Peer Review

After reviewing my paper, my peer, Corie, gave me suggestions on improving my paper and also good feedback.

One way was to add a little detail about what I learned throughout the experience to develop the lesson more. She also stated that my conclusion may end a little sudden. She also highlighted a few awkward phrases and spelling errors.

She thought my story was engaging and hooked the reader from the start. The progression was logical and the focus of the journey is evident. Transitions are smooth and the story is balanced. She also commented on good use of shorter sentences occasionally to enforce strong points within well structured paragraphs.

Ordinary World and Call to Adventure

In this section, Vogler outlines different elements that can be used to introduce themes to the audience. The Ordinary world is essential as a tool to compare against the Special World. The audience becomes involved with the character and connected after experiencing their Ordinary World. To keep the audience captured, the writer must portray what the character can possibly loose or gain from the adventure. Once the seed is planted the call to adventure gets the plot moving. A herald delivers a message for the quest or challenges the hero. Some heroes accept this call immediately while others initially refuse. In the end, the hero accepts after a battle of resistance.

Before a story can begin, the writer must portray hints of the nature of the experience through mediums including the title, opening image, or a prologue. Prologues for example give background to guide the reader in order to help them distinguish differences later. The Ordinary World gives clues about the hero's emotions, experiences and personal and social life. The hero's adventure begins with a call from the herald in the form of a person, a message, an unconscious sign or an internal drive. It is up to the hero to decide whether or not to accept the call or trust the herald. Some calls provide the audience with unfortunate events yet to come. Each hero experiences and confronts their call of adventure differently providing constant entertainment for the audience.

In the Ordinary World, a dramatic question can be proposed which involves the reader with the character. In our own stories, we can identify this question. For me, it was whether or not my character will achieve a sense of security ever? The character is also given both an inner and outer problem from which they learn and grow. For Ardita, she had to confront her inner conflict, her ego while her kidnapping constituted the outer problem. We understand her Ordinary World as a high class life, being a spoiled brat and getting whatever she wants before she is transformed in the Special World.

Do you believe that titles give the reader a sense of the themes?

What are some universal themes other than losing a parent, that can connect readers across cultures?

Does the entrance of the hero always paint a picture of them?

Strengths/Improvements

2 Strengths/ Clear and Why?

1. The details of the story. They help outline the character's environment.

2. Progression of the story. The order of events is sequential allowing the audience to follow the story. By having distinct progression the story is focused.

2 Improvements and How?

1. Guide the reader better by providing more detail about the character in the opening text.How? When? What? Why?

2. Provide the changing point of the character. From fear in the world to safety in new home. Event which lead to understanding. Make it clear to the reader what was understood by the experience overall.

Vogler Part 3

Vogler
Part 3

This section describes in detail, the functions and purpose of common archetypes. Although prohibiting characters, Threshold Guardians are not villains instead they represent an obstacle which must be overcome. The Herald provides the call for change in a character by challenging them, which is usually conquered by a force of motivation. Shapeshifters create suspense by positive or negative means as ever-changing characters to the hero. A Shadow represents the Hero’s hidden troubles as it follows him throughout the journey. By aiding the Hero along the way, an Ally provides the audience with answers which thicken the plot. Tricksters help guide other characters perspective by providing comic relief to the audience.

Archetypes can overlap one another allowing the Hero’s right hand man to also be the Shadow who reminds him of a terrible past. As the Hero progresses, each archetype provides a push, a crutch, a scare, and anything either positive or negative which will advance the story. The Ally, the Mentor, or the Trickster can be a Shapeshifter, changing mentally, physically, or emotionally throughout the story. One archetype can rely on others, or they can survive through separate characters. Motivation by the Mentor, Herald, or Ally can push the Hero to fight for a cause. Each influence the Hero in a different way depending upon what is needed in the story.

This combination of archetypes can be understood by the characters present in our own experiences. The uncle in Indian Camp, even though he is an Ally to the father, he is also the Trickster who provides evidence of the prejudice of Native Americans. The questioning of Nick, allows the father to give the reader more insight to the birth of the child. In the 1934 news reel we saw the Winter Fur Fashion Show that shows the physical Shapeshift of the women in the 1930s. Some of our own childhood heroes also were influenced by these archetypes. For example, in the Little Mermaid, the crab Sebastian was her Ally, Trickster, and at times Mentor. Through our experiences we see how combination of archetypes can produce a more complex and exciting plot.

Can you relate to the idea of Animus and Anima introduced by Jung?
At times the Threshold Guardian tests the Hero with a puzzle. What types of obstacles are set forth?
Can you identify Shapeshifters in your life? What qualities are present?

Archetypes

Vogler
Archetype

Stories are filled with recurring characters which are constant throughout a variety of cultures. Psychologist Carl G. Jung suggested that with character patterns so similar, perhaps we generate these archetypes through a collective unconsciousness. Joseph Campbell explains that it is our biological construct which creates archetypes. Archetypes are not the character themselves but the function they play. One character may exhibit multiple archetypes allowing the story to advance. The most popular archetypes are the Hero, Mentor, Threshold Guardian, Herald, Shapeshifter, Shadow, Ally, and Trickster. Each archetype presents qualities and opportunities which are available to the hero. By enhancing these standard archetypes, storytellers are able to create characters for specific stories.

Whether we have these character types initially hardwired into us or we create these figures from a collective unconsciousness in our psyche, it is incredible that in billions of stories eight basic forms are present. Archetypes can explain the role of characters that are seen throughout stories of different cultures. Although our way of life differs greatly from others, we experience the same form of a character. The details given to a character are specific to the story, but the functions are universal. Characters are able to display more than one archetype in a single story, just as people are able to change and represent two functions or qualities at once. As the hero interacts with these archetypes, their qualities can be inherited to aid in the journey.

We see these archetypes every day in movies, television shows, and books. In O’Conner’s A Good Man is Hard to Find, notice how the grandmother is the Trickster, instead of the typical Wise Woman, who cons the children into wanting to adventure. The father’s archetype is that of the level headed person, as he tries to keep the family journey on track. Misfit, the rebel, represents the Villain but also the Southern gentleman. In this story we can understand how one character can display multiple archetypes. Also we see how characters represent qualities which are imperative to the hero’s journey.

Do you believe we fabricate archetypes based off a collective unconsciousness as Jung claims or biologically as explained by Campbell?

Characters present qualities which the Hero may obtain to complete their journey. In O’ Conner’s A Good Man is Hard to Find, what traits could the Hero have acquired and how would the outcome have changed?

Think of a story you know. Does each character represent a quality or archetype?

Vogler- A Practical Guide

Vogler
A Practical Guide

In this section, Vogler introduces us to the pattern displayed throughout every story based on Joseph Campbell’s, A Hero’s Journey. By breaking down common story plots, we are able to identify each step along the way. Beginning in their Ordinary World, one receives a Call to Adventure. First, out of fear, the person Refuses the Call but someone or something such as a Mentor pushes the person to act. Once Crossing the First Threshold, Tests, Allies and Enemies shape the character allowing them to Approach the Inmost Cave, whether it be concrete place or a place within oneself. In this place, the person faces an issue or Ordeal which leads them to their Reward. After accomplishing the goal, one follows the Road Back to return and must be Resurrected into the Ordinary World. The completion of the journey includes the Elixir which plays a positive role personally or socially.

Cultures around the world create myths which reflect their own uniqueness. Campbell realized that although the details were different, the underlying pattern of each story was similar. A Hero’s Journey outlines the form each story follows, explaining each step necessary. This universal guide can be applied to resolve any issue, simple or complex. The presence of similar characters throughout various myths leads one to believe that we create these forms unconsciously. One example, the mentor or friend, can be seen in almost every story which builds emotion in the main character.

Although no one understood when we were younger, our childhood heroes followed the Journey. Not only were we attracted to them because of their exciting adventures, but also their similar qualities. Although we see distinct differences between Care Bears and the Ninja Turtles, both portray courage, teamwork, friendship, etc. These characters were constructed to appeal to a wide range of viewers. We placed ourselves into their shoes, allowing us to experience our own personal journey. As college students, we can become more successful by implementing A Hero’s Journey to our lives. As we begin this new journey as writers, we too can follow the form to launch our journey and even improve it.

Imagine a few of your favorite movies. Can you identify the Elixir? Could you categorize the Elixir? (A material object, an emotion, a moral, a person)

As an Eckerd student, would you be able to use A Hero’s Journey to your advantage in a specific class?

Could you compare one of your own cultural myths to another culture? What similarities do you see?

Childhood Hero

Color sprinkles, rainbows, flying horses, vibrantly colored furry little pals, and bright yellow stars. What little girl could resist the adventures of Rainbow Brite? I sure could not and that was obvious. From the full one piece footie pajamas covered in sprites (colorful helpers to the Color Kids) to the Color Kids notebooks, I had it all. As a child, I was attracted to the exciting adventures of Rainbow Brite and the Color Kids. After being kidnapped and taken to a world with no color, a lonely orphan girl befriends a group of children and together they defeat the Dark One in order to return with the Sphere of Light which gives color to the world. Being a seven year old, I did not realize that as Rainbow Brite formed these relationships, fought for justice, and resolved colorful problems it was teaching me to do the same. I wanted to be just like Rainbow Brite, because she was friendly, optimistic, helpful, loving, strategic and intelligent (not to mention, she was responsible for all of the color in the world.) Growing up I could relate well with this once lonely girl, as I moved to a new home and changed schools. Rainbow Brite used her genuine personality to befriend the Color Kids, and I knew I could do the same. Although fictional, by having her as a model, making friends at a new school was a lot easier. Rainbow Brite, along with the rest of our childhood heroes, are more than children, animals or fuzzy creatures; they are lessons, problem solvers and role models which we unconsciously learn from throughout our lives.