Post 27 – Mythic Journeys
Posted on | January 3, 2010 | 6 Comments
I’ve talked a lot in recent posts, about myths that artists carry around that, unacknowledged, can thwart their creativity. I’d like to change tack a little and talk about myth itself. Myths are important to the development and cohesion of a society, and often art is where the myths are codified and perpetuated.
The early Greek plays were often almost religious ceremonies, where the mythos of the people was presented in an exciting way. Most, if not all, art during the early days of Christianity was for the purpose of expressing Christian stories, philosophy, iconography and ideology. This was true through the “age of enlightenment”, which started in the 1500′s with the alchemists and went into the late 1700′s. Even during that time, “enlightenment” or “reason”, which were the buzz words of the age, if you’d allow me to use a dreadful anachronism, were couched in terms that agreed with, or at least didn’t greatly break from, religious thought.
Joseph Campbell talked long and interestingly about the “Hero’s Journey” and how it relates to modern Western society, and he said it much better than I could hope to (that word does creep in, doesn’t it!) but here I’ll make an attempt to add to that discussion.
The hero’s journey in Western myth, as described and defined by many people who have studied it, (briefly and condensed) starts with the hero having an opportunity that makes a change in his life, creates an entirely new situation. There is then a change of plans, or a second turning point. He reaches a point where he can no longer go back (the point of no return), then a major setback, after which he gives his final effort, leading to the climax, then resolution. This “formula” is an interesting thing to take into your writing.
I don’t in any way advocate forcing your story to meet these story points. The reason for presenting them is that, we in the West are already attuned to this journey subconsciously, because our stories and myths, the ones we hold inside, the ones we learned to interact with others with, the ones we subconsciously live our life through, have followed a version of this timeline. It has become ingrained in our thought process. If this is so, it would serve the artist to tap in to this structure in order to talk directly to the readers’ innards.
A great example of where this was used very, very consciously was in the movie Star Wars. George Lucas studied Joseph Campbell and very purposefully and directly used his ideas of the hero’s journey in the script of his movie. Whether or not you personally like Star Wars, you must admit that it entered into the national consciousness very, very quickly and has continued to live there for many years. (Even given the horrible second trilogy that threatened to dethrone the original three! Just my opinion.)
I am not one to espouse a formula in your writing or creation of art. I love experimentation and risk in art. I do, however, see the power of studying what others have done that has worked for them, adjusting that to your own voice and using it with abandon!
~Geoff Hoff
Co-author of the how-to guide On Writing a Short Story.
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January 3rd, 2010 @ 3:03 pm
Great post Geoff –
I am a great lover of myth, in fact I’ve talked about it a couple of times in the last week on my blog, both in terms of my work as a planetarium presenter and in my response to seeing the film Avatar. I’ve also studied with a fair amount, and I have to say that while I think the Joseph Campbell has some interesting ideas, I think he takes the much too far. To my mind, Campbell seems to think that the “hero’s journey” is literally the same in the mythology of every culture.
When we look at mythology, I think it’s important to consider the culture, and worldview of the people who told the myth, and also the culture and worldview of the people who collected the myth. In the same way that black is the color typically associated with death in the West, but white is the color typically associated with death in China; different mythology has different meaning in the context of the culture and worldview that it lives in.
That may or may not be significant if you’re looking for inspiration in terms of how to structure your writing. But, it’s something that bothers me enough, in enough places, but I find it hard to restrain myself from pointing out.
Take care,
Andy
HTTP://binauraljourneys.com
Andy Dolph´s last blog ..Starting 2010 with a different kind of resolution
January 3rd, 2010 @ 3:11 pm
Andy,
No need to restrain yourself around me! If you notice, I am very careful in my essay to say “Western” society, “Western” myth and “We in the West…”
I quite agree with your assessment of Campbell. I also know that other cultures, other lands, other peoples and other languages have distinct mythology and distinct view of archetype and story structure. Their instincts and subconscious are shaped by a completely different story from ours.
I have planned (and mention it in one of my other posts) to do an essay on distinctions between story structure in other cultures, but have not yet done the required research.
Thank you for your thoughts, as usual.
Geoff´s last blog ..Wage War on Christmas – A Warped Holiday Story
January 3rd, 2010 @ 3:53 pm
The important thing is to tell the story so that it is understood by those who read it. Art is communication and it must communicate to its viewers and readers.
The myth has created the perfect genre for storytelling because it rings true.
I find it fascinating to read other cultures because of the myths they carry forward.
Sheila
Sheila Atwood´s last blog ..Internet Marketing Workshops and Seminars 2010
January 3rd, 2010 @ 9:04 pm
I think, what you describe as Campbell’s “Western myth”…no matter where it originated from…is gone from much of Western writing.
I love to visit with my Chinese Dr…. (who is not Asian but a fellow from SLC who went to China to study Chinese Med…. married an Asian gal and has two fine boys.)
He says that Asian thought is very different than Western thought. He says that present Western thought comes out of early German Psychiatry and we have been greatly influenced by it since around the turn of the century.
If this is true… psychiatry thought process cannot help but influence Western writing and art.
I personally find it to be self centered and without the “Soul of good vs evil” and Heros that inspire.
I think the reason Star Wars was such a success is that our very being seeks for the good… the light… the dream (and the dirty word…”hope.”) The popularity of the “Secret” is another example of the yearning of the Western heart.
I enjoy the writing of other cultures…myth or not… it touches my heart more profoundly than so much of current Western authorship.
(just my little point of view.)
Kathy – Insightful Nana´s last blog ..Choosing Paint Color – Paint Color Decorating
January 4th, 2010 @ 12:46 am
Hi Geoff, I like this: “I love experimentation and risk in art. I do, however, see the power of studying what others have done that has worked for them, adjusting that to your own voice and using it with abandon!”
It reminds me of my old teacher of the guitar. He told me to study what others did. Learn it all by heart. Practise, practise… And then: Forget all of it and play what YOU want to play!
C ya!
Claus
Claus D Jensen´s last blog ..Affirmations for Reprogramming Your Mind
January 4th, 2010 @ 8:50 am
Claus,
It is interesting to me when someone looks at a Charles Ives or even John Cage and conclude that form and discipline don’t matter. If you ask either Ives or Cage, I’ll bet they say they studied their hearts out before they were capable of doing what they did experimentally.
Thanks for your post!