Last week we examined the hero archetype, with particular attention to the contributions of Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell. We studied Campbell's hero's journey, and then I asked you to chart the hero's journey in a movie from the AFI Top 100 films. At this point you should be not only understanding what the denotation for the hero archetype and the hero's journey but you are also able to see it in action (The Matrix) in the movie you selected. My question here runs a bit deeper.
Post 1: Please summarize your understanding of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey. What are the personal implications of Campbell’s theory? What are the global implications? DO YOU SENSE THE AWE?????
Post 2: Please respond to another classmate's post.
As always, post must evidence authenticity, reflection and original thought. Please spend some time with this one (20 points)
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ReplyDeleteMy basic understanding of Joseph Campbell's hero's journey is that most of the steps he has mapped out apply to movies, stories, and books, but it's much deeper than this. These steps are not just a guide to a story, they apply to a real person's experiences as well. How else did the stories take these steps in the first place: human stories branching off from the truth. It's human nature to seek out information and a connection with other people or mataphorically "The Light". Life isn't easy, there are set backs. Common scence. Personnely, at the depth of the Hero's Journey, I see a life the way people wish it to be. Just as a writer may write a story where their protagonist is what they desire to be, but still at their depth themselves. The lives of human beings and the stories they tell shaped the rules to the hero's journey. This is the global aspect. At our depth human beings are more similar than different. I sence the Awe.
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ReplyDeleteMy understandings of Joseph Campbell's work is that he isolated the common themes to the tales from across the world. This is an excellent way to setup a story, movie, or book no matter what anyone says. When one makes a theory that must encompass many different elements/cultures one must make the theory vague. However, I think that Campbell's work has become so vague that it will work for anything with enough twisting and turning of the story in a similar fashion to how the myths of doomsday have been fit to the events of the day. With his work he has proven that all the people of the world are the same at the most primitive levels although this is a basic principle of psychology. I do not sense the awe but I do sense an easy way to understand some of the more complex aspects of humanity.
ReplyDeletejoseph campbell's work basically shows how every hero story is composed. when i think of any hero story, i can find campbell's structure. i find it intriguing that every story has that basis and they basically all revolve around the structure that campbell made. when using his structure, it really breaks down the story and makes it easier to understand. after watching toy story, i was amazed at how it was so easy to fill out the worksheet because all of the concepts applied to the story. it was as if the worksheet had been made specifically for that movie.
ReplyDeletei agree with kelsey. i think that campbell's ideas go much deeper than the storys and can actually be applied to real life situations. these concepts go much deeper than the surface and can be applied to most anything.
ReplyDeleteAccording to what I have learned and absorbed in class, Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey is the way to prove that all stories are just a monomyth, meaning they are based on the same idea, with almost the same order but with different twists. Since all humans are relate to the same thoughts and feelings,(Mystical Imperative proves this), the hero's journey is able to relate to all humans because the same squence of events triggers the same feeling in almost, if not, everyone. As I said before, hero's journey shows how stories are all a monomyth, and also, it is somehat a "cheatsheet" to show the pattern in stories. I think Campbell's theory is true in maybe 99.9% of all stories. According to Campbell and Jung, all humans are pretty much the same, and it is true. Through my eyes, the hero's journey was not invented by someone in particular but the human race in general. It was created through instinct, the reason why all people are similar. Like their theories about the unconcious, the hero's journey was made with basic instinct, without knowing that it is thought of. Globally, the hero's journey is the sequence of events that no "normal" human is able to undertake. With it, people have something to desire to be, to desire to have. Even stories that do not seem to have anything in common, with this, there is a connection, just like humans. Now that I have been exposed to these ideas, I definitely sense the awe. Almost as if a lightbulb sparked ontop of my head, I am able to understand more and more about the mystical and humans as well.
ReplyDeleteKelsey's idea caught my attention. It is human nature to seek a connection with other humans; and maybe most do not notice this, but it is true. One reason I am friends with my friends is because I found a connection with them. People find connections to the characters in the story. And I also agree that it applies to real experiences of a person, or at least their desires. There is always something that draws people to books, movies, stories, etc. and I am starting to think that the something is the connection to the hero's journey. Naturally, Campbell has given proof that humans are similar, but I would not agree that humans are more similar than different. Yes, the hero's journey shows that subconsciously, people have similar thoughts, instincts, and feelings. But I would say that those are the only similarities.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Grayson says about how Campbell's works relate to stories. Although I watched some of the other movies on the list that would have been extremely difficult to fit into the tamplate.
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ReplyDeleteLauren A
ReplyDeleteWhat I took out of Joseph Campbell’s hero theory is that even though all these heroes ventured on all these different quests, they al took the same journey. All hero stories follow the same pattern. Sometimes the pattern is easy to see and other times it is harder. In movies it is typically very easy to see how the protagonist becomes a hero. Almost all movies have a happy ending. Joseph Campbell was able to see the relation between thousands of stories. Even though the character is on their own road all heroes will walk the same turns and climb up the same hills. It is harder to comprehend this idea when you place the title of a hero on any person living in society, but Joseph Campbell said it could be done. I personally took out that anyone and everyone can become a hero, maybe not nation wide, but in a life time we are all bound to take this heroes journey. It tells me that all the world wide popularized heroes are not the only people I can admire and idealize. My next door neighbor could be my hero, but whether or not they are my hero they are a hero to someone. Joseph Campbell’s theory allowed people to realize everyone does share the same experience of living in this world and of being human even if they are a hero. I understand the awe very easily. I thought it was very apparent once I filled out the worksheet. All of a sudden all the connections of the human race that we have been discussing seemed to make sense.
Lauren A
ReplyDeleteI agree with Michelle when she talks about the mystical imperative and how she believes that the heros journey was invented by instinct. I had never thought about the idea of a hero and the heros journey being instinctevly created. I do think a hero is someone anyone could admire but I do think a "normal" human could become a hero. In many of the movies the class watched the hero was an average person, and they became a hero. I think that shows that the "normal" person can achieve what the hero achieves.
My understanding of Joseph Campbell's hero's journey amazes me in many ways. The explanations of what every hero must go through is the truth of sameness of all stories. They are monomyths, alike in so many ways it's creepy. Campbell's stories go beyond separations, such as religion and culture. Every myth and story from any group may be different in some ways, but in the end are all the same. Not only can Campbell's theory apply to stories and myths, but film as well. What awes me the most is that the hero's journey links all people globally, how we are all connected and the same (web of gems!).
ReplyDeleteWhat RJ said intrested me. I agree with his understandings of Joseph Campbell's hero's journey. I can also understand where he does not sense the awe in Campbell's theory, which is because of the basic sense of the theory. However I believe that the simplicity of Campbell's theory is what makes it so amazing and trippy.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I understand, Joseph Campbell was saying that the hero's journey did not originate from ancient Greek mythology. Although humans identify mythology as being the start of the hero's journey, this is not the case. The hero's journey is not an idea that was just made up, instead it has stayed in the subconscious of humans from times before Greek mythology. Although the Greeks put this hero's journey into different variations of stories, they are all the same story. Humanity experiences the adventures of life all the same, although adding in companions,tasks, and ordeals to make each person's story their own. This idea relates to the mystical imperative because it allows for people to realize that they are all on the same adventure in life, no matter how old these people are, who their family is, or where they come from. Joseph Campbell tells the world that no matter the journey, everyone is a hero if they are able to follow the pattern of a hero's journey. Although humanity is divided by the landscapes of the world, people on opposite sides of the globe can experience the same journey for an ultimate goal, the "elixir".
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Michelle said about the similarity between stories. Some stories may seem to have nothing in common plot-wise or character-wise, but the similarity of these stories is that they are following the words of Campbell. Also, she said that the hero's journey creates a desire for humans to be a certain way. Humans iconize the hero's from these stories because they want to change their ways to be a better person. This person can not be a perfect person, but they can be a better person. We relate to these hero's stories because we know in our minds that it is possible to go on these same journeys as these heroes, and with this knowledge humanity knows it is possible to be a hero themselves.
ReplyDeleteLauren V.
ReplyDeleteMy understanding of Joseph Campbell's hero's journey is that no matter how different hero's are, they all follow the same path. The hero faces harships and overcomes hurdles, has a mentor to guide them, faces the guilt of sin and then conquers something to gain redemption. What Campbell says about the Hero with a Thousand Faces makes perfect sense. Hero's represent one part of us or another and that is why we as humans, can relate to our heroes. On a personal level we can connect to the hero and on a global level we can all connect with each other, just like how our class can talk about something we can all relate to, whether its an emotional experience or a myth story. Learning about this makes me think deeper, look at people a little differently, like being more understanding and not so judgemental, always thinking how similar we all are because we're human. I do sense the awe!
My understanding of Joseph Campbell's hero's journey is that all heroes go through the same stages, but the stages are slightly altered into an infinite variety. The heroes journey relates to all stories and movies. I was skeptical at first, but was amazed at how the movie I watched followed the pattern of the hero's joruney. The heroes journey also relates to every single person. Every single person has also gone through the hero's journey. The hero's journey is able to connect every single one of us. I sense the awe!
ReplyDeleteLauren V.
ReplyDeleteI like how Hayden said that "humanity experiences the adventures of life all the same." This idea is so true, although there are differences with people, setting and the "tasks," the idea is still there. This was a great example of how the web of gems ties in. I'm still in awe how this all works and can see now how we all are living our own hero story.
I agree with what R.J. said. Joseph Campbell's hero's journey, takes one of society's most basic subjects (Storytelling) and found a common similarity that is found in every story. This shows how all humans are connected,and how we all have similar thoughts and ideas.
ReplyDeleteMy understanding of Joseph Campbell's theory is that every hero has the same basic story. Everyone's definition of a hero is different, but stories of heroes are often redundant. I think this happens because heroes stand out as someone that another person wants to be, but cannot at that surtain time. Most people think alike, causing everyone's hero to be similar. Everyone wants to see their hero face problems and then be able to overcome them and suceed. Campbell's theory on the heroes journey simply explains everything people want their hero to do or acomplish. I completely sense the awe. I had never sat down and realized that all hero stories are the same. Now that I have it shocks me that I could not have seen it before and that every hero does the same things.
ReplyDeleteFrom my understanding of Joseph Cambell's hero's journey is that everyone has some sort of adventure, no matter how small, that is structured the same for every other hero. The idea seemed strange and, frankly, not true, but after watching "The Godfather" I realized that the protagonist by societies views is a "bad guy," but his adventure did go through the same process as many other people who are seen as heroes. This taught me that everyone is a hero and that everyone goes through the hero's journey.
ReplyDeleteI agree with R.J. when he said Joseph Campbell's hero's journey, takes the subject, Storytelling, and found common ideas that are found in every story. With that in mind, when stories from different times and places are looked at, there are sure to be comparisons that prove that people are, have been, and will most likely be the same. This proves that this journey Cambell describes does speak truth about the nature of human beings.
ReplyDeleteCampbell states that every story told has the same pattern behind it. They follow the same basic journey of a hero. Each storyteller follows this pattern and reorganizes it in their individual way. The individuality shows difference in the sotries image and defines what the teller wants the readers to receive as a message. Every person can see some kind of refelction on his or her own life. Both the storyteller and reader think the same way. They inherit these character from birth. The most familiar character is yet retold again and again because it is important for people to revisit the idea. Peopel create heroes to guide their own journey. The individual's hero represent what they want to achieve. Their hero has something that they do not have. Whith the hero in front of them, they seek to reach the something and continue their journey.
ReplyDeleteCampbell's theory implies that every person is similar to one another in that they all follow the same hero's journey. They may be in different situations and environments yet still have in common the stages of the journey.
I sense the awe.
My understanding of Joseph Campbell's hero's journey is that all heroes are connected to one another. All heroes are connected because they must go through three steps to be deemed as heroes, and these steps are: departure, iniation, and return. My personal implications and the global implications are the same as my belief of a hero is the same as most of the people of the world. Joseph Campbell's theories have shaped the world into what we believe today story wise. All heroes are connected as they must follow similar paths in their lives to be deemed a hero. Everyone in the world is hero, good or bad, because everyone goes through a journey in their life. These paths change the hero's life as they go through a journey, experience death a couple of times, and meets with a mentor. Since all heroes are related, we are connected through the web of gems, or the awe. All the myth stories are the same, just told from different point of views.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Catherine as I also believe that people sometimes create heroes to guide their own journeys. The heroes we create are representing what we want to achieve. People are sometimes born to be heroes as they may be born with the great potential or smart instincts and great courage. All heroes are the same, just with different journeys, and because of this people in modern life have different lives and choose different paths to follow.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I have learned in class, my understanding of Joseph Campbell's hero's journey is that all heroes are basically the same. They may have completely different personalities. However, they all follow the same path. The only thing that really differentiates any story is society. A society's culture, beliefs, and morals filter the story but in the end, they are all similar. Joseph Campbell realized that myths around the world were almost identical. I believe that this is because many myths and heroes stem from our unconscious selves. We all know what we are looking for in a hero and so, we find ourselves being able to relate to that hero. As I watched Toy Story, I was shocked to find that it worked with the chart we were given. It was amazing to realize that we could apply what we have learned about Joseph Campbell to our everyday lives.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Harry. Everyone is on an adventure that follows the hero's journey. However I do not think any adventures are small. They are filled with distinct stages that cannot be explained as a small story. Some adventures may have many sub stages included in a single stage which may make it seem immense. The structural frame is the same and if brought to a basic level, all adventures are alike.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lauren A when she said that the hero's journey is easiest to see in movies. The journey is easy to see because of the way they walk you through someone's life as it changes. Movies also all have endings, which make it easy to see the change from the hero's life in the begin to how it was at the end.
ReplyDeleteMy understanding of Joseph Campbell's hero's journey showed me that all people have this instinct inside of them, that is driven by a deep force of emotions that trigger contributing to the greater good. When you look at the stories of heros and when you see these stories in movies, these are people who fulfilled their destiny and went out on their adventure. An adventure starts out before they ever go anywhere, where they find out the heroic act they must do. After that, it is followed up with events that eventually lead to the hero fixing a problem with the world in some way, and receiving a reward, which could be physical, mental, emotional, knowledge, love, almost anything. So since everyone has this somewhere inside of them, you can definitely see an awe because all heroes end up with the same destiny, to help those who didn't take the destiny to be a hero.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, Joseph Campbell discovered the similarites of all stories and what they share. He realized every story ever told is really actually the same. Campbell took notice to how each hero, whether in a present-day story or a greek myth, live through the same experiences. His discovery revealed the connection between each hero. Although they all take part in different adventures, misteps, and exploits, each one of the heroes undergo the same journey. The concept of the heroe's journey in each society's stories is not a coincidence; it uncovers how each human thinks alike and just retells the journey of the hero with different chapters but the same steps. Campbell proved how even though humans are physically seperated and apart, mentally we all think alike and are bonded together by being human beings.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Meghan's response. I believe we all want to be able to relate to a hero. Heroes' journeys are similar because heroes are created to satisfy our wishes, our desire to be different. Because most human's think similarly, our heroes end up having many common things in their journeys.
ReplyDeleteMeghan's post really stood out to me because I can see that she senses a repetitive plot in every hero journey. I would definitely agree with her and also add to how she talks about everyone expecting something out of heros. Everyone has this stereotype for what a hero needs to be but truly a hero is, like i said in my first post, anyone who accepts the need to accomplish a greater good. I can even connect this to a Disney movie, the Incredibles, where you see throughout the whole movie all heroes having this urge and need to fight for justice. It is in them because thats something in their heart.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading what Hayden had to say about Campbell. Everything she said made sense and is true. I agree that the hero's journey has just remained in "the subconscious of humans" from the past, even before the Greeks. Her belief on how the Greeks shared different variations of the same stories was very similar to what I stated, or at least what I tried to say. I, too, believe that people all over the world are able to find pleasure in reading stories because of that common journey.
ReplyDeletewhen i think of any hero or story the first thing that comes to my mind now is cambell's hero journey. i find it amazing how no matter what the story or who the hero is every step in campbell's hero journey can be found. all of mankind can relate to some of his hero journey in some way. campbell shows how all myths and stories connect to each other. everyone has a hero because everyone strives to be someone else but everyone's hero is repeating someone else therefore in some way we are all striving to be the same person in a way.
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ReplyDeletei love how meghans post states that hero stories are redundant. because although they can be in a completely different setting with different characters it is still all related. i also loved how she said that we are basically striving to be similar because we are all chasing heroes that are alike in a way
ReplyDeleteMy understanding of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey is that he has connected what all heroes’ go though. Almost all heroes have gone though their own different journeys that are all connected to what other heroes have been through. No matter if they are myths, books or movies the hero can relate to the steps that other heroes have experienced. Campbell has connected and shown how everyone in the world is similar, just like the web of gems. If people read a story or watch a movie and compare that to a different one that is nothing like it, most of the time there will be one similarity that follows the basic guide lines of a hero’s journey that Campbell has developed. The most awe that I get is the fact that even before Joseph Campbell put the hero’s journey into a theory it was occurring, might have been told in a different way but it was still going on before Campbell’s time.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lauren. I support the fact that every story ever told is really the same. Also that even though humans are physically separated, mentally we all think alike because it shows how we are connected ad it proves Campbell’s web of gems.
ReplyDeleteMy understanding of Joseph Campbell's hero's journey is that all heroes somehow connect to each other. Although each hero's journey may be different, they all go through the same setbacks and experiences. All heroes connect and their stories are somewhat similar. I never realized how many stories relate to a hero's journey, even if the story seems completely different. I also sense the awe. The web of gems throughout the heroes show how each hero follow a certain pattern in the journey.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lauren V and I also understand the "Hero With A Thousand Faces". Heroes represent the better of us and we can relate to heroes, which also makes us strive to be like them. We all have heroes we look up to which also connects us as a web of gems.
ReplyDeleteThe heroes journey shows all of the steps in the heroes journey and also breaks them into small specific parts. Most of the stories also connect to each other just like the web of gems that Joeseph Campbell wrote. Most of the movie and book writers use this theory to make an even better story about whatever they would want to write about. This device will make it easier for me to write my essay using this method of breaking the story into smaller parts and using that.
ReplyDeleteCambell's hero's journey is right on. It's crazy how that is exactly what happens in all of our stories today. He is dead on and i would say it is kinda scary. Most of us experience the call to adventure. Sometimes we back down but in the end curiousity always brings us back because we are only human and we like some epic adventures. Everyone has experienced a good safe place, like at the beginning of Campbell's hero journey. Our life is an endless cycle of Campbell's hero journey because we are always taking on new things. Heroes are us, and we are heroes too.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Pimlott, because it is true that we all really do think the same, we may be different in the slightest of things but at the base we are all the same. This shows Campbell's hero journey connects us all through the web of gems.
ReplyDeleteWow! awesome reflections by you guys. Impressive work
ReplyDeleteSorry This is late. Redemption Ms. G?
ReplyDeleteI saw many similarities in the heros journey to the struggles of every day life. The heroes journey is the steps we all take in our own lives but to a larger more dramatic scale. It comes from the steps of our lives because if it did not well we would not, could not relate to the heroes. The story begins and ends for everyone, but yet how it happens is mostly the same for everyone, it is the web of gems. We are all connected by the similarities in the way of how our lives play out. There is a great deal of awe in this sense of how we are al so closely connected.