Well, symbols, myth etc are a summary of complex events and notions.
In that sense, they are sort of file compression.
But in other senses the metaphor breaks, because it cannot convey the similarities.
One can enjoy a myth or symbol in itself -- but a compressed file is useless unless it can be opened.
Second, the uncompressed file can be comprehended at once (e.g a movie can be viewed, a compressed doc can be read, etc). The cultural notions that are "compressed" into myths, though, cannot be understood by anyone in their entirety -- so the "compression" of the myth is somehow necessary.
Third, a compressed file is usually the work of a single person. Whereas culture (and myths, symbols etc) are a shared work of a people.
Noting that a myth can be enjoyed in and of itself, while a compressed file is really rather boring until it is uncompressed, I think you've hit on something I didn't think of at all. Thank you.
I'm wondering now if a more apt word would have been "encoding," rather than compression?
In that sense, they are sort of file compression.
But in other senses the metaphor breaks, because it cannot convey the similarities.
One can enjoy a myth or symbol in itself -- but a compressed file is useless unless it can be opened.
Second, the uncompressed file can be comprehended at once (e.g a movie can be viewed, a compressed doc can be read, etc). The cultural notions that are "compressed" into myths, though, cannot be understood by anyone in their entirety -- so the "compression" of the myth is somehow necessary.
Third, a compressed file is usually the work of a single person. Whereas culture (and myths, symbols etc) are a shared work of a people.