The 7 levels of meaning in Frank Herbert's DUNE 

what a criminally underappreciated channel. I am of course a Dune fan and discovered this video as a result, but will be checking out the catalogue of previous videos. Thank you for the thought provoking content, Damien.

Great video and insightful analysis. For me one of the most incredible themes of the Dune series is the influence that Jung's ideas had on the concept of ancestral memories, the battle of multiple personas within the individual creating compartmentalised and conflicting actions

Actually I think you’ll find Game of Thrones doesn’t have seven seasons. The show ran for four of the best seasons of television ever depicted and then mysteriously stopped.

I think another nod to Foundation was in Children of Dune when a teacher is mentioned who tries to understand Paul's prophetic ability through mathematics, as in Hari Seldon's Pyscho-history.

Just to say that Joseph Campbell wrote about the Hero’s Journey, Carl Jung first wrote about the Hero Archetype as an unconscious process we are all subjected to. This, I think, is an explanation for why it looks Frank Herbert wrote about in “hero’s journey” terms…

and the 8th level, a warning against following the charismatic messiah

I'm from the future. Dune was a masterpiece. Robbed at Oscars

Great analysis of Dune!😊 I liked how you broke it down. Having read the original Frank Herbert books I can agree with most of your analysis, with one exception: how Arrakis as a planet interacted with the life that live on it. Many times Herbert speaks of how Dune shaped the Fremen. It is also spoken how life, the worms, shaped the planet. A balanced dance where one leads the other. Tip the scales and you have chaos. The empire had a similar balance in the CHOAM, the Landsraad, and emperor. Paul upset that balance and Leto II spent a millennium to correct.

I thought the TV adaptation was more than just okayy. I have read all 6 books like 7 times, maybe more. It was a great series and the actors really did a great job. And it is far beyond Star Wars. It is a great study in politics.

Damien Walter you are GREAT! I'm glad to discover you. Thank you so much for the profound explanation you did here.Best wishes for you from Bucharest, Romania. Costin

My universe has aligned and brought me to this channel. Your masterpiece on the allegory and meaning of Blade Runner 2049 pulled the algorithm my way and I watched that first, and now having watched this video essay on Dune, I know I'm amongst my tribe. Joined the FB group and subbed to the podcast, I will be supporting this channel. Excited to be here with you all. Outstanding work and insights, Damien. And also superb additions to the conversation from others in the comments. I hope to contribute as well in the future. Top shelf intelligent discussion and commentary are a very welcome find. Another oasis in the desert of the real.

your text intro is superb ----------------------------------------- The ancient Greeks divided culture into 2 halves. The Mythos was the stories. Of Gods and monsters and heroes of old. The Logos was the knowledge. The logic, reason and facts of the matter. Science fiction is unique because it joins Logos with Mythos. Science. With fiction. The great works of science fiction…Asimov’s Foundation saga, Le Guin’s Hainish cycle, Gibson’s Sprawl trilogy, every single book by Octavia Butler, the works of Delany, Atwood, Heinlein, Banks, Stephenson… …and a relatively short list of true science fiction greats, are great because they unify high concepts with narrative craft to create stories that both Inform and Transform us as readers. There is none greater than Frank Herbert’s DUNE. In this video essay made as part of my course Writing the 21st Century Myth I analyse the 7 levels of meaning in DUNE to understand its enduring power as a work of science fiction.

I know nothing about Dune and just wanted to find out if it was a story that I would like, and you pulled me in instantly! I love the way you talk and how you approached the different topics in this video. So glad I found your channel

Brilliant overview and analysis, as well as choice of venue, sir

Yes, Herbert states clearly in a televised interview that he was "deep into" Carl Jung as he wrote. Reading Dune for the first time 55 years ago I sensed this psychological depth in Herbert's writing, and now having been a psychologist for 35 years, and deeply influenced by Jung, I can see his ideas woven into the complete fabric of the Dune world. I don't have the time to describe these many layers now, but I will say how powerful it was to encounter the Dark Feminine, as exemplified by the Bene Gesserit, which was somewhat courageous on Herbert's part--in a world that wants only a Beatific Mary, who has no Shadow.

Wow, your channel is absolutely awesome! Hope it will grow fast!

So glad I found this channel! Will recomend this EVERYWHERE 🤯🤩

What a great video, besides the content and analysis, very appreciated the way it's filmed and edited. Thank you

Awesome video! And really well edited as well! Subbing 👌🏼

Binging on your series since finding it a few days ago. According to Paul Stametz, Herbert was an expert on magic mushrooms. He was apparently flyin' high on them when he wrote Dune. Thus the weirdness of the story.

Interesting the Buddhist and other Asian imagery and Tibetan bells in the soundtrack, whilst discussing the Catholic and Islamic influence on Frank Herbert's work. The barefoot sage image fits you man - it's very enticing....

It usually takes at LEAST an hour for someone in a RU-vid video to impress me with Dune talk. You pulled in off in well under a third of that time. Well done.

Excellent analysis. Concise. High hopes for Villeneuve's adaptation.

Herbert saw ecology as "the science of understanding consequences." This is why every single aspect at every single level of the story is so complex. He basically hacked causality.

_Ruqya_ is “killing words” from the Quran that are used to kill rebellious jinn. Such an amazing translation of an everyday practice converted into fictional technology.

Very insightful. Thank you. Subscribed.

Very well-thought analysis and quality narration👌 Thanks and keep up the good work.

A great book of layered and layered intricacies and plots within plots. Read and think.

One of the few people who really understood the mind of Frank Herbert

Just knew your channel, Bli Walter. Love your analysis!

Thank you Insightful

I really enjoyed watching this🥺

I love the Sci-Fi channel mini-series, the only issue I see with them is that they weren't given the money they should have been given to do it right. but the actual plot and stories told were the closest to the books than the 84 and 22 movies, and I say that even though I love the 22 movie, which did cut out a lot from the book. It would be amazing if you could combine the more complete story of the mini-series with the amazing direction of Denis Villeneuve and the obvious love he has for the book that is shown thought-out the movie..

Gorgeous location as background for your video. Not to mention the excellent content

Stanley Lombardo trans. Of The Iliad - one of the changed verses ‘ Tell me muse, who had the greatest heroes of the Atreiades’

There are a few unique elements of Dune that were partially covered in this assessment when considering sci-fi stories in general: 1.) Time and Humanity: The Dune saga is foremost a story of humanity, the timeline stretches millennia. Seeds sewn thousands of years ago bear fruit throughout the books, and even beyond. Empires rise and fall, and throughout it all there are no signs of other intelligent civilizations. The story isn't just about what humanity is, but what it could become in all its complexity. 2.) Technology: Unlike other sci-fis with fantastical technologies being the forefront of the story with humanity remaining the same, Dune has its own plethora of advanced tools and vehicles, but humanity has greatly advanced its own mental and physical capabilities instead. Technology has also taken a backseat to emphasize the story and characters, has its own limitations, and is used by the characters with a sense of normalcy, just as we act with our own present-day tech. Despite all this, the details and capabilities of technology in the Dune saga is no less impressive or awe inspiring in detail and scale. 3.) Human Advancement: With humanity specialized into various casts, we get the extremes of personality, influence, physiology and physical/mental capabilities. The voids left in technological computation have given greater emphasis on humans' own abilities and professions to serve to the best of their ability. People of power have greater responsibility and influence over others, and overall the concept of attaining it through training and willpower is at the forefront of the hierarchal system just as much as traditional symbols of power like resources or technology are. 4.) Perception and Prophecy: In Dune one of the greatest physiological advancements and conditioning humanity can attain is enhanced perception. With greater ability to uncover knowledge comes greater understanding and capability, with information as a weapon, Paul was able to bring a galaxy-wide empire to its knees, but was also able to see the terrible future that lay before him; a form of power wholly unique to Dune (and adapted into concepts like "the force" from Star Wars that we take for granted today). Throughout the saga since the beginning the reader gets glimpses of the future through prescience and prophesy long ago, reinforcing Point 1 and 3. Time and its effect on humanity, and the human advancement required to attain it. Unrelated footnote: A few years ago I began to develop my own sci-fi concept. A non-human species that had to be both "advanced" yet sufficiently different from humans in distinct ways. With the species being intelligent yet physically incapable of producing technology, I realized that any desire for progress would be a drive to advance themselves and their own physiology. This advancement was in part due to genetic information forming complex instincts in subsequent generations. It made logical sense that instincts are formed by pattern recognition of cause-and-effect, patterns that lead to predictions. If a species had intelligence, advanced physiology with heightened senses for perception, reinforced by strong instincts, then it could surpass humans in their ability to predict the immediate future based on stimuli. These concepts were completely original to me. Part of the research that lead me to these concepts came from the lectures of philosopher Alan Watts, who was influenced by the theology behind Zen Buddism, Hinduism, and Judaism. Imagine my surprise when I learned of Dune which had explored these topics over 60 years ago, and that Frank Herbert was also inspired by Alan Watts. Some of the spiritual elements were also influenced by the same theology.

He was definitely aware of the Hero's Journey because he set out to subvert that trope. Joseph Campbell refused to publish Herbert's work that sent him.

Where did you film this? I love the ancient feel of the location.

Hi Damien. Just discovered you on RW. Love the analysis 👍

I’d add you left out the most important aspect of classic medieval style fantasy …there be dragons ! Also along with the spices psychoactive effects which not everyone may enjoy its longevity effect can not be argued . If magic mushrooms added years to your life even the most conservative members of society would trip daily : )

The story attempts to deconstruct the Christian narrative often. Paul goes to the woman at the well and she gives him the living water. Totally opposite of Christ. And then he dies and his bride redeems him instead of vise verse. When presented with an opportunity his to self sacrifice he instead kills and is reborn through the violence.

Probably accurate! My experience of Dune was in a science fiction class at the community college about 20 years ago. I took the class because i wanted to read neuromancer and learn more about what was do great about it. I remember 4 of the books; Neuromancer, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Wildseed and Dune. Neuromancer is great without a doubt, and i really got into PKD after watching the movie Waking Life, but Dune unexpectedly fascinated me more than any of those books. As someone with a knack for words and expressing ideas but not really that into reading novels, I ACTUALLY read Dune at that time unlike the others that i didnt get into for a few years (yeah, even neuromancer.) Dune is beyond being a masterpiece, i cant even find the words the say what drove me to read it, it was really just compelling.

I would love to see an Iain M. Banks novel made into a movie, I would even like to see David Lynch's interpretation 🙃😄 If not Lynch, then perhaps Christopher Nolan or Denis Villeneuve? 🤔😄 I think Denis Villeneuve's Dune is stunning. Anyway, regardless of all of that, I am really enjoying your vids, found you from searching for breakdowns on The Peripheral and I'm now down the rabbit hole of your back catalogue gems 👌🙌 Thank you for all of your vids 💫

really enjoyed your interpretation, but having come straight from Frank Herbert's interview on origin of Dune, a lot of your questions/theories were answered. ie Hero/Anti-Hero, Jung's archetypes are mentioned & Herbert poking fun at the Campbell's Hero's journey.

i think for human beings the hardest thing to do is to accept what was what is and what is yet to come we are hard wired to improve ourselves and in the trying to do so the outcomes arent always beneficial and often times detrimental not only to ourselves but everything around us

When I was watching game of thrones , I couldn’t point why it reminds me of the Dune Saga I thought it was just the idea of houses then watching your video now I understand why I felt like that.

All seven seasons of Game of Thrones. I'm hoping that was a burn rather than a slip up, hahah

You are of the sum! That sum made from multiple inputs.

Where on Earth did you shoot this? I like it,

Thank you very much for this very interesting video. Have you read "The Instrumentality of Mankind", by Cordwainer Smith? I believe Herbert did. A lot of similar ideas there

Frank Herbert put his money where his mouth was. He was deeply involved with psychedelic mushrooms here in the Pacific Northwest. I have found the Dune series to open and open and open as I also work with these mushrooms. There is a resonance that becomes quite clear when you are well ripped open with mushrooms. A laying on of hands .

Love this! Deeply appreciate your nuanced understanding of this seminal work! My understanding is that the Gaia Hypothesis wasn't publicly articulated until Lovelock and Margulis co-developed it in the 1970's. Since Dune was published in 1965 it does not seem accurate to say he was aware of it during the writing of the book.

Not bad writing for a guy living in Port Townsend, Washington.

12:50

Thanks, but transcendence is not 'from' anything and this is the dynamic at the heart of the story. Paul transcends his upbringing, and Jessica transcends her BJ role but Herbert is careful for the most part that they incorporate all that they were into the new. What is lost is thereby a real tragedy. The fight as I read it is not to lose as one transcends, and as one passes into bigger horizons hte struggle to retain humanity is the core of the story.

Lets not forget the Giant Worms Of mongolia that herbert pays homage to!

I’d argue Star Wars isn’t particularly medieval. Jedi have more in common with Samurai than knights (which still isn’t really a perfect fit). I realize this video is about Dune but it was mentioned so I feel obliged to comment lol

give me a break with the medieval there is computers and airplanes guns and atomic weapons deflector shields spaceships and what not in the books. You miss the aspect of the visions of the future that Paul get from the spice and his own mind and the following consequences on his world the whole series is a warning not to dabble in accurate predictions of the future as it will lock the events with no place for humans free will and open destiny. Read all 6 books to get the full picture of his tale.

That 4 part TV series was in fact the most watchable of the Dune tries keeping to the book as much as it could . The latest now is totally a directors lack of reading the books and respecting its content a movie for people who know nothing about Herberts 6 books made in dark grimy colors and making up new characters as the woke times dictate. Unpalatable for a long time repeat reader of Frank Herberts master piece.

While attempting to show how deep and meaningful the books are this analysis helped me sum up why I find the Dune story so underwhelming. It is science fiction without any intelligible elements of scientific novelty. Compare and contrast Bladerunner. It is also a grand fantasy of warring factions but lacks the necessary depth and variety of character exposition for us to care about the fantasy world presented. Compare and contrast Lord of the Rings and even, on a more modest scale, Game of Thrones

I think you're missing something

Um….ecological? Your analysis doesn’t touch this

Zendaya will forever be my Chani, the definitive Chani.

Never read the book. Never seen any movie or not even played the game. But always feel disgust whe it comes to Dune, this aesthetic ... 🤢 shaved women 🤮 (Worms are cool though)