Joan Marler -- interviewed for the Signs out of Time project


Joan Marler

Joan Marler worked closely with Marija Gimbutas as her personal editor (1987-1994) and authorized biographer, and lectures internationally on Marija’s life and work. She is a Consulting Editor (a former Executive Editor) of "ReVision Journal", Washington, D.C., and is the editor of The Civilization of the Goddess (1991) by Marija Gimbutas, and From the Realm of the Ancestors: An Anthology in Honor of Marija Gimbutas (1997). Her long-term work is to complete Marija’s biography.

In 1969, Joan earned a BA in dance and the liberal arts from Mills College in Oakland, CA, and an MA in Archaeomythology from Sonoma State University in 1997. She has taught courses in Archaeomythology at Sonoma State University, New College of California, and the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco where she has been an adjunct faculty member since 1996. She also taught modern, folk and ethnic dance for 26 years through Santa Rosa Junior College in northern California. From 1982-1996 Joan worked as an independent producer and radio journalist for KPFA FM, Berkeley, California producing programs on the humanities.

Joan is the founder and executive director of the Institute of Archaeomythology, an international, interdisciplinary organization of scholars dedicated to fostering an archaeomythological approach to cultural research with particular emphasis on the beliefs, rituals, social structure and symbolism of past and present societies. (Please see www.archaeomythology.org for a complete description of activities.)

Joan has sent along some articles for reading, which we have now posted on the website:

1) The Iconography and Social Structure of Old Europe: The Archaeomythological Research of Marija Gimbutas

2) The Beginnings of Patriarchy in Europe: Reflections on the Kurgan Theory of Marija Gimbutas

3) Warfare in the European Neolithic: Truth or Fiction?

PUBLICATIONS

Forthcoming:
“The Iconography and Social Structure of Old Europe: The Archaeomythological Research of Marija Gimbutas.” Collected papers from “Societies in Balance: World Congress on Matriarchal Studies,” Luxemburg, September 5-7, 2003.

“The Beginnings of Patriarchy in Europe: Reflections on the Kurgan Theory of Marija Gimbutas.” In The Rule of Mars: The History and Impact of Patriarchy. Edited by Cristina Biaggi. Manchester, Conn.: Knowledge, Ideas, and Trends, Inc.

2006
"The Myth of Universal Patriarchy: A Critical Response to Cynthia Eller's Myth of Matriarchal Prehistory." Feminist Theology 14, 2 (January 2006):163-187.

2005
"The Myth of Universal Patriarchy: A Critical Response to Cynthia Eller's Myth of Matriarchal Prehistory." Prehistoric Archaeology and Anthropological Theory and Education. Edited by L. Nikolova, J. Fritz, and J. Higgins. Salt Lake City and Karlovo: International Institute of Anthropology.

2004
“Marija Gimbutas.” In Notable American Women. A Biographical Dictionary. Completing the Twentieth Century. Edited by S. Ware and S. Braukman. Boston: Harvard University.

2003
“The Body of Woman as Sacred Metaphor.” In Il Mito e il Culto della Grande Dea: Transiti, Metamorfosi, Permanenze, 9-24. Papers from the Myth and Cult of the Great Goddess conference, Bologna, Italy, 24-25 November, 2000. Bologna: Associazione Armonie.
“Der Mythos vom ewigen Patriarchat: Eine kritische Antwort auf Cynthia Ellers Der Mythos von der matriarchalen Frühgeschichte.” In Die Diskriminierung der Matriarchatsforschung: Eine moderne Hexenjagd, 109-129. Bern: Edition Amalia.

2002
“An Archaeomythological Investigation of the Gorgon.” In Treasures: Studies in Honor of Ivan Marazov, 59-75. Sofia: New Bulgarian University.
Editor: “Fierce Goddesses, Great Mothers, and Yoginis: the Archaeomythology of Devotion.” ReVision 25, no. 1.
“An Archaeomythological Investigation of the Gorgon.” ReVision 25, no. 1:15-23.

2001
“L’eredità di Marija Gimbutas: una ricerca arrcheomitologica sulle radici della civiltà europea.” In Le radici prime dell’Europa: Gli intrecci genetici, linguistici, storici. Edited by Gianluca Bocchi and Mauro Ceruti, pp. 89-115. Milano: Bruno Mondadori.

2000
“Marijos Gimbutiene: archeomitologinis Europos civilizacijos.” Liaudies Kultùra, 7-17. Vilnius, Lithuania.
Editor (with Bonnie Dehler): “Archaeomythology.” ReVision 23, no. 1
Editor (with editorial board): “The New Millennium.” ReVision 22, no. 3, 2000. “Millennial Meanings: An Introduction”; “Generosity, Compassion, and Insight: An Interview with Members of the Segyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism” (with Susan Moulton); and “Fin de Siècle: An Interview with Sorrel Smith.” ReVision 22, no. 3, 2000.

1999
“A Response to Brian Hayden’s Article: ‘An Archaeological Evaluation of the Gimbutas Paradigm.’” The Pomegranate 10 (Autumn 1999):37-47.
Editor (with Susan Moulton): “Cultures of the Goddess, Part II.” ReVision 21(3).

1998
Editor (with Peggy Wright): “Cultures of the Goddess, Part I.” ReVision 20 (3).
“Marija Gimbutas: Tribute to a Lithuanian Legend.” In Women in Transition: Voices from Lithuania. Edited by Suzanne La Font. New York: State University of New York Press.

1997
Editor: From the Realm of the Ancestors: An Anthology in Honor of Marija Gimbutas. Manchester, Conn.: Knowledge, Ideas and Trends, Inc.
“The Circle is Unbroken” and introductions throughout. In From the Realm of the Ancestors: An Anthology In Honor of Marija Gimbutas. J. Marler, ed. Manchester, Conn.: Knowledge, Ideas, and Trends, Inc.

1995
“A Vision for the World: The Life and Work of Marija Gimbutas.” Comparative Civilizations Review 33 (Fall 1995):1-20.
"Lifework of Marija Gimbutas: A Vision for the World." ReVision 17, 3 (Winter 1995): 41-48.

1993
"Prayer." Poem published in: Writing for Our Lives, Creative Expressions in Writing by Women 2, no. 1.

1991
Editor: The Civilization of the Goddess by Marija Gimbutas. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco

1990
"The Power of Partnership." Interview with Riane Eisler. Yoga Journal, January/ February 1990
"Archaeomythology." Article and interview with Marija Gimbutas. Woman of Power, Fall/Winter

Belili Productions is offering Joan's complete interview on VHS as part of the Behind the Screen series -- see our ORDER PAGE for details.

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