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Joseph Campbell, author of The Hero with a Thousand Faces, a scholar who achieved legendary status as an explicator of myths, is reverently profiled in this documentary that encompasses his long life and career. During his childhood in New York City, Campbell was taken to see "Buffalo Bill" Cody's Wild West Show at Madison Square Garden. Young Campbell was fascinated by the Native Americans in Cody's performing troupe and eventually became obsessed with mythology. As he came to realize that myths worldwide had the same underpinnings, he also discovered his life's work. This documentary mentions Campbell's affinity for the writings of James Joyce and Carl Jung, and there is ample footage of Campbell, casual in flannel shirts, giving lectures salted with references to Buddhism, Christianity, classical mythology, St. Augustine, and the rituals of plains Indians. In later life, Campbell is seen being honored at a banquet at which George Lucas rises to give him credit for helping to inspire the writing of Star Wars. After Campbell's death in 1987, heated controversies arose about his work, but this documentary is an overwhelmingly positive look at his writings, lectures, and personality. --Robert J. McNamara
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Is a metaphor a myth?,
By
This review is from: Joseph Campbell: The Hero's Journey (DVD)
On this dvd Campbell explains about the argument he had with a radio show host as to whether a metaphor is a myth or a lie.This is one of the more interesting Campbell dvd's I have watched. This documentary follows JC's own life story in the context of his classic work 'The Hero with a thousand faces.' How his early interest in Indian Culture and their stories eventually crisscrossed with other cultures, his early Christian upbringing and moving away from that to discover the stories from other cultures, and spiritual systems, and get a more global perspective. In particular he references a chance meeting with Indian philosopher Krishnamurti on an Atlantic crossing, when K gave him a book about the Buddha, which illumined some commonalites with his Indian folklore studies. Eventually he discerned the common patterns of all mythology, and the story of the hero who gets the call to adventure, refuses the call, and then is compelled to take the adventure and commit to it. He also mentions Carl Jung's influence on his work. If you are like me, you would have to watch several times to get the most out of it. Interesting to note the influence he had on George Lucas, who used HWTF as a template for Star Wars. George Lucas pays tribute to Campbell, and there is plenty of footage from Star Wars to ilustrate the steps of the Hero's Journey. If you are interested in storytelling, mythology or writing, I highly recommend this dvd for your consideration. I know I will be making some notes for my own records. I think you will enjoy it, and I hope this was helpful.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Visual Homage,
By MpS (Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Campbell, Joseph: Hero's Journey (VHS Tape)
This visual look at the energetic scholar of literature and religion captures his infectious high spirits nicely. Campbell has fun with his material, which is--contrary to the critcism of Diogenes-the-reviewer--of real substance and depth. It's not the easy syncretism of rebellious adolescent dabblers in Eastern religion: it's mature, creative thinking by a deeply read scholar, and if you're just goofing off with "spirituality," like much of today's pop New Age devotees, you feel quickly out of your depth with this stuff. Any writer or tradition he raises for discussion, he is steeped in. Show me shallowness, Diogenes, in his discussions of Joyce or Schopenhauer, Buddhism or Christianity. Having a vast range to one's education, doesn't automatically mean one's understanding is spread thin. Let this look at a great mind and spirit inspire you, prospective Campbellians,to serious look at his work.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Campbell Shines Again,
By A Customer
This review is from: Joseph Campbell Heros Journey (DVD)
This nice little film gives a not too detailed overview of Campbell's life and manages to cover some of his main mythological points as well. If someone doesn't have time to be introduced to Campbell with "The Power of Myth" series, then this one hour documentary should do.A semi-classic moment: look for when Campbell is explaining that the priest who attended his lecture called what Campbell was saying, "blasphemy" - Campbell looks (and sounds) so hurt when recounting that story!
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