Vogler's discussion of the Hero's Journey and the 12 stages as it relates to the movie The Matrix. In 1985 Vogler wrote a 7 page memo to Disney excutives summarizing Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a 1000 Faces. In the memo Vogler tells excutives to look for these 12 stages when critiquing a script and when determining whether or not to produce a script.
Describe the stages of the hero-myth cycle in a modern day film. Discuss the hero-myth cycle using the six terms from the hero-myth handout. Finally, what is Henry's "call to adventure" in "Red Badge?"
Alex K.
ReplyDeleteThe hero-myth cycle in modern day films is a little bit different than the one in our packets due to the fact that there are 12 stages instead of 6. The hero-myth cycle in modern films has the same 6 major stages but it adds baby stages in between these to show full transformation. The call to adventure is an opportunity that arises where the hero must make a decision on whether to get in or stay out. Next the hero will meet their mentor who will help lead them on their journey to come. The mentor may not always be obvious or guide them directly to the right path. Now a hero must greet and conquer new obstacles that come before him. When a hero over comes their greatest obstacle they have fulfilled their quest. Finally a transformation takes place and the hero will not want to return but they must if they are a true hero.
Henry's call to adventure is when he is faced with battle. As stated in the video the next step is the refusal of the call. Henry decides to run away from the battle and refuses his call to adventure.
Alex, can you think of a modern day myth/ movie that fits this pattern? George Lucas and James Cameron both use this pattern to tell stories. Class, start naming Hollywood block busters that fit this pattern. Why would "Red Badge" fit this pattern?
ReplyDeleteMiranda G.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most famous movies that fit the hero-myth cycle, is Star Wars. In Star Wars, Luke Skywalker is the "hero" called to adventure. He is called to fufill his destiny of saving the galaxy and Princess Leia. The next step in the hero-myth cycle is meeting the mentor, which in this case is Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan provides Luke with guidance and wisdom throughout his journey, as do many other mentors to other heros. The next step in the hero-myth cycle are the obstacles which the hero must face to successfully fulfill his destiny. In Star Wars, Luke has several obstacles that he must overcome in order to fulfill his journey, but the most famous obstacle is defeating Darth Vader. Next in the cycle is fufilling the quest, or recieving a reward, and in terms of Star Wars, Luke recieves recognition and a special metal for his heroism. Next in the cycle is the hero returing home. In Star Wars Luke does not actually return home, but he returns to a life of normalcy and leaves behind his life of being a hero (for now). Last on the hero-myth cycle is the transformation, and in Star Wars, Luke Skywalker transforms from a youthful farm hand, to a maturing apprentice, lastly to a mastered Jedi.
In "Red Badge of Courage" Henry's call to adventure, is the pressure to enlist and the call to battle. Henry is encouraged to join the army through a series of events. What makes this Henry's call to adventure is that he chose to enlist himself, and it is not forced upon him.
To answer your question, Mr. Seamans, "Red Badge" would fit they cycle because Henry has his call to adventure when he enlists in the army. He has so far overcome the obstacles of fighting with self, fighting in a battle, and running from a battle. I believe that Henry will find a mentor in one of the older soldiers who will help him overcome his fear of dying and reach his full potential of being a good soldier. I believe that Henry will, in the end, transform into a mature passionate soldier. This would complete the steps in the hero-myth cycle.
Sarah M.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with Alex regarding the different hero-myth stages. I could only think of a couple movies that might relate to the hero-myth cycle. The first would be Harry Potter because Harry's life is filled with decisions he must make in order to overcome obstacles in his life. The second could be the Wizard of Oz with the main character being Dorothy. She has the mentor of Glinda the Good Witch who flys in a bubble giving advice and essentially watching over Dorothy. Dorothy defeats the Wicked Witch, and successfully returns to Oz so as to fufill the Wizard's quest. I guess Dorothy is only a true hero to those in the Land of Oz, but thorughout the movie she can be percieved as one.
Vee C
ReplyDeleteModern day Hero-Myth Cycles and the one in the packet go hand in hand; modern day is more detailed and gives more description while the packet goes straight to the main points stressing detailed descriptions.
Some hero-myth movies are Jurassic Park, Matrix, Star Wars, and Unstoppable
In the red badge of courage Henrys call to adventure is when we enlisted him self in the war not knowing what is destined to happen to him. Henry is already paranoid about the war and what he is going to do about it when and if it actually happens. He turns to the other soldiers for help and advice thinking that what they have to say could help him get rid of his fears of the war. The obstacles that stand in his way are paranoia, his cowardly feelings and the wrong ideas he has for enlisting in the war. Even though Henry faces these obstacles in order to fulfill his quest he has to stay in the war so the other men won’t see him as a coward. Also so he could fulfill his idea of being patriotic and heroic. As time passes I think as a soilder and a young man Henry will realize that the reasons he listed in the war were unethical and at the end he will understand the real definition of heroism and the whole idea of war and why people join the war.
Jake B-
ReplyDeleteSam Rami's spiderman has the hero-myth cycle present in his reboot of the series. Peter Parker is a high school student who is very nerdy, doesn't have many friends, and is frequently getting picked on by his fellow class mates. He is very uncomfortable in his environment which completes phase 1. Phase 2 is broken down into two different parts. the first part, is when he get's curious about the radioactive spider and get's bit, thus giving him his super powers. The second part of phase 2 is when he goes to the wrestling match and wins, to find out that he isn't going to get paid the full amount he was suppose to get. This leads to him allowing a robber get by who eventually ends the life of his grandfather. This leads Parker to follow his grandfathers murderer, and kills the suspect, completing phase 2. In phase 3 he starts to get very nervous and worried about what he had just done, however did it out of vengeance. He overcomes the fear of harming anyone else and realizes that he can use his super powers for good, to save the city. In the next phase, we really see him use his powers to full effect. He starts saving citizens and people start to know that the friendly neighbor hood spiderman is here. It's in this moment that we see him developed as a superhero and he now understands his duty and his adventures begin. After this, Peter separates friend from foe,following the uprising of the Green Goblin. Spiderman must now approach The Green Goblin as his enemy and prepares himself for what is down the road, as well as the struggles that he will endure. There are actually multiple phase 8's in spiderman, where he fights the Green Goblin and loses most of the time, which intervenes with phase 9 where he has to collect himself and realize what/how his approach of attack must go in order to defeat him. The 11'th phase in when he fights the Goblin one more time, however now he knows how to kill him and he does so successfully. All this concludes with the 12th stage where he feels he has changed and developed as a whole.
In the Red Badge of Courage all of the men who have been complaining about the constant marching, more so focusing on Henry, his call to adventure has been the whole process so far from him enlisting, and him realizing the person that he is because before he enlisted, he thought he was a brave young man who was ready for anything, which wasn't true because he starts to question him being there. He also is faced with his first battle which does not go how he had imagined it would.
Sarah G.
ReplyDeleteIn modern day films hero myth is used a lot. We want to look at them as though they are good not evil. For example Batman used hero myth by saving people on a daily basis. In the movies we want to believe that there are good people and not evil. In reality we don't want to face the evil's in this world. Batman is suppose to save Gothem while the Joker is suppose to destroy it, there has to be one good and one evil.
Henry's calling is to be in the army, while his mother doesn't want him to join he believes it's what is right to do but he does not understand what he is getting himself into. He wants to be the modern day hero but isnt because he ends up running away. He wants to be a hero but he doesnt necessarily have "what it takes to be a hero".
Tim M.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with Sarah on the fact that we want to look at people as heroes not villains. There are many examples of the hero cycle most popular of course in the super hero movies based off of old comic books. A good example of a hero in the hero cycle would be Indiana Jones, he’s called to adventure against mainly the Nazi’s in the series of movies. The Nazi’s were seen as terrible people and Jones has to fight them off get the artifact from them to prevent world destruction. Henry’s call to adventure is enlisting in the army in hopes of becoming a glorified hero on the battle field. He does not know what it honestly takes to be a hero in battle though.