Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth

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Summary: Power of Myth
Review: We watched "The Power of Myth" movie in my English class. It was an interview of Joseph Campbell. I did not really close attention to every word that he was saying. I am the type of person that has to have a background of everything that is given to her, a way that you can prove what you say. Myths are the exact opposite. It makes you wonder, yes I do like to wonder, but you need that sense of truth to everything.

He talks about the characteristics of a hero, and what a hero really is. We are learning about the hero's journey in class, which I think is very interesting. We can put that with everyday life. You can relate it to movies, and also books. I really like this part about the whole myth thing.

The movie exactly did not intrigue me much. It was actually kind of boring. I get more out of a discussion that we are involved in. There are some good things about movies, but not extremely long ones that make you want to go to sleep.

Myths are very interesting, but on the flip side they are kind of pointless. You have story that can be used to entertain, but when you need a true story, there is not a myth that is full of truth. It has been pasted down from generations to generations and as time has pasted, things have been added to it as well as taken away from it. Just like that telephone game. You never end up with what you started of with.

Myths are good altogether, but only for entertainment. Thomas Campbell is a well known man for his myths and writings. It is up to us whether we want to believe him or not and take the time to understand the way he is explaining myths.

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Summary: Boring, yet intriguing
Review: In my English class, we watched and noted Joseph Campbell's, "The Power of myth". I found it very inspiring but on the same note, I found myself fighting the urge to fall asleep. (I must not have put up a real good fight) I feel that more should have been done to make the video less challenging intellectually for younger audiences. (Yet at the time, I don't believe they figured students of our age would be watching this video) The video was so complex that it was challenging just to comprehend what he was saying. Though this is true, I was able to gather some important information from what he was saying.

In the video, Campbell told of some of the traits of a hero, some examples of stores told throughout history, as well as a new myth he was working on. I found the new myth he had planned to be very interesting. I had no clue that anyone in these modern day times was capable of creating a myth, or even had the interest.

I, too, am very fascinated with mythological stories. What amazes me most about them is how so many different cultures throughout the world, which had no relation to the other, managed to create stories so much alike. For example, the story of Noah and the flood, along with the creation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, are found in the Old Testament of the Bible. Versions of these two stories, along with many others are found in mythology of other cultures throughout the world. Along with the idea of different cultures creating stories of their own, many cultures copied each other in their mythological accounts.

Campbell devoted his life to discovering and researching world-wide myths. He once said, "It's important to live life knowing its mystery." I agree with that statement. Life, like mythology, is full of events which cannot be explained rationally.


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Summary: A Positive Outlook On Humanity
Review: "Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth" was an amazing and thought-provoking video that I thoroughly enjoyed. Although most of my peers might look on Mr. Campbell's words with a certain amount of disdain, I was positively rivetted by his impressive grasp of human nature, and the way it shows up throughout the stories we tell. Being a devoted Star Wars fan, I especially enjoyed the clips and discussion on George Lucas's original trilogy. It's truly amazing how we, as humans, place characters in stories we tell that fulfill the needs of the main character or hero. Even more astounding, however, is how we ourselves look for these archetypes in our fellow humans to fulfill our own needs.

For example, Luke Skywalker, the hero of the Star Wars trilogy, is surrounded by people who not only fit Joseph Campbell's archetypes, but also fulfill many of Luke's emotional and psychological needs. Ben Kenobi, the wise old Jedi that Luke accompanies to Alderaan, serves as Luke's source of wisdom and knowledge about things bigger than himself. Han Solo, the mercenary-turned hero of the trilogy, serves Luke as a friend and ally, offering encouragement and optimism to both Luke and Leia, a heroine of sorts, in times where there is little reason to be encouraged or optimistic.

However, the Star Wars reference were not the only reason I enjoyed this movie. Joseph Campbell managed to explain the entire struggle of human beings and our existence in so few words, and using only one archetype. The midieval dragon archetype, a fearsome creature who hoards treasure and beauty away from sheer greed, is a symbol of the way many human beings operate. In some people, they limit themselves because they are afraid, or uncertain, or insecure. They keep themselves from the bounty and opportunities life has to offer, and in that sense, they become their own inner dragon. However, when you refuse to allow your insecurities to keep you from your dreams and goals, you slay the dragon, and reap the rewards of your quest.

All in all, I learned much from Joseph Campbell in the brief time it took to watch "Power of Myth." My knowledge, however, does not only extend to myths, but beyond stories to life itself, and how understanding why we tell the stories we tell is so important.

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Summary: Shoot me now...
Review: Joseph Campbell thinks about thinking too much that it has become unhealthy. His nonsense ramblings with Bill Moyers damage the young, still functioning, minds of America's youth. Campbell's story telling skills are sketchy and hard to follow. Campbell believes that all myths are part of human's subconscious and that if humans make mistakes they are unaware of what they are doing. Maybe the myths from the past aren't related to the subconscious. Honestly, has anyone ever proved that this hidden mentality exists? We cannot touch, hear, or see this state of mind. Yet, according to Campbell it must be real, it has to be the root of all good and evil in the world. For every error in this world he blames it on some fluke attitude. Wake up Campbell! Its called the subconscious for a reason-its hidden.

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Summary: Power of Myth
Review: This past semester in my English class we watched the first segment of "Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth," which changed my life in many ways. At first I thought it would be a boring movie, Of course I know what a hero is, it's someone who saves somebody from a fire in a building right before it blows up, or even killing the "bad guy" right before he kills you. But, since I saw the movie my view of a hero was changed dramatically. Joseph Campbell was a well educated man. He believes every myth is related to religion in one way or another. He would use analogies to explain his beliefs. He talked about an assortment of subjects during the course of the movie. He explained the hero's journey. He gave some religious examples of heroes such as Muhammad, Moses and Jesus. He explained the three main religions of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. Not only did he give religious examples, he talked about modern day shows such as Star Wars. Now that I watched the movie I believe everyone who is living is a hero. When you are born you cross a threshold to the world known as the underworld. There are physical and spiritual heroes. A physical hero could be known as Hercules or someone such as that. A spiritual hero could be known from the bible such as Jesus or Moses. We live in a society where they judge people by there actions which give us our heroes. If everyone would watch this movie and understand they themselves are probably a hero to someone else might take a second look on things and understand the meaning of living. I enjoyed this interview and would recommend it to everybody.

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Summary: My Views on Heros
Review: In my 10th grade Honors English Class, we watched "Joseph Campbell and the Power of the Myth," Joseph Campbell is interviewed and talks about heroes in Mythology. Some of the points he made really changed the way I viewed things, and gave me a great comparison on heroes and real life.

First, he believes everything begins with a story. This really made sense to me because I feel that everything has to start from somewhere. It makes the most sense to start something with a story. Next, a hero has a moral objective. Her objective is saving people, a person, or an idea. She usually sacrifices herself for something. I think being a true hero is sacrificing your self for something. What could be more fulfilling that giving up your life to save something?

Joseph Campbell says that all heroes in myths deal with the transformation of consciousness and the hero is transformed by trials. Heroes definitely go through some transformation in their adventures. Of course, they have to be challenged, so they go through trials. In these trials they have physical and spiritual duties. Their physical duty would be to save someone or something. Their spiritual duty would be to win or to find superhuman feeling of being a hero and then sharing it with people. It makes perfectly good sense that they have physical and spiritual duties.

The main point that Campbell made that stuck out at me was that of Jesus and his temptations. He had three temptations. The first being he was asked to turn rock to bread. The second was when he was tempted to give up his soul to the devil to gain power of the world. The last one was when he was placed on top of Hera's temple, and told to get down. In my opinion, Jesus is definitely the world's greatest hero. Heroes have to go through temptations to test their faith in whatever it is they believe. Jesus was the master at keeping His faith. So this made me realize that a true hero never gives up, even when times are the worst.

These points really changed the way I viewed heroes. Before, I thought they were just a brave person who did good deeds. Now I realize that there is a pattern that heroes follow. Although these patterns about heroes were founded a long time ago, they still can be applied to modern day heroes. And now, I have help picking out who I truly believe is a hero.