Summary
The approach to the inmost cave and the ordeal are very usually very exciting parts on every hero's journey. These are some advanced stages in the adventure, which enable the hero to develop and portray its heroic characteristics or traits. The approach to the inmost cave is that section where the hero approaches danger, terror and other dark feelings provoked by the upcoming encounter with an adverse situation. The ordeal is the transformation of the hero into that magical and sometime super human figure, who is able to sort out impossible situations and succeed. Usually these two stages are highly emotional due to the risk that the situations involve and due to the way how the hero manages to succeed against all the odds.
Reaction
These were two well elaborated sections by Vogler, who focuses on the application of both to the common hero journeys. He also provided some very interesting examples in both sections to sustain or support the theoretical introduction he provided at the beginning of each section. I think they were both very valid and applicable to most of the hero stories I can think of.
Reflection
Once again, when I go through each of these categories, I try to connect them to films or books that I have read in the past. And as I have mentioned in past blogs, Peter Pan was one of my favorite films. So, generally I try to relate each of the stages to the story of this young super hero. And these two sections fit perfectly in Peter Pan's story as he is approaching the moment of confronting Captain Hook in order to save Wendy and the other kids. At this point, he developd fully all of his heroic sentiments and features in order to achieve his goal. It is interesting to make this kind of relationships in order to have a better understanding of what the author means by each description.
Questions
How is that "cave" most generally represented?
What is the most interesting aspect of the reading?
How can you relate both of these stages to some personal experience?
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Vogler (pg 127-141)
Summary
This section of Vogler's text deals with two stages: Crossing the First Threshold and Enemies, Tests and Allies. These are two very interesting sections. The first one talks about the first step of a hero's adventure. This is the first challenge that the hero must face and represents the engagement of the hero with the adventure after he accepts the Call to Adventure. The second section of represents another important part of the adventure. Particularly it talks about some of the possible aspects that would give shape to the adventure. Some of the challenges may be represented by enemies encountered along the journey. There are also allies along the journey that will help the hero sort out several adverse situations.
Reaction
It was an interesting section since it start giving us the structure of the actual adventure. This categorization of the sequences of the adventure, provides us with better tools to analyze a story. Both of the categories have a very clear application to almost every kind of story. There is always this turning point where the hero starts his journey and generally is marked by his first comfrontation. And there are always obstacles along the path that are represented by enemies or tests that make part of the adventure. Consequently, the hero usually finds someone who is willing to help him fight his obstacles in order to reach his goal.
Reflection
As I mentioned before, these two sections have an importance practical application to many of the stories or films I can think of. It is remarkable, how after reading this book, my mind functions in a different way when analyzing some movie or book. I am always trying to figure out what stage is the movie on, or if the story doesn't comprehend some of the stages. It is an important tool, however, to analyze accurately the different sections of a story.
Questions
What are some examples of these two stages in movies or stories?
What was interesting about these two sections?
How are both of these sections usually represented?
This section of Vogler's text deals with two stages: Crossing the First Threshold and Enemies, Tests and Allies. These are two very interesting sections. The first one talks about the first step of a hero's adventure. This is the first challenge that the hero must face and represents the engagement of the hero with the adventure after he accepts the Call to Adventure. The second section of represents another important part of the adventure. Particularly it talks about some of the possible aspects that would give shape to the adventure. Some of the challenges may be represented by enemies encountered along the journey. There are also allies along the journey that will help the hero sort out several adverse situations.
Reaction
It was an interesting section since it start giving us the structure of the actual adventure. This categorization of the sequences of the adventure, provides us with better tools to analyze a story. Both of the categories have a very clear application to almost every kind of story. There is always this turning point where the hero starts his journey and generally is marked by his first comfrontation. And there are always obstacles along the path that are represented by enemies or tests that make part of the adventure. Consequently, the hero usually finds someone who is willing to help him fight his obstacles in order to reach his goal.
Reflection
As I mentioned before, these two sections have an importance practical application to many of the stories or films I can think of. It is remarkable, how after reading this book, my mind functions in a different way when analyzing some movie or book. I am always trying to figure out what stage is the movie on, or if the story doesn't comprehend some of the stages. It is an important tool, however, to analyze accurately the different sections of a story.
Questions
What are some examples of these two stages in movies or stories?
What was interesting about these two sections?
How are both of these sections usually represented?
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Vogler pg. 107-125
Summary
This section of Vogler's text talks about the following two stages of the journey: The Refusal to Call and the encounter with the Mentor. The refusal to call consists on the decision that the hero must make when the call to adventure appears. He has the option to go for the adventure or has the option to decline it. And this part of Vogler's text deals with the second option. That psychological state of mind that makes the hero think it twice before engaging in the adventure.
The second section explains the role of the Mentor. The mentor represents that figure that provides the motivation to the hero to make the correct decision. It is the person that makes him realize his/her compromise with the cause and how must or must not decline the call to adventure.
Reaction
I think these are two very important sections for the structure of a story. The refusal to call I think is present in every hero's mind. Every human being has fears and the heroes become heroes because of they way they comfront those fears on their minds. So, I think the refusal to call is always an option for the hero when they have to decide about their future. However, many times the responsibility they have with the cause provides them with the motivation to comfront that fear and go along with the adventure. Consequently, I think the mentor is that person in charged of making the hero aware of his important role. This motivates the hero to go forward and follow his mentor's advices. Also, the mentor may be the one who provides the character with guidance or the key information that the hero must need for his journey.
Reflection
I thought this was a very interesting section, considering the connections that we can make to our daily "adventures." Always when we are to make an important decision, we consider either going the hard way and possibly achieving greater results, or going the easy way and don't have a heroic outcome. It is they way our rationality deals with the trade off between risk and returns . And the interesting part about the second section is that we are always guided by someone in every stage of our lives. When we are children, our parents are there to mentor us through our first stage of life. When we are in school we have our teachers. When we are to explore some unknown field, we look for guidance on people who are experts on that certain field. So, it makes sense that the hero looks for this motivation or guidance in someone who probably has more experience and is more knowledgeable, in order to have the confidence to go along with his journey.
Questions
What tends to be usually the motivation of the character to refuse the call to adventure?
What are the common ways in which the mentor is represented?
What are some examples of films or stories that we can think of that represent both of these sections?
This section of Vogler's text talks about the following two stages of the journey: The Refusal to Call and the encounter with the Mentor. The refusal to call consists on the decision that the hero must make when the call to adventure appears. He has the option to go for the adventure or has the option to decline it. And this part of Vogler's text deals with the second option. That psychological state of mind that makes the hero think it twice before engaging in the adventure.
The second section explains the role of the Mentor. The mentor represents that figure that provides the motivation to the hero to make the correct decision. It is the person that makes him realize his/her compromise with the cause and how must or must not decline the call to adventure.
Reaction
I think these are two very important sections for the structure of a story. The refusal to call I think is present in every hero's mind. Every human being has fears and the heroes become heroes because of they way they comfront those fears on their minds. So, I think the refusal to call is always an option for the hero when they have to decide about their future. However, many times the responsibility they have with the cause provides them with the motivation to comfront that fear and go along with the adventure. Consequently, I think the mentor is that person in charged of making the hero aware of his important role. This motivates the hero to go forward and follow his mentor's advices. Also, the mentor may be the one who provides the character with guidance or the key information that the hero must need for his journey.
Reflection
I thought this was a very interesting section, considering the connections that we can make to our daily "adventures." Always when we are to make an important decision, we consider either going the hard way and possibly achieving greater results, or going the easy way and don't have a heroic outcome. It is they way our rationality deals with the trade off between risk and returns . And the interesting part about the second section is that we are always guided by someone in every stage of our lives. When we are children, our parents are there to mentor us through our first stage of life. When we are in school we have our teachers. When we are to explore some unknown field, we look for guidance on people who are experts on that certain field. So, it makes sense that the hero looks for this motivation or guidance in someone who probably has more experience and is more knowledgeable, in order to have the confidence to go along with his journey.
Questions
What tends to be usually the motivation of the character to refuse the call to adventure?
What are the common ways in which the mentor is represented?
What are some examples of films or stories that we can think of that represent both of these sections?
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