Tag Line “We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”
First Quote “I don’t believe people are looking for the meaning of life as much as they are looking for the experience of being alive.”
• Thailand: Golden Buddha
Start of Film: Who is Joseph Campbell and why should we care?
• One story within all the stories – called The Hero’s Journey.
Circle Graphic:
o Wasteland o The call o Reluctant hero
1. Separation o Fear o Threshold Crossing o Magical Helper o Road of Trials o Night Sea Journey o Adventure
2. Initiation o Threshold Crossing o Apotheosis o Enter the Cave o Courage o Helpers o Belly of the Whale o Threshold Crossing o Rescue o Tests o Magical Flight o Dragon Battle
3. Return o Treasure
• Examples from contemporary film and from various commentators – story in all stories – philosophy, religion, history as well as fiction • Hero’s Journey is a pattern or algorithm • Storytelling is generally about people learning things • If there is one map we should be able to use it in our own lives • We like heroes in movies because they speak to the seed within us that wants to pursue our calling • An iconography for how to live life
Second Quote “The function of mythological symbols is to give you a sense of Aha! Yes. I know what it is, it’s myself.”
• The most important thing that the myths teach us is to go beyond the presumed limits of ourselves • Campbell thought that myth was a narrative about the psyche • Problem: many of us are metaphorically impaired • It’s better to have a story in order to look at life than an explanation – the story is richer • Story: tiger cub among a flock of sheep – the food we get from the culture