It would be hard to find someone who has never heard of this type of literary device before since it has appeared in so many popular films and books, and will probably continue to be used for a long time. The heros journey has been around for so long that people might even recognize it once they hear a little bit about it. It is these easy-to-spot elements that keep people coming back to any book or movie that uses them.
While there are numerous aspects that come into play in these journeys, perhaps the most notable is the hero journeying from their home, or the known, into the unknown. This almost always puts the hero in some kind of mortal peril from which they must defend themselves and fight off some kind of evil. Only once this is done can the hero eventually make it back home with their reward.
Star Wars is a franchise that has been around for decades, and the film that started it all was highly derived from this mythological template. Although George Lucas wasn't necessarily aware that he was doing it, there are plenty of elements of this type of a quest that are quite plainly present in the story. As soon as the film was released, people were talking about the presence of these classic elements in a modern popular movie.
While this is hailed by many as one of the greatest types of journeys for a character to take, it is not without criticism. Some people say that the categories included in this type of template are highly vague, and thus don't really hold much meaning. In order for the hero to have a meaningful experience, the substance and content of the story must be able to back it up.
It might sound surprising to some that this literary device can even be used in therapy, but it is true. There are a number of self-help and therapeutic techniques that base their methods on the journeys that these heroes from stories have gone through. Just as the steps in this kind of a quest work together to create a satisfying and emotionally deep story, they can work the same way for a person's psyche to help them live a fuller, happier life.
Some of the criticism around these types of journeys have led a number of great authors to write books that subvert it or even satire it to show people its alleged flaws. In some people's view, stories like these are more focused on the masculine side of things, which obviously alienates half of the people who could be reading the book. It is interesting to look at what these authors think the differences between the path a hero might go down versus a heroine.
Many people know that a person has to rely on his or her own wits and judgment in order to truly make it in the world. The drawback that some people see with this kind of mythological motif is that it seems to present the message that people have to rely on these special heroes. Some authors who are critics of this have written their own books that present a different message.
There are always reasons why a writer or production company might choose to go with a storytelling formula that is safe and familiar to audiences. When a big budget movie is in production, it is often imperative that a lot of people go to the theaters to see it. By applying a narrative that everyone knows even if they don't realize it, ticket sales can be boosted to ensure that the company makes enough money.
While there are numerous aspects that come into play in these journeys, perhaps the most notable is the hero journeying from their home, or the known, into the unknown. This almost always puts the hero in some kind of mortal peril from which they must defend themselves and fight off some kind of evil. Only once this is done can the hero eventually make it back home with their reward.
Star Wars is a franchise that has been around for decades, and the film that started it all was highly derived from this mythological template. Although George Lucas wasn't necessarily aware that he was doing it, there are plenty of elements of this type of a quest that are quite plainly present in the story. As soon as the film was released, people were talking about the presence of these classic elements in a modern popular movie.
While this is hailed by many as one of the greatest types of journeys for a character to take, it is not without criticism. Some people say that the categories included in this type of template are highly vague, and thus don't really hold much meaning. In order for the hero to have a meaningful experience, the substance and content of the story must be able to back it up.
It might sound surprising to some that this literary device can even be used in therapy, but it is true. There are a number of self-help and therapeutic techniques that base their methods on the journeys that these heroes from stories have gone through. Just as the steps in this kind of a quest work together to create a satisfying and emotionally deep story, they can work the same way for a person's psyche to help them live a fuller, happier life.
Some of the criticism around these types of journeys have led a number of great authors to write books that subvert it or even satire it to show people its alleged flaws. In some people's view, stories like these are more focused on the masculine side of things, which obviously alienates half of the people who could be reading the book. It is interesting to look at what these authors think the differences between the path a hero might go down versus a heroine.
Many people know that a person has to rely on his or her own wits and judgment in order to truly make it in the world. The drawback that some people see with this kind of mythological motif is that it seems to present the message that people have to rely on these special heroes. Some authors who are critics of this have written their own books that present a different message.
There are always reasons why a writer or production company might choose to go with a storytelling formula that is safe and familiar to audiences. When a big budget movie is in production, it is often imperative that a lot of people go to the theaters to see it. By applying a narrative that everyone knows even if they don't realize it, ticket sales can be boosted to ensure that the company makes enough money.
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