Desai 1

Mallika Desai

Viraj Shah

Understanding Myths

24th November 2016

The Modern Influence and Impact of ’s Monomyth

Myths began as mythos, and as they began to be studied their definition began to blur across disciplines. Myth is now viewed as sacred, historical, allegorical, ritualistic, psychological and even as symbolic. It can no longer be definitively described existing in a singular manner, but rather, as being fluid. Myth appears to suit the need of a society and academia at any given time. It has been studied philologically, allegorically, euhemeristically, through romanticism and psychoanalytically. These approaches were augmented by a literary and symbolic perspective, eventually popularized by Joseph Campbell. Robert Segal however, states that the study of a hero myth, or myths from a literary perspective, began as far back as the late 19th century in 1871 with Edward Tylor (85, as qtd. in Perlich &Whitt, 2010). In his book, he says that, Tylor stated that myths did appear to follow a common pattern where a hero was concerned. This view was also supported by Austrian and Russian scholars such as

Johann Georg von Han and Vladimir Propp. The repetition in narrative elements had thus been noted across Aryan and Russian fairytales as well (85, as qtd. in Perlich &Whitt, 2010).

However, Campbell remains the most prominent scholar on the hero pattern.

Campbell was born in 1904 and worked as an American writer, educator and scholar best known for his work with comparative mythology and comparative religion (New World

Encyclopedia). He had a large body of work published and edited over his lifetime, all incredibly culturally diverse as they ranged across societies and time periods. He looked at Desai 2 myths and patterns in cultures of the Greeks, Australians, Egyptians, Indians, Europeans,

Native Americans etc. His works included texts such as, A Skeleton Key (1944), four volumes of The Masks of God that looked at primitive, oriental, occidental and

(1959-68), (1993), Pathways to Bliss (published in 2004). His theory is posited in his most famous work, The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949), abbreviated as

Hero). He also wrote on religion and Indian philosophies, and edited numerous books about the same. The popularity of his theory was so rampant that he had books based on interviews with him, such as, Power of Myth (1998), The Hero’s Journey (1990), An Open Life (1989), etc. There were audiobooks published of his interview with Bill Moyers in The Power of

Myth, as well as readings of his other works by Campbell himself, as well as others (New

World Encyclopedia, 6). There were also videos based off his work available. Thus the sheer impact of his theory is noticeable in the large body of work that was produced around his theory of the ‘monomyth’.

In developing this theory, he was strongly influenced by certain scholars- Thomas Mann,

Heinrich Zimmer, and psychoanalysts Freud and Jung (Campbell, Cousineau, Brown, 38;

New World Encyclopedia, 2.3). His main influences thus came from his journey to Europe.

His friendship with Jiddu Krishnamurti introduced him to Hindu philosophy and mythology that would later play a role in his view of myth. He was also highly influenced by the “Lost

Generation” period, wherein he discovered the work of James Joyce (New World

Encyclopedia, 2.3). It was from his work that Campbell borrowed the term ‘monomyth’ to describe his own theory of mythology. From Thomas Mann, who was a prominent German

Modernist writer who was noted for his insight into psychology and art, Campbell drew multiple ideas that he incorporated into his works (Campbell, Cousineau, Brown, 38). Desai 20 former's view of what mythology is, the symbolism of the myth and the pattern it follows, as well as what and who influenced Campbell in the development of his theory and notions.

Http://refractory.unimelb.edu.au/author/angelan/. "The Comicbook Superhero: Myth For Our

Times – Nigel Kaw." Refractory. N.p., 30 May 2011. Web. 13 Nov. 2016. This source was used to discuss modern day interpretations of the hero and his journey. It looks at the use of mythic elements in comic book characters

Perlich, John R., and David Whitt. Millennial Mythmaking: Essays on the Power of Science

Fiction and Fantasy Literature, Films and Games. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2010. Web.

This source was used to discuss the study of the hero pattern in myths from the 19th century till Joseph Campbell in the 20th century. It also provided information regarding Campbell's views on the role of the woman in a hero myth and whether the pattern applied to both genders.

Sadri, Houman. "The Super-Heroine’s Journey: Comics, Gender and the Monomyth." (2015): n. pag. Web. This paper provides substantial information regarding the female hero and her representation in media. It also discusses the applicability of Campbell's theory to the female heroine.

Segal, Robert. "Joseph Campbell." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia

Britannica, n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2016. The source provided information about Joseph

Campbell's life and works and individuals who influenced his writings and views. Desai 21

Vogler, Christopher. "A Practical Guide to THE HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES by

Joseph Campbell." (1985): 1-7. Web. This article expresses the influence of Campbell's theory nearly forty years later, even amongst the Hollywood community. It was also a memorandum that went viral and was published in multiple places. The author continued research in the same line of thought and published a book titled 'The Writer's Journey: Mythic

Structure for Writers'. This was both a description of the Hero's Journey idea and an observation of how the ordeals and challenges of mythic heroes can also be found in the daily experience of the writer.

Voytilla, Stuart. Myth and the Movies: Discovering the Mythic Structure of 50 Unforgettable

Films. Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions, 1999. Web. This book was used to view the extensive use of the monomyth framework in Hollywood films. It also elucidates the impact of the monomyth in film itself.