Rhetorical Analysis of Four Modes:

Book: Night by Elie Wiesel

When Elie Wiesel gave a Western Heritage Lecture a few months ago it was impossible not to see the pain in his eyes. The pain that I saw in Elie’s eyes was extremely similar to the pain that John Prendergast spoke about at a CPS event about Darfur. It was because of this that I decided to use Night as my textual support for project three. The book also has many themes and issues that are similar to or the same as those found in Darfur. Night is the firsthand account of Elie’s battle to survive the Holocaust in Germany. The Jewish were herded into concentration camps in which they lived with little supplies and under terrible conditions. People in Darfur are faced with the same issues of starvation and disease as well as daily violence that is captured in Night. Both the genocide in Darfur and the Jewish holocaust through the eyes of Elie Wiesel show the deterioration of humanity and assumption that all people are initially good.
After the Jewish Holocaust people began to see question how it was that it went on for so long without anything being done. You could now ask the same question about the current genocide taking place in Darfur. Will America look back on this act of genocide and wonder why it was not stopped sooner? This textual source relies mainly on the rhetorical appeal of Pathos and the strong emotional feelings it provokes There is also a hint of Ethos in Night because of the closeness the reader feels to Elie Wiesel and the sadness when he personally deteriorates throughout the book.. The appeal of Logos is also evident in Night because it is a witness’s recollection of events that as far as we know are factual. Using Night will be a great way to teach an audience about the genocide in Darfur because of the similarities between the two and the intense emotional value behind both.


Film: The Last King of Scotland

I chose the film The Last King of Scotland because of its relevant place geographically as well as the extreme misuse of power and violence in the movie. The government in both Darfur and The Last King of Scotland misuse their place of high status and power to inflict pain and violence upon the civilians. This source again focuses mostly on the use of Pathos in its ability to invoke strong emotions of sadness, anger, remorse, etc… The film compliments the book nicely because for someone who is visually inclined or doesn’t prefer to read the film touches on many of the same themes. Anyone who is compassionate will feel for the characters in this movie and should therefore feel for the victims of genocide in Darfur. If an audience can generate emotions for actors than they will surely feel for people actually living a nightmare similar to The Last King of Scotland. In choosing this movie I was thinking about something that would compliment Night, have similarities to Darfur, and generate real emotions.


Song: “Orange Sky” by Alexi Murdoch

When John Prendergast spoke at the CPS event he told a story about a woman and her young children who were captured by the devil on horseback. She watched two of her children be killed in front of her as she tried helplessly to protect them. It was with this story in mind that I chose the song “Orange Sky” by Alexi Murdoch as one of my sources. The song talks about the incredible relationship between brothers and sisters and the happiness they bring to each other. The lyrics and title of the song also talk about the “Orange Sky” that brings and image of the sun setting in an African village to my mind. In times under the harshest circumstances the people you turn to are your friends and family. After all is said and done your family will be there for you and provide you with the love and support you need to survive. The song taps into the appeal of Pathos once again and the emotional value of family. Not only is this song quite pleasing to listen to but it provides another dimension to the genocide in Darfur; this being the power of family in a time of ultimate need.


Art: Photographs by Michael Specht

The artwork that I chose by local Saint Petersburg artist, Michael Specht, was incredibly powerful. I came upon one of his photographs in the art show at Eckerd a few weeks ago and right away I was captured by its aesthetic strength. This particular photo portrayed the back of a black man who had his arms stretched above his head. His position made the muscles in his back pronounced and defined and brought thoughts of Black Power to my mind. When I went to Michael Specht’s website I found more photographs similar to this one that all pictured this powerful black man. Thinking about these photographs after having seen them I couldn’t help but to connect them with the idea that the genocide in Darfur is an Africa-Only problem. Although many people in the U.S. think this is the case these photographs had a certain amount of sadness that might help to show people the absurdity in this idea. The black man featured in the photos is strong, resilient, proud, but there can also be found tension and sadness in his figure. These art pieces once again generate appeal of Pathos and have power in the emotions they provoke. For an audience who had not been emotionally moved by any of the other sources these photographs will surely do the job.

Toni Morrison Interview:
Summary:
The interview starts off with Toni Morrison speaking about her book "Love" and the assimilation of blacks into the American culture. They then go on to talk about the lack of black businesses and how people are being pulled into working for larger corporations. Toni talks about the parallel between two characters in her book and the neighborhoods that they live in. Then the conversation switches to "Beloved" and the idea of this work being a masterpiece. Toni doesn't believe it is a masterpiece and she explains it as "less romanticized" than her other works and this is why it appeals to people. "Beloved" appeared to her after she quit her job and felt liberated and free from the constraints. The interview goes on to talk more about her books in depth as well as various other things.

Reflection:
One thing that Toni said that I completely can relate to is the idea that the only thing important to her is writing her books and being a good mother to her children. It was especially interesting to hear her talk about how she created her characters from people she knew and could write well and then she placed them into context. I absolutely loved that she considered all of her characters winners because of their experiences in which they learn something of great value. It is this that makes them a winner and not necessarily the character they are in the book. Her advice about writing and the little things to remember was things that teachers have told me for years but I never actually believed. It was interesting to see her talk about her writer/celebrated self verses the person she knows who is just the writer. She believes she hasn't yet done her best work which is something that is very admirable. I hope that someday I can be so certain that I can do better work than I am doing.

Reaction:
This interview relates in many ways to what I am learning in many of my classes. I have just gotten into African American stories in my short story class and they seem to have similarities to Toni's works. She compares her male and female characters which is what I just finished crafting in a paper. She says that her mind is what makes her interesting and it is not her life. "Her heart, soul, and skill" is what makes her who she is and the great writer she is. This makes me really think about who I am and whether or not it is my life that is interesting or my mind, or neither. Toni Morrison seems like a truly wise woman who you would learn a great deal from. She could read to me for hours...


Questions:
1) Do people always write what they know? Does this create the best works?
2) Does creating characters that are winners make for better stories?
3) Do you think your life is interesting... or is it your mind?

The Simpsons as a Critique of Consumer Culture:
Summary:
This article focuses on the comparison between the FOX sitcom “The Simpsons” and the consumer world of America. Each character in the show stands for a certain idea or symbol in American life and culture. The Simpsons family together is the exact representation of a middle-class American family who is stuck in an inescapable capitalist world. Homer represents the man who is working at a job he hates but has to stay at because of the money it provides for his family. Marge represents the classic house wife who gets little respect or attention from her husband and whose place is in the house. Lisa is the character who represents “rationality” in the Simpson’s world which puts her in the minority group. Bart’s character represents the injustice and cruelty of the American educational system. Along with the different characters all representing certain universal themes in everyday life the episodes are centered on issues like politics, the environment, and capitalism.

Reaction:
The topic of this piece of writing was something that I had never even thought about before, not that I’m an avid “Simpsons” watcher but I have seen the show. I am assuming that while watching it I noticed how Homer treated Marge or how Lisa was always the one with the good ideas but I never put it together that the issues were symbolic. The fact that the show is “not personality driven; it is about the conflict of ideas” is extremely interesting and makes the show unique in its way. I also thought that the portrayal of the two political parties being the “two sides of the same evil coin” was not only clever but had a lot of truth behind it. The candy which is symbolic for any addiction in a society, drugs, food, sex, etc… was an interesting scene especially when Marge argued against the addiction but gave in to Homer in the end. It shows the male dominance over women and the expectation that women do what their husband says to make him happy. Although this assumption is becoming less and less prominent in American culture as women are beginning to focus more on career as opposed to family, it is still extremely evident in households. Lastly, the entire picture that “The Simpson’s” portrays is disappointing and sad because of its truth and reality when it comes to middle class American families.

Reflection:
This reading definitely correlated with last week’s reading of Simone de Beauvoir’s “The Second Sex”. It is evident in reading this text and watching “The Simpsons” that Marge is made to feel like the Other and she fits right into the cast made for American women in today’s society. Her job is within the house, cooking, cleaning, and fulfilling the wishes of her husband. It is so sad to think that most people in the U.S. are of the middle class standing and that this is a reality for them. I know that my dad hates the job he is at right now but he doesn’t have any other choice because he has to make enough money to support his family. He is trapped inside the system of capitalism and nothing short of winning the lottery can get him out of it. I never would have thought that an animated television show would have so much insight into the way things actually work and the lives of millions of middle class Americans.

Questions:
1) Do you agree that Democrats and Republicans are on either side of an evil coin?
2) Can you think of another character from a show, book, movie, etc… that portrays capitalism?
3) Are children in public schools predetermined to fail?

Four Modes For Project #3:



Book: Night by Elie Wiesel


Film: The Last King of Scotland




Song: October Sky by Alexi Murdoch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XymNd2JyS68


Art Piece:

www.michaelspechtphotography.com

Click on Fine Art/Beauty
Click on Male Images
Click Last Three Images on Left Side of Screen

Sometimes friendship is only desired when it is convenient.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt0bKL0rJZM


The seed of mental illness is in the person although the environment can aid in the downfall.
http://lifewithoutbuildings.net/wordpress/lifewithoutbuildings.net/html/2008/06/080617_elmgreen-dragset-1.jpg


College can have an intense impact on a person's life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVTyLqkez6A

Simone de Beauvoir’s “The Second Sex”
Introduction: Woman as Other

Summary:
Simone de Beauvoir starts off this piece of writing by asking the important questions that are at the bottom of understanding women’s role in today’s world. What is a woman? This question is not easily defined; you can say that a woman is a woman because she has ovaries for example but does this really inhibit everything that it means to be a woman? Some women spend their time trying to roll with the men and be considered as an equal to them showing that women are “haunted by a sense of their femininity.” There is also a negative connotation when you refer to yourself as a woman, whereas when you refer to a man it is positive because man represents the entirety of human beings. Simone talks about how the woman is thought of in relation to and as a part of the male form, stemming first from Adam and Eve. Women are also thought of as the “Other” when compared with men who are seen as the “Absolute”, which pushes women outside the normal frame and into the category of the outsider or foreigner. The world is set up in favor of men; it is a man’s world, with everything from legal matters, to higher wages working in favor of men and women being so caught up in this system that they do little to change it. Religion, biology, theology, etc… was used to put up a case against women in showing their inferiority and instability as the lesser sex.

Reaction:
This section of reading was a great change from the Vogler reading because it was on a topic that I have done some studying about and it is a current issue. The idea that women themselves should feel some of the blame for being considered the lesser sex is one that I completely agree with. Although the bible and other early works set women up to be looked on as inferior to men it is women who have allowed this to happen over the years. There is much more unity to be found among the male sex and they consider themselves to be together in their work and in the world; whereas women refer to themselves as ‘women’ and there is little or no collectiveness in their efforts and way of life. Simone de Beauvoir says that women have “gained only what men have been willing to grant; they have taken nothing, they have only received,” and this quote shows perfectly the way I feel on this issue. In not demanding more from the world and from the male sex we have allowed ourselves to be put into the role as “Other” and we are only now realizing the unfairness of our situation. I also agree with de Beauvoir’s idea that in order to actually make any leeway or gain any understanding in this struggle all of the past speculations, ideas, and biases about what a woman is and start over entirely. In doing this it will be much easier to not keep resorting to the same arguments and evidence that people have been using for decades; it will allow for a blank slate which can then be painted with the observed truth about what being a woman actually means.

Reflection:
This reading brought me back to the class we had a few weeks ago in which Trip said something about all women being “at least a little crazy.” Not only did this comment make me quite irritated but it also showed me how even toady men are labeling and pushing women into the “Other” category without any sense of what it means to be a woman. Men take it for granted that they have everything in their favor from the moment they are born, to when they become director of a company, to their death. The world is set up in a fashion that caters to men’s needs, desires, mindset and ways of life; they don’t have to figure out ways to work around the system because it is unjustly set up to work against them or at least not for them in any way. The following quote does give me some hope, however, “In recent debates on the status of women the United Nations has persistently maintained that the equality of the sexes is now becoming a reality, and already some of us have never had to sense in our femininity an inconvenience or an obstacle.” So perhaps what is being done for the justice of women is having some effect on our society and the world we live in… but it is still not even close to being a resolved issue, much like racism.

Questions:

1) To the males of the class… Do you feel like the world is set up to cater towards men? Are women at a disadvantage from the time they are born?

2) What issues can be seen today that support the notion that women are the weaker, inferior sex?

3) To the females of the class… Have you ever felt that your sex ailed you in any way? For example, you didn’t get paid as much as a male, you didn’t get picked because you were female, etc…

Stage Seven & Stage Eight:
Approach to the Inmost Cave & The Ordeal:

Summary:
In this section of the Vogler reading we learn of the steps and ordeals that the hero will face in their approach to the inmost cave. There are many different things that the hero should be prepared for in this part of the journey like the illusions and possibility for a romantic spark and they must figure out the best way of addressing the cave, like a bold approach. The hero will face many thresholds in this part of the journey and they will have to figure out how to get past them and move on in their mission, for example, the hero may find that emotional appeal will help them connect with a threshold guardian. There are many dramatic complications in this section of a story and the audience is often reminded of the higher stakes, most likely danger or fear of death. Once the hero has entered the inmost cave they often find that they are faced with the impossible task of exiting the cave safely and this is when they will ultimately have to deal with a life verses death situation. The death and rebirth of the hero is a key moment in any story and it is essential in creating balance and a complete person at the end of a journey. The crisis can most likely be found in the middle which gives the hero enough time in the second half to deal with the ordeal, or the crisis can be delayed and found in the second part of a story. The hero then goes on to face their greatest fear in an ordeal in which they will need to be balanced in order to come out on top of.

Reaction:
I found this section to be a little overwhelming and scattered in ideas making it hard to follow at parts. I thought the idea that “nothing is wasted, and every challenge of the past strengthens and informs us for the present” is essential in overcoming challenges and becoming the hero you want to be. I also agreed with the idea that heroes must have a balance of confidence and humility in order to go into an adventure in a good state and ready for whatever comes their way. It is also important to recognize that “no one can go through an experience at the edge of death without being changed in some way” and that this is hopefully a change that will better the hero as a person and allow them to move forward in their journey. In stage eight of this reading section is when the information seems to become a bit random moving from the crisis in a story to “The Love that Kills” and “Going Psycho.” It was very unclear to me what these things had to do with each other and their importance.


Reflection:
Vogler talks about being able to tell a story from any of the character’s points of view and this is something that seems important in creating a balanced and all around better story. I would be curious to know what my personal memoir would look like from the perspective of the goddess, mentor, or enemy. Now that we have begun working on writing a research paper I think it is still important to understand the perspective or point of view that each source is being written from. You aren’t understanding the material completely if you cannot determine who the source was written by and what they’re trying to get across to the reader. There also seems to be a certain crisis even in a research paper just like a narrative or short story. The paper builds up with information and then establishes the evidence to support a certain theme or idea and then concludes with a wrap up of the information.


Questions:

1) Do you agree with the idea that you achieve a moment of apotheosis where you are godly and get to play the role of god?
2) How many people feel that because they have overcome an ordeal they have won the respect and approval of their parents which they were lacking before?
3) Has anyone ever felt the power of the Ariadne’s Thread?

Crossing the First Threshold & Tests, Allies and Enemies:
Summary:
In this section of the reading Vogler’s focus is on the first steps into the journey and the obstacles and people that the hero will meet. The crossing of the first threshold marks the hero’s first step into the unknown world and it signifies that they have “committed wholeheartedly” to the adventure. In trying to cross into the unknown world the hero may run into a threshold guardian who is placed there as a barrier that the hero must learn to get through. Once the hero has gotten past the threshold guardian they take a leap of faith into their journey that cannot be reversed once it is set into motion. After committing to the leap of faith the hero must now conquer tests that are put before the hero to prepare her for the harder tasks to come. The hero will meet people upon entering the unknown world and have to determine whether or not they are someone who can be trusted to be an ally of the hero. The hero’s enemy of the journey may also be recognized in this part of the story as the hero is familiarizing themselves with the new terrain and community.

Reaction:
The idea that the threshold guardian can be just an illusion or something that needs to merely be recognized is an idea that I completely agree with. We are constantly making obstacles in our way into much bigger problems than they really are. If every problem were dealt with in a head-on manner with an attitude of optimism and kindness we would find our lives much less complicated. There are valuable lessons to be learned from every step of the journey and the threshold guardian provides the hero with their first test which can be used to determine the hero’s character or personality. In life we are often faced with situations in which it is crucial to make a decision between taking a leap of faith or opting out. It seems to me that you will not gain knowledge or strength within yourself without taking these leaps of faith and believing that you can overcome whatever challenges are on the other side. In the Contrast section of the text Vogler brings up the point that the hero doesn’t necessarily need to leave their known world but there must be some kind of change or movement internally within the hero. This idea is extremely interesting because if this proves to be the case then we would be going through a hero’s journey inside ourselves every time we experienced a significant change.

Reflection:
In reading the section about the creation of teams that surround the hero and help them on their journey and in achieving their goal I could not help but think of The Lord of the Rings. Frodo is the main hero in this journey; however, he has a large group of friends who all have different skills and knowledge which allow them to overcome each challenge as a team. In the movie Batman Begins, Bruce Wayne is coached by his Mentor well beyond the first threshold and into the tests so that when the time comes Bruce has the skills to take on his supreme enemy. Reading Kafka’s Metamorphosis it is difficult to distinguish who is the enemy of the story or what exactly the hero Gregor is being tested about. Gregor is tested when his sister and mother start cleaning his room and taking all of his belongings away but I am still unsure what this test shows about his character or what it is preparing him for. The enemies that are evident in the story, like his father and boss, are not like traditional enemies that we see in other stories. It is hard to determine whether or not his father can be considered a true enemy even though he throws apples at Gregor and shows outward hostility toward him.


1) How does one go about challenging and testing their boundaries if they are too scared to take a leap of faith? Are they essential to the growth of us as human beings?
2) What is an example of a Threshold Guardian who is transformed into a valuable ally of the hero?
3) How exactly does the water hold allow for a musical sequence that announces the mood of the Special World? What is an example of a movie that shows the significance between music and plot?

Refusal of the Call & Mentor
Summary:
In this section Vogler takes the reader deeper into the hero’s journey and explains in detail the refusal of the call and the meeting and purpose of the Mentor. There are many reasons why a hero might refuse to accept their mission or adventure right away. One of the main reasons why the hero may be apprehensive to embark on an adventure is merely the fact that it has the potential to be life threatening or at least a little bit dangerous. The hero may also try to avoid having to deal with the mission or make an excuse as to why they cannot fulfill their calling. There are some instances when refusing the call is the wise decision on the hero’s part and then there are heroes that are more than willing to accept their call. The Mentor’s job is to protect, guide, teach, train, and provide the hero with magical gifts sometime throughout the story.

Reaction:
I thought it was quite interesting that the idea of a hero embarking on a journey has to have some element that is considered “dangerous or life-threatening.” Vogler says that in less there is an element of danger the adventure would not be considered real. I am not so sure I agree with this because there are plenty of stories that start out with a call to adventure that does not have a dangerous connotation. For example, in the movie “The Parent Trap” there is no definite form of danger when the girls are called to switch places. I’m not sure I fully understood the “Artist as Hero” section because it seemed like Vogler was saying that if you aren’t an artist than you don’t have to face contradictory inner and external callings. It was interesting to think of the mentor as an evolved hero, all the way from the fool to Hierophant.

Reflection:
While reading this section I was thinking about the first part of Kafka that we read last week. Gregor is trying to get out of bed, go to work, and perform his call to duty but he is unable to. He is a willing hero who is unable to respond to his call of duty and perhaps this was a positive refusal because of his feeling of dread when Gregor thinks about work. It is also interesting to think about whom Gregor’s mentor might be in the story if he is actually a giant cockroach. Or perhaps he has not faced his call to adventure yet and he will meet a fellow cockroach to be his teacher in all things that a roach needs to know in the big city. The idea of a mentor and hero having a relationship in which the mentor passes information and knowledge on to the next generation is a universal idea that is extremely important. Stories have been kept alive for centuries because of the passing from one generation to the next and the same goes for knowledge.

1) What is the significance of the artist as hero? Is this implying that you have to be an artist in order to have both an inner and external that are conflicting?
2) How does a mentor not being able to let go of the hero relate to parents and college freshman?
3) What are some examples of movies or stories in which the Mentor turns out to be a bad character that makes the hero’s life into one of crime or deceit?

Peer Review

The peer review was helpful because it allowed me to see what someone else thought of my work and what might still need clarification. When you are writing it is easy to not go into enough detail or make things clear enough, so having someone else critique your work is always a good idea. Everyone has different view points and ideas about what makes a piece of writing good and it can only make it better to form these into one.

The Ordinary World & Call to Adventure
Summary:
In this section of the reading Vogler takes us into the first stage of the Hero’s Journey, the Ordinary World, and begins discussing each part of this process in detail. Even before beginning the story there are certain things that can give the reader a certain mind-set or impression, like the title or prologue. It’s important that these things give the reader the right sense of the story and make it intriguing and grabbing. Once you move into the story the first obstacle you must tackle is usually creating an “Ordinary World” that includes the “seeds of excitement and challenge” within it. The hero must have both an inner and outer problem that they face sometime in the story; each of these problems builds up to the hero learning something throughout their journey. The author must then determine how they want their hero to be introduced to the reader or audience in terms of what they will be doing, acting, behaving, wearing etc… The opening act is especially important because it allows for the reader to find similarities and relatable qualities with the hero which creates a bond between them. Also in the Ordinary World the theme of the story is revealed and the appropriate backstory and exposition is provided. Moving into stage two of a story, The Call to Adventure, is when the hero is faced with a challenge that will transfer them from their normal, comfortable setting into an unknown world. The call may be brought along by the Herald archetype or another form of messenger, or it may be brought on by something within the hero. Often the hero has to be called into action more than once because the unknown world is not appealing to them and they are happy to stay in their current situation.

Reaction:
How the hero makes their entrance into the story seems especially important because it is the first chance for the reader to see what kind of a person the main character is. You can tell so much from the beginning scene with the hero based on what they are wearing, where they are, what they’re doing, speaking like, talking to etc… It is much like meeting someone for the first time, often we judge and stereotype a person right off the bat so having a strong opening scene where the hero is portrayed in the way that you want is key. The idea that the reader must identify with and feel equal to the hero is one that I am not sure I agree with. I do think that a character must be relatable in one way or another but I would not say that there needs to be a feeling of “equality” in any way. The idea that much can be seen by what characters don’t do or say, in a way what they hide, is one that’s extremely true. Often what people are trying to hide or keep inside their unconscious is the heart of their inner-problem.

Reflection:
The main thing that I was thinking about while reading this section was how each part connected to my story, or didn’t, and how I could use the different sections to better my writing. It made me think about things like my title, the first time my character is introduced, and the possible need of more/less backstory. Vogler also makes a point that audiences enjoy watching characters learn which was what the main goal of our personal memoir was. The idea of a hero “lacking” something is one that is very real and true even in each of our lives today. It is often the lack of something in our lives that drives us forward in our ambitions and pushes us forward into the unknown world. It shall be interesting to see how learning about each of the stages of the hero journey, broken down into detailed descriptions, transforms future memoirs into better pieces of writing.

Questions:
1) What exactly is the reconnaissance? Is this seen mostly in mystery stories?
2) What kinds of problems were evident in your “Ordinary World” in the beginning of your life story? How were they activated?
3) How exactly can “getting the audience a little off-base and upsetting their normal perceptions” make them more receptive? p.86

Revision Plan:
1) I think the part of the story that is still in the "known" world is at a good state with quite a bit of detail. My mentor's advice is something that has really helped me is at the heart of the story.
2) I really need to focus on the progression of the story and showing, not explaining, what I have learned throughout the story. I also need to focus more on developing the different archetypes throughout and include what actually happened and not a totally watered down version.
a) I will try to include more conversations and interactions with people that will give the story a more "real" feel.
b) In doing this I will simply have to overcome the idea of someone reading my draft and also figure out how to say what I want the reader to understand.

Vogler Archetypes Part Two

Summary:
This section of the reading continues with detailed descriptions of each archetype including the Threshold Guardian, Herald, Shapeshifter, Shadow, Ally and Trickster. When looking at the Threshold Guardian from a psychological perspective it is often that they symbolize a sort of internal barrier that is meant to hold the hero back. It is overcoming this and moving forward that shows the hero worthy of moving forward in his expedition. The Herald archetype signifies the coming of change in a story and is often the motivation for progression in the story. The Shapeshifter in a story is the character that can never be definitely trusted and is constantly changing form, either physically or mentally. Often the Shapeshifter in a story is the opposite sex of the hero and signifies the balance between masculine and feminine qualities that the hero needs to survive. The archetype of the Shadow represents the dark, looming uneasiness that is usually conjured from within the hero, like guilt, and must be dealt with head on in order for the hero to overcome and move forward. The Ally is a character who provides the hero with humanizing qualities and brings out parts of the hero that wouldn’t otherwise be seen by the audience. Lastly, the Trickster archetype is a character that provides lightness to some stories and keeps the hero in check. All of these archetypes help to progress the story along and advance the hero’s journey both physically and mentally.

Reaction:
I fully agree with the Shadow representing suppressed memories, emotions, or feelings, and that not bringing these into your conscious frame of mind will always come back to bite you. Many movies and stories lead to the hero having to confront suppressed feelings that could have been dealt with earlier and saved the hero a whole lot of suffering. I’m not sure that I fully understand the connection between the Shapeshifter and the need for masculine and feminine balance in a hero’s life. I can see how having both sets of qualities would aid a person but I don’t see how it fits in with the idea of a character transforming their physical and mental appearance. The book says that encountering an opposite-sex person to help the hero balance themselves is “an important step in psychological growth,” which I don’t really understand. The further exploration of archetypes has added to my knowledge of the components in a story and all of the elements that come together to progress and make sense of a hero’s journey.

Reflection:
In each of the areas that discuss a certain archetype there are many different directions that the archetype can take on. It would be interesting to break them down into even more specific groups and look at each one in more detail in regards to what they provide for the hero and the story in general. The idea that the Threshold Guardian is merely resistance that the hero must take into their body, learn from and then use in their future endeavors is one of great interest. It seems as though this could be a metaphor for life and the obstacles that we face every day and must embrace as knowledge and not a barrier in order to overcome them. Everything can be learned from and seen as just another experience in life and it is only when you get stuck on one that you will run into problems. Another thing that I found interesting in this section was the idea of projection, meaning forcing someone into taking on a personality or physical look that matches what we want them to be. Is this not what society does to us through media and propaganda every day?

Questions:
1) Do you agree with the saying “Make ‘em cry a lot; let ‘em laugh a little,” in regards to the dramatic and humorous sides to a story?
2) Does anyone feel that they have had a moment when they were struck by a Herald or realized that there was need for change in their life? What did you do about it?
3) Could the image of men (powerful, strong, assertive) and women (submissive, quiet, weak) have all started from storytelling and passing on these stereotypes?

Vogler Reading: Archetypes

Vogler Reading: Archetypes

Summary:
It is in this section of the reading that Vogler delves deeper into the Hero’s Journey in regards to people that influence his journey and what significance each of them have. The archetypes that we see in every fairytale, screen play, novel, etc… are all extremely similar to one another despite each stories differences and uniqueness. Carl G. Jung describes archetypes as “ancient patterns of personality that are the shared heritage of the human race.” It is important to not think of archetypes as definite roles in a story but instead of characters that are put in place to try to achieve a certain outcome. Through the universality of archetypes it is able for everyone to connect with and relate to these roles that can be seen in all cultures. There are many archetypes that appear in stories, however, the basic and most common are the Hero, Mentor, Shadow, Herald, Shapeshifter, and Threshold Guardian. It is by meeting and interacting with each different archetype in a story that the hero learns, grows, and creates a “complete human being.”

Reaction:
The idea that heroes teach us how to deal with death is an idea that I’m not sure I fully agree with. It is possible that in a very elementary and farfetched way a hero in a story could give some insight into death; however, death is not something that can be understood that easily. The three ways that the book explains death, by surviving it, being reborn afterwards, or dying, didn’t provide me with enough reasoning as to how heroes show us how to deal with death. I thought it was extremely interesting that the Mentor is often symbolic of a parent and could be filling in for the absence of a parent in the hero’s life. It is evident that someone with advice and answers is needed to help guide us at certain points throughout our lives, and parent or not, without them we would find ourselves lost at many moments. I am not completely sure that I understand exactly how an anti-hero comes to be. In the introduction Vogler talks about how the reader must identify and sympathize with the hero, and it seems unlikely that many people could identify with a villain.

Reflection:
This section of reading brought me to thinking about the short story we read last week, “A Good Man is Hard to Find.” I thought about each character and what archetype they might fit into and whether or not the Misfit could really be called a hero. By the end of the story the reader begins to feel a little sympathy for the Misfit but I am unsure if he holds all of the necessary qualities to be considered a hero in the story. The Grandma could be said to fill the role of the Mentor as she is talking with the Misfit and trying to guide him into doing the right thing and not kill them. I was also brainstorming about my own personal narrative as I was reading about the different archetypes and all of the possible places you could go with them. It was fun to try and match things like a Mentor’s gift with something in my story that I had to earn and that helped me move forward in my journey.

Questions:
-How exactly does the anti-hero theory work? Can someone who has committed a crime or performed an atrocious act really become a hero in the eyes of the reader?

-I thought the whole idea of a Hero’s Journey was for them to learn and grow… how can there be catalyst heroes then?

-How can a hero already have an inner mentor? Does everyone and it’s merely a matter of finding it within ourselves?

I was quite a fan of the “The Boxcar Children” series when I was young and although I cannot remember exactly which of the four children I identified with most I think it was more of them as a group that I enjoyed. The four siblings had spent a while living in a boxcar after their parents died and it was only when their grandfather found them that they moved into his luxurious house. The idea of living with little supervision was always appealing to me as was the idea of living a life of secrecy in a fort-like house. After the children move in with their grandfather they travel around and somehow always come upon crimes and mysteries that they work together to solve. The characters in the books were my age and it allowed me to dream about solving mysteries of my own. The books were always resolved perfectly by the end and I saw this as a major difference between the children’s lives and mine. The children had lived on their own for so long that they were able to pretty much take care of themselves while they solved mysteries that no one else could, making them all heroes in my young eyes.

“A Practical Guide”-Summary
In this first section of reading Vogler speaks about the universal pattern in all stories, no matter the culture or time period, and the process it takes to create the journey of a hero. All stories that follow the Hero’s Cycle have similarities in their set-up and yet they can be altered and made unique to a certain culture or to fit the author’s intentions. The hero’s journey was described beginning with his state in the “ordinary world”, continuing into the heart of the adventure and ending with the hero having gained something either physically or mentally, or both. Throughout the journey the hero has to overcome certain obstacles that interfere with their goal; in doing this they gain some sort of knowledge or insight and are changed people when they return to the ordinary world. There are certain symbols throughout the journey that are representative of “universal life experiences” and can be altered and adapted to fit any story. Vogler stresses the importance that the outline for the Hero’s Journey is not set in stone and there are endless possibilities as to where the story can go and the details that can be added throughout the piece.

Reaction-
I thought it was interesting and helpful that Vogler included examples of current films and television shows to illustrate his ideas and points. I liked that the steps and process of the hero’s journey were showed through diagrams and charts and were also broken down into twelve sections and then explained in great detail. A roller coaster was used as a comparison to the Hero’s Journey and I felt this was appropriate in describing the unknown path and fear that a hero must face in order to be successful. I was a little unsure about the idea of the hero becoming more attractive after they have completed their journey and what exactly this meant. A hero may seem to be more attractive because of their accomplishments but it is unlikely that they actually are and I would argue that it is more in the eyes of those who observed them before and after the journey. I also thought it was important to make clear that the set-up of the Hero’s Journey was merely an outline and could be altered and reworked to fit any idea, which Vogler did well.

Reflection-
This section of reading relates directly to what we talked about in class on Friday, meaning fairytale stories and childhood classics that involve some sort of hero. It was interesting that we discussed both male and female heroes and there is a special note about including women as heroes as well, and Vogler refers to “her” as he talks about heroes. The book is written in a fashion that makes reading it enjoyable even though there is a lot of information and examples packed into each page. I am beginning to see why we might have to pick a hero that relates to us in some way for an upcoming project. Perhaps the hero we choose and the journey that they experienced says something about who we are as individuals. This book seems extremely relevant to each of us at this point in our lives, not merely because the Hero Journey is all around us in films, books, etc… but because we are living our own epic journey. This universal system also links all cultures together creating a certain degree of understanding and civility between them.

Questions:
What exactly is meant by the hero becoming more attractive after the journey?
Is it really plausible to say that the Hero Journey will “outlive us all”?
Are there any heroic stories that follow a completely different outline?