Creating the Myth

Theories behind the most timeless stories

Creating the Myth

“Myths are the common stories at the root of our universal existence”

“A myth is a story that is more than true”

“The myth is the ‘story beneath the story’”

Linda Seger- scriptwriter

Jung & Archetypes

• Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung(1875-1961) named these Mythic Elements . . .

• ARCHETYPES – the building blocks not only of the

unconscious mind, but of a collective unconscious.

– everyone is born with the same basic subconscious model of what a "hero" or a "mentor" or a "quest" is,

Jugian’s ArchetypesSelf- the regulating center of the psyche and facilitator of

individuationThe Shadow- the opposite of the ego image, often

containing qualities that the ego does not identify with but possesses nonetheless

The Anima- the feminine image in a man's psycheThe Animus- the masculine image in a woman's psycheThe Persona- how we present to the world (acts like a

mask)

Other ArchetypesThe Wise Old Man/Sage: Gandalf/ Obi wan

The Good Mother: Galadriel/ Leia

The Shadow Figure: Saruman/ Darth Vader

The Animal/Beast: Ring Wraiths/ Stormtroopers

The Trickster: Gollum/

The Child: Hobbits/ Droids/ Ewoks

The Hero: Aragorn/ Luke

The Devil or Satan: Sauron/ Emperor Palpatine

The Mentor: Sam/ Yoda

Joseph Campbell:Hero with a Thousand Faces

In 1949, Joseph Campbell began a revolution in anthropology with his book The Hero With a Thousand Faces.

Rhythm of plot/character interaction transformation

Joseph Campbell and HeroesCampbell:

All stories are fundamentally the same story, which he named the "Hero's Journey," or

the "monomyth."

The Modern Myth – Star Wars

George Lucas (a student of both literature and anthropology) used these archetypes and myths to form a central story around his ever expanding Star Wars universe.

Campbell and Myth

Joseph Campbell breaks the Hero’s Journey down into three distinct phases:

1. Departure

2. Initiation

3. Return

The Hero MythAct One: The departure

1. The hero is ordinary.

2. Something new is introduced intothe hero’s life: a problem, a tragedy, or

a catalyst

3. The hero is reluctant.

4. The hero receives help: a mentor

Second Act: The Initiation

5. The hero transforms or the adventure transforms from the ordinary to the extraordinary: the adventure begins.

First turning point

6. The hero undergoes numerous tests and obstacles.

7. Often the hero hits rock-bottom.Defeat/death seems imminent.

Second turning point.

Black Moment

RE-BIRTH

Third Act: The Return

8. The hero is in charge, but the journey is not yet complete.

9. The road back often involves a chase scene and/or the final obstacles.

“he must return to renew the mundane world”

“… take what he has learnedand integrate it into his daily life”.

Third Act: The Return

8. The hero is transformed. S/he leads new life. Often involves a return to the homeland. The hero assumeshis/her rightful place in society.

Layered Heroism:Transformations

1. Departurea) The call to adventure

b) Refusal of the call

c) Supernatural aid

d) Crossing the first threshold

e) The belly of the whale

Campbell Star Warsa) The call to

adventure

b) Refusal of the call

c) Supernatural aid

d) Crossing the first threshold

e) The belly of the whale

a) Princess Leia's messageb) Must help with the harvestc) Obi-wan rescues Luke from sandpeopled) Escaping Tatooinee) Trash compactor

2. Initiationa) The road of trials

b) The meeting with the goddess

c) Temptation away from the true path

d) Atonement with the Father

e) Apotheosis (becoming god-like)

f) The ultimate boon

Campbell Star Warsa) The road of trials

b) The meeting with the goddess

c) Temptation away from the true path

d) Atonement with the Father

e) Apotheosis (becoming god-like)

f) The ultimate boon

a)Lightsabre practice

b) Princess Leia

c) Luke is tempted by the Dark Sided) Darth and Luke reconcilee) Luke becomes a Jedi

f)Death Star destroyed

3. The Returna) Refusal of the return

b) The magic flight

c) Rescue from without

d) Crossing the return threshold

e) Master of the two worlds

f) Freedom to live

Campbell Star Warsa) Refusal of the return

b) The magic flight

c) Rescue from without

d) Crossing the return threshold

e) Master of the two worlds

f) Freedom to live

a) "Luke, come on!" Luke wants to stay to avenge Obi-Wan

b) Millennium Falconc) Han saves Luke from

Darthd) Millennium Falcon

destroys pursuing TIE fighters

e) Victory ceremonyf) Rebellion is

victorious over Empire

The Task Myth

A task must be completed in order to win other rewards.

Troy

The Big Lebowski

The Italian Job

Kill Bill

Others?

The Treasure Myth

A search for physical treasure which leads to spiritual re-birth.

The Hobbit

Pirates of the Caribbean

Harry Potter: The Philosopher’s Stone

Ocean’s 12

Others?

The Healing Myth

The hero is “broken” and must leave home to become whole again.

A psychological need for rejuvenation and balance

Being “broken” can take several forms. It can be physical, emotional, or psychological.

Witness

The Last Samurai

Others?

The Healing Myth Act 1: Injury and Escape

Exile to receive healing

Act 2: Learning/Healing

Experiencing/ adopting new live/skills

Act 3: Transformation

Accepting the new life/situation

The Combination Myth

Elements of several myths are combined in one story

Ghostbusters: Pandora’s box + Hero story

Others?

The Persona Myth

Adopting another personality in order to understand the self.

Tootsie: Disguise Gimmick + Healing Myth

Freaky Friday

Others?

Myths and ‘stories’

• Myths add depth to regular ‘action’ stories

• Tap into cultural undercurents• Key: heroic transformation