Freshmen: Today our focus was on cause and effect. For homework, read for 20 minutes this weekend, memorize your poetry out loud poem, and finish up chapter 8 for vocab.
Sophomores: Today we concluded "The Hero's Adventure." Please post a comment on the blog that responds to the following prompt: What did you learn about heroes that you didn't know before? Your prompt should be a couple of paragraphs long, and in your answer, you should respond to an idea posed by one of your classmates in another post. Please sign your name and period. Get a copy of Sophocles for Monday, memorize your poetry out loud poem, and finish up chapter 8 for vocab.
CNF: Today we nearly finished Randy Pauch's last lecture; please get a copy of the book for Monday.
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51 comments:
I have always found Joe Campbell to be very intersting. Mr. Baird showed me him in an interview last year during freshman english. Well I was pretty excited to hear his opinions on heroes. I never thought heroes had a cycle but Campbell explains it and it makes a lot of sense.
First, they help someone. Then they receive a mentor, then they go through temptations and challenges. After that they have a revelation and transform into a hero. Then they get hurt badly. After all that they return and get called to adventure. That cycle repeats itself until they die. This is just like batman. I have nothing to respond to because im the first one.
Lucas Widdowson 4
Ian Green, period:2
Something that I did not know about heroes before the interview was that all heroes are on some kind of mission, and that the mission that they are on is their sort of purpose in life. I also learned that all heroes go through some kind of sometimes physical but mostly mental transformation. I really thought it was cool how the people who were heroes didn't need a super power to be a super hero.
I totally agree with Lucas when he said that the interview was very interesting. It really opened up my mind to what the characteristics of a hero is. before watching that video I would have never thought that Jesus was a type of hero
In class we watched a video where Campbell talked about heroes. I thought his ideas were very interesting, and well said. He talked about how heroes are people who give their life to something bigger than themselves. I thought this was a good of putting it. Heroes seem to be people who do not give up, and achieve great things. They achieve such things because they set high goals.
I also learned from Campbell that there are two types of heroes, physical and spiritual. The physical heroes are ones that do things such as sacrifice. The spiritual ones are those who find a mode of spiritual life and communicate it. This idea is very complex and is hard for me to understand, but what I think he means is that they either do a great act or they find a different way to live life and try to spread that way of life.
I like what Lucas said about how heroes go through a cycle. While watching Campbell's video I didn't really comprehend the idea of the cycle, but it is clearer to me now. Lucas explained all the things that a hero goes through before and after he becomes a hero, and that once this process is over it just repeats itself. I now have a better understanding of the cycle that heroes go through.
Charissa Boniface
Period 8
The interview with Joseph Campbell described some very essential characteristics of heroes, that I haven't thought of before, but which I can now find in many stories and even books we have read.
First, just as noted by Ian and Charissa, it is a very interesting concept, that a hero doesn't essentially need any super powers, which makes it possible to look for heroes in Non-Fiction work and everyday life. Campbell talks about both, the spiritual and physical hero.
I also was really interested in the so called „hero cycle“ and its presence in our own lives. Most of us wouldn't consider themselves a hero, but we can find metaphorical death, escape from an old condition, resurrection and a step into a new condition in our own lives. Like the hero at the beginning of the journey, before the transformation, we are normal. The typical hero starts off as a regular fellow human being, like you and I. This shows, that we can all become heroes, even if only spiritual and without any fancy superpowers. Just like the hero often is inside „the belly of the beast“ many of us would consider themselves caught inside of a system, like Peekay or Geel Piet. It matters, if we get caught up in the system or use the system to change the condition of us and others.
Ian’s statement reminded me of the passage in the interview, when Campbell applied the motives of heroes to figures, that are used in a religious context, like Jesus, the Buddha and even Muhammed. The all went through a stage of transformation and followed other hero patterns.
It was interesting to realize, during the interview and later, how many western stories are build on the literal skeleton of the hero figure. Suddenly many stories, books and movies seem closer related to each other, than I though they were.
Marc Mertens
Period 2
I found Joseph Campbell's views on heros to be very eye opening. I had always imagined a hero to be someone with some kind of fictional superpower who saves the world, but Campbell made me realize that we all have the potential to become hero's. The interview truly inspired me and made me want to become a hero, the type of hero that makes the world a better place in anyway that they can. I liked the way that Charissa described a hero, "people who do not give up, and achieve great things. They achieve such things because they set high goals." This made me want to set high goals and strive to be a better person.
Campbell also explained the hero cycle that we see many characters from our reading go through. LIke Charissa, I didn't completely understand the many components of the cycle, but thankfully Lucas broke it down for me. Campbell made me realize that although the world can be a dark horrible place, we all have the power within us to change the world and provide some light for others around us.
Douglas Gosselin
Period 2
Joseph Campbell's views on the qualities of heroes came as a bit of a shock to me. I agree with Douglas when picturing the stereotypical hero as physically superior to the average human. Typically, they can fly or use their laser beam stare to burn through metal. However, Campbell doesn't mention any of these abilities when describing the hero. Surprisingly, he says that everyone is born a hero.
It's mind-blowing to think that everyone we know today is a hero. To me, it completely contradicts everything I've ever believed since watching the original Superman when I was younger. But if we look deeper into the situation, Campbell is right. He breaks it down for us and defines the hero as "someone that has done something bigger than themselves-outside of themselves". If I look back and reflect on people I have met in my life, I would say that each and every one of them have done heroic acts. Joseph Campbell also notes that the moral objective of the hero is finding peace, or a place of rest, within themselves. This makes the heroic life seems more relatable and achievable because we all do it; everyday we face the challenge of finding peace in our surroundings and ourselves. This makes us all one step closer to being a hero.
Rylee Kaleel
Period 4
A main key in the idea of a hero is they all are chosen (by a person, deity, self-conscious voice, etc.) to fulfill a role that has not been done. Once the role has been filled, there is a place of rest that is given to the hero. This place of rest can be an actual place, a mental state, an object such as treasure or a mate, or even a social/ military promotion.
Campbell talks about the idea of knights and dragons. according to Campbell, dragons are an idea of greed that must be defeated by a hero such as a knight. Once the dragon has been slain, the knight is permitted to take his prize that has been kept by the dragon.
I personally learned about how Campbell categorizes heros and villains and what the symbolic meaning is behind them.
I found this interview to be interesting. Campbell talks about heroes. Typically we think about heroes being people with or without super powers, wearing a cape or mask, such as Superman and Batman. Instead, Campbell talks about the attributes of a hero, and it is not very similar to the heroes in movies today. The only thing, in my opinion, that would be similar would be the cycle. When Campbell started talking about this cycle, I didn't quite understand it fully, but with the help of Lucas I got a better understanding of the cycle.
One thing that I didn't know about heroes before this interview was that all heroes have some sort of experience, whether good or bad, and it changes their life. Yet, to be a hero you don't have to have an experience or super powers. You can be a hero just by lending a helping hand in any situation. Campbell helped me understand the hero better than what I already knew.
Joseph Campbell provided new insight on heroes in the recently viewed interview. He explained the idea of "the hero with a thousand faces", that there is a typical hero sequence of actions, one essential deed is done by many different heroes. The definition for a hero Campbell provided was someone who has given their life to something bigger than themselves, which I found to be very interesting- also, the moral objective of a hero is saving others, or sacrificing themselves for something. Campbell also shared that he thinks of the hero cycle typically as a coming of age story, and that a child to adult transition can also be thought of as death and resurrection.
An eye opening potion of the interview includes Campbell discussing that heroes can receive adventure unintentionally, intentionally, or to be thrown into adventure. Campbell's interviews are always very enlightening. My favorite opinion shared by him in this particular interview was "hero lurks in each one of us when we don't even know it."
Erin Sleater
Period 8
As we watched "The Hero's Adventure" in class, I noticed many of the stories Campbell talks about are all very similar. He said that heroes are interesting to talk and write about, this is why they are written about so much. Something I learned while watching Campbell talk about heroes, is they are always tempted or put on trial. Normally those trials and temptations consist in a group of three.
I also found the part about dragons very interesting. In many hero stories there are dragons, but I never really knew why. Dragons represent greed, and now I understand why. Dragons guard something from the hero, whether it be a girl or treasure. But dragons really show the greed inside of ourselves, the hero is greedy because he is just looking for a prize. I found this concept very interesting.
I find it very interesting what Charissa says about the two type of heroes. I never was able to understand the concept of the physical and spiritual hero, I always thought they were the same thing. She explains in a way I can understand and makes it much more clear.
The physical and spiritual hero reminds me very much of books we read this year. I believe all the characters we have read about have a little bit of each aspect. I believe at first Santiago was more of a physical hero, but later along his journey he found the spiritual hero within himself. Compared to Siddhartha, he had more of a spiritual hero within himself, but at times he showed more of a physical hero.
Overall I found the concept of Hero very interesting, and I learned so much more.
Sarah Weyrich 4
The woman screams, and the villain laughs as the weapon of certain death bears down upon her. Just then, the hero zooms in and stops the weapon. After saving the girl, he puts the villain back in jail, where he should be. The day is saved thanks to the hero, as it always was.
As discussed in class, this is the “traditional” or stereotypical hero that comes to all commoners minds when asked to think of a hero. But in the modern era, more and more people are starting to call others heroes, such as policemen, firemen, and soldiers. This has always confused me, as I grew up believing that heroes were the top of the top, which they are. But my other belief was that because they were above everyone, they were arrogant and narcissistic. I couldn’t help but hate most heroine figures because of those characteristics (Sorry Mr. Baird). But Joseph Campbell has taught something different: a new idea about heroes.
The main thing that struck me was what he said a hero was. He said that, “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself”. This leaves the door wide open for anyone that is willing to put something bigger than them. Let’s put this into practice: Say that your mom is sick at home, and you need to take care of her, but you need to go to work for your shift. Lucky for you, your co-worker knows about your situation, and takes your shift for you. Is that a heroic act? While it is extremely kind gesture, most people don’t consider it a heroic act. That’s because it is a crucial piece.
One thing that is crucial is what Campbell calls the “one primitive hero pattern”. It is a cycle that continues throughout all the heroes’ life, as Lucas explained. It goes as follow: the call, departure, fulfillment, return. All the heroes are called to their adventure, and they go on it whether they want to or not; there is no question about that. They leave to go on the adventure. They get where they are going and must complete the necessary action. The whole process of going and doing what they were called for is the departure. Once that is done, they reach the stage of fulfillment. This stage usually doesn’t last very long, as this is the part where the hero learns what he actually needs to from the adventure. Lastly, the hero returns triumphant, and the cycle starts all over again. This is what makes the co-worker’s actions not very heroic. He doesn’t get the call and he doesn’t really learn anything.
As Rylee said, the hero’s moral goal is to find “rest within themselves”. But when combine with Lucas’s idea, we should realize that this is impossible. As we learned from Siddhartha last semester, peace is knowing the meaning of your life. He found it in the river, and that was the only part necessary. Everything he learned from the Buddha, the Samanas, and the business people never came into play with his inner peace. Once he learned the correct lesson, he didn’t need to learn anything else. But as Lucas explained, the cycle repeats until the hero dies. If during each cycle the hero learns something new in the fulfillment, then how will he know what lesson will bring him peace? That’s why the hero will never be able to find peace, the one adventure he will never be able to complete.
To end, I would like to look at Batman. He is an example of a hero never finding peace, yet still being a hero. There are countless stories about his heroic actions, such as fighting of the Joker. Because there are countless stories, we know he hasn’t found peace. In each one, he learned another lesson, which makes him the hero we see, but puts him further away from being at peace.
Tyler Rollman Period 2
One thing that I learned for the interview with Joseph Campbell is that it doesn't take somebody with superpowers to be a hero. It doesn't take saving the world to make you a hero. People are heros everyday just by their their actions. Not all the things that people do are big but they help somebody in need and that makes them a hero. I think that everybody is a hero in their way.
I agree with Lucas, I think that Joseph Campbell is a very interesting man. He is very wise and knows what he is talking about. I think that everybody can learn from him. Something else that I agree with Lucas on os the cycle that he talks about. I thought he explained it pretty well.
Ben Jones
Period 2
Campbell is really smart and has showed me alot about hero's they don't need to have superpowers to be heroic. When we think of heroes we think of superman and the marvel avengers but really every human is a hero inside like if someone stooped a bully from picking on a kid and the hero saved this kid he didn't need superpowers to save this kid all he or she needed was the heart. i learned that a hero cycle is departure, fulfillment, and return.
Heroes can evolve from culture by the degree of action. i also learned that there are many stories about hero's is because they are worth writing about and that someone who achievement is greater then normal achievement. The most important thing i learned from Campbell about hero's is that us humans common experience in being a hero is that we have to live our lives in a good way and then we can be heroic people.
Caleb Hammond-Hall period8
Something I did not know about heroes until Campbell talked about it is the idea that heroes come in two forms: physical and spiritual. I knew before that heroes have super powers but I didn't know that you could be a hero in the spiritual sense.
I agree with Charissa when she said that being a physical hero is where you sacrifice yourself and physically save people. She also said that the spiritual hero communicates through their acts and words, not necessarily through saving people by sacrificing yourself.
Madeleine Burningham
Period 8
Joseph Campbell taught me a lot of new things about the hero and about the symbolism of what the hero does. I learned that pretty much all heroes use the same cycle. I also never would have guessed that the dragon symbolizes a persons ego and greed, but after watching the interview it really makes sense that that is what the dragon symbolizes.
I agree with Lucas. That interview showed my the cycle every hero goes on and that batman is a classic example of that cycle.
855I learned a lot from the interview with Joeseph Campbell about heroes. One of the things I learned was that temptations or trials are a heroic deed when it comes to myths or stories about heroes. Overcoming temptations is something that almost every hero has to do. Trials are also a heroic deed because a "transformation of conscience" as Campbell says comes from them. Harry Potter is a shining example for the "transformation of conscience" that comes from trials. Everything he is put through becasue of Voldemort is a trial and because of that trial he changes.
As mentioned by Lucas, Tyler, Caleb, and many others the heroic cycle is also something that I understood more fully because of Campbell's interview. The idea behind the hero's cycle is a departure and a return. The hero goes out to do what they are destined to do and the return to where they started. An example Campbell uses in his interview is the example of Moses recieving the Ten Commandments from God. Moses departs to retrive the Commandments from God and then returns to deliver them to God's poeple. This is why Moses can be seen as a hero in biblical times.
Emily DeCarolis
Period 8
From Joseph Campbells "The Hero's Adventure" I learned about recurrent ideas, themes and motifs of the heroes life. Books I had been reading since childhood became clear indicators of motifs discussed by Campbell. Connections I had not made before became clear. Recurrent themes that I had seen, became coherent ideas that actually made sense. Campbell's motifs, such as the save and sacrifice circle, the curse, the slaying of the great beast, the old man as the advisor and the orphaned hero, made themselves clear in my mind. As I thought of these I thought of the hundreds of books I had read with these exact ideas. When Campbell articulated these repeated themes, it clicked in my head. Foster also articulates the idea of recognizing recurring components from other works.Foster says there are "patterns, archetypes, recurrences" (29). Just like the motifs explained by Campbell.
Campbell also talks about the similarities between Buddha and Christ. These similarities intrigued me. I have often seen the similarities between religions and found it curious. I thought it was interesting that they both have three temptations and are confronted by trials. I had never thought of Jesus as a hero figure, but in reality I guess he is.
The other interesting thing I learned was the two types of deeds a hero preforms. There is the physical deed and spiritual deed. Often they are combined in one story. The hero not only completes the raw act of heroism in life, he or she also learns or finds something from the spiritual/intellectual world and returns to share it with the world. I found it interesting that a hero is not all about the courageous acts he or she preforms in life, but is also represented by her or his intellect, cleverness and brain power. Madeleine and Charissa's statements on this idea reflects my thoughts almost perfectly. A hero is not only measured in physical deeds and strength, but by their words, actions and sacrifices.
Tessa Ganellen
Period 4
The interview with Campbell gave me a new perspective on what qualifies something as a heroic action. Campbell said that simply being born makes a hero. This idea would argue that we are all heros at the very start of our lives. But I also think that people have to maintain their heroic attitude throughout their lives to truly be a hero.
I also noticed, like Tyler, that Campbell talked about the hero cycle. These are the stages of the journey that every hero must undergo before he can return to where he started. To me, this makes anyone who leaves their life or home to fulfill a task a hero. I always thought that heros had to do difficult,noble tasks, but it turns out that more people may be heros than we realize.
Olivia Pratt
Period 4
When we watched Joseph Campbell's interview about the hero in class, it was very interesting and I learned a lot of new things about heroes. For example, Campbell said that there are two types of deeds a hero can perform. One, a physical deed, which is an act of sacrifice to saving one's life. Two, a spiritual deed experiencing a super normal range of human life and communicate it.
Also I'd have to agree with Douglas that Campbell also made me realize that we all have the potential to be heroes, and I want to be a type of hero that makes the world a better place.
Danny O'Brien
Period 2
Campbell describes a hero as being a person who risks or gives their life for someone or something bigger than them. I always thought a hero was someone who killed the dragon and got the girl (or guy.) Then we saw what the dragon represents. It represents greed and lust for treasure or a possession. The hero must defeat the dragon to save the day.
Another thing I had never thought about was the process of becoming a hero. They help people, then they receive guidance from a mentor. They usually get hurt or tricked by the 'bad guy', then they continue to fight the villain until they are defeated. THis cycle usually repeats itself multiple times for each hero. Take Iron man for example. (I'm going off of the movies, i have never read the comic books.) In each movie, he is hurt, makes a full recovery, usually with a better suit, and then defeats the bad guy.
Harry Pendergrast period 4
I though that what Campbell said when asked why there are so many stories about the hero was even more intriguing. Campbell says that stories about the hero are what is worth writing about, and I agree with that statement. Books, movies, and the media have created a society that thrives on the whole idea of the hero; the idea that one person can take on adversity and persevere through it in order to achieve greatness seems to always get our attention. Whether it be in a story like Batman, where the hero is obvious, or one of the stories in the bible, where the hero may not appear to be as obvious.
I also agree with what Marc said about the hero cycle being an interesting idea, especially because you can apply that cycle to any hero story and it proves to be true. That, to me, is fascinating.
Ethan Gruis
Period 2
Well, pretty much everything I have wanted to say has already been said by someone else, but I had no clue that a hero was simply just born a hero, and that a hero comes in two forms: physical and spiritual.
I, like Madeleine, thought of a super hero as someone who has super powers, and saves the the world from all the bad guys. Joey C said that a physical hero is someone who physically saves someone else and sacrifices their life for them in the process. I never really thought of heroes having a spiritual form though. Heroes that come in the spiritual form save by acting through words and communication. I think Buddha and Gandhi are very good examples of spiritual heroes.
^^^^Nick Richardson, Period 8.
I have learned a lot about heroes from Joe Campbell's interview that I did not know before. These ideas can be seen in the previous books. I have learned that they are not just people who have powers but give themselves up for something bigger than themselves. I also learned that these heroes are in everyday life and there is a hero in every one of us. I also learned they have a cycle they all go through. We can also go through this cycle in our daily lives. I also learned all heroes have mentors just like Peekay had. I also learned about the symbolism of water and dragons. Dragons symbolize your ego and greed. I just watched the hobbit and saw the dragon who took all the gold for himself. I never realized that overcoming the dragon is also overcoming your ego.
I always thought of heroes as these super human characters that really don't exist in real life. They either have super powers or some kind of weird advantage that no one else has. Campbell explained though, that a hero isn't necessarily a super human, but a hero is someone who gives up themselves in a way. These heroes generally go out on a quest to find something, and in the process they achieve something that is a manifestation of their own character.
One of the most interesting things in this interview was when Campbell gave a general archetype of the hero, that is one who gives oneself to something bigger than themselves. Just like Tyler said, practically anything can be a heroic act. You could help someone that's going through a difficult time, or just give some money to charity. In this sense, anyone could be a hero if they just give a little bit of themselves to others.
Along with that, Campbell also talks about the two types of heroic acts: physical and spiritual. There are the kind of sacrificial acts that effect the immediate world, but there are also the non physical acts. These spiritual acts are the psychological ideas that a hero finds to share with others that have the same effect as the physical ones. Having more than one way to be a hero means that the door is wide open for someone to become a hero.
Overall, the hero is a very broad category. Someone in a wheelchair could be a hero (in the sense that he gives up something for others) just as much as Superman. Anyone of us could end up being a hero, whether it's just to one person or the entire world.
^Max Hedding, Period 8
In class we watched Campbell's interview on heroes. Campbell made the statement that there are so many stories and tales about heroes because its something to write about because they are achieving something that isn't normal. This is an interesting point.Ifwe look at the books we have read this year there are heroes. For instance Pi in Life of Pi was a hero for saving himself and having courage.
Another interesting point Campbell made was that a hero has a death and then a resurrection. They are sacrificing themselves for something like a task or for people.
One thing I learned was that water is represented as the unconscious.
Lindsey Pelly 8
Alex Schilling P:4
Campbell is an interesting man. He spent his life studying myths and heroes to the point that he was probably one of the most experienced people to study the subject. Therefore it was interesting to hear his ideas on heroes.
One of the things I learned about heroes from the interview with Campbell is that they never really stop their heroics until they meet an end. I always think of heroes as having their one major goal to accomplish then they can choose to continue or to step down and have a peaceful life.
Lucas' explanation of the cycle helped me to understand the path of a hero just a little bit more as it was a sentence that was straight to the point, as well as using the example of Batman.
My view of a hero has completely changed, in class we watched an interview of Joesph Campbell that made me think of heroes completely different. I used to think that heros had to have super powers, and save the world from evil villains, but heros are people just like you and I. Heros are people who put others in front themselves, and give themselves to something bigger. I really like what Erin had to say about heroes sacrificing themselves and their moral objective.
Jacob Bowersox period: 4
I've never been interested in other mythology other than Greek and Roman, and i still am not interested in it. But these talks showed me things that are in every hero and that we all have a hero inside us somewhere, we just have to bring it out.
I agree with Ian that all "heroes" are on the same mission, to face the problems created in front of them either by the gods or by the people who want them gone such as in Heracles where his cousin sends him on perilous quests to kill him when Heracles believes he is cleansing his soul from killing his children
We watched an in class video of Joseph Campbell talking about the concept of heroes, and his view of them has forever changed mine. Whenever I thought of heroes, I would imagine humans who are extraordinary and have super powers. That would remind me of heroes like Spiderman, Superman, or even The Green Lantern. Then Joseph Campbell showed me that heroes can be just ordinary people living normal, day to day lives. Heroes are part of the regular world as much as any other person.
This could be anywhere from someone fighting in the army to the ruler of a country. Before watching that interview I wouldn't have ever thought that anyone could be a hero, but I know the stereotypes. Stereotypes like the hero is male, they have incredible strength, and have some kind of control over the rest of the population. Except in reality, my own parents are considered heroes.
In class we watched a video of Joseph Campbell talking about heroes, and I believe many of the things he said were true. As a kid, when I thought of heroes, I thought of super heroes - meaning someone with super human abilities. Campbell talked about how heroes can be anyone with a calling for an adventure.
Kalia Wells Per1
I loved how Joseph Campbell described a hero as some one who sacrifices them-self for an idea or a group of people. I especially liked when he used the military as an example. I learned that is hero is called; they don't choose it.
I also realized the similarities between hero myths. Heroes all go through the same cycle. They all face challenges and temptation, and have a mentor to lead them. Each hero has a moment where he descends into the darkness, leaving his world that he controls, and overcomes the world he can't. As Joseph Campbell said, it is trials and revelations that transform a hero.
I agree with Olivia when she said that even though we have a heroic birth, we must maintain the heroic attitude in order to be called a hero.
Rebecca Henkels
Period 8
Going off of what Douglas said, about everyone's chance at becoming a hero, it's important to see the connection between their lives and our own. Each hero has a time of hardship, just like any other person, but we don't always make small connections like that. Tyler also made a comment about the 'hero cycle' that Joseph Campbell introduced. this topic talks about all heroes having their own beginnings and endings. They all have dealt with the same things as any other person would have, emotionally and spiritually. From each experience comes a new lesson learned. This starts a different aspect of the hero cycle.
Period 4
I learned how a hero in Campbells studies is someone who goes through suffering and comes back a different person. I used to think of hero's as people who had powers or were not from this planet. However, now i know it is those who conquer their hardships.
I agree with Lauren as in that hero's don't have to have powers. They just have to serve a purpose that is far greater then themselves. If you can do that then you might be on the path of becoming a hero in some sense.
River Rust, Period 2
One thing that I learned from Joseph Campbell was that everybody is a hero, but before they become a hero, they have to go through a trial/temptation. to do this, the hero must lose a part of themselves to help somebody else and they have to go through a transformation of consciousness.
I agree with Max's idea that anybody can be a hero, all they have to do is give up a something that belongs to them and give it to somebody that needs it.
Max Winston Period 8
In the Interview we watched in class I learned that every hero usually goes through some kind of transformation, physically or mentally. I learned that a hero is someone who puts others before themselves and would die for someone that they have never met before.
I agree with Charissa about heroes not giving up. This can be seen through the heroes in our life, like the firefighters and policemen during 9/11. They did not quit going into the trade centers and put others lives before theirs.
Ethan Archibald, Period 4
After watching the interview in which Joseph Campbell talks about heroes my view on heroes has been completely changed and I have learned new characteristics that true heroes have that I would have otherwise not known without the wise words of Joseph Campbell.
One thing or characteristic that I had known prior to watching Campbell's interview was that the old stereotypical hero was someone who goes around killing monsters, but, as always when it comes to Campbell, he always finds ways to expand my knowledge even when it comes to something that I had thought I had significant knowledge in. While I had already known what the characteristics of what a primitive hero was I didn't know that now heroes find adventure in various ways whether they seek it out or are thrust into a situation that calls for adventure.
Just like the anecdote Tyler told in his response about the hero saving the girl from some ominous being, weather it be a monster or some evil villain, the stereotypical hero has changed and evolved as society has changed, and this was the biggest thing that I took from Joseph Campbell's interview.
Tank S. Period 8
For the most part during the interview video, I struggled with comprehending Campbell's detailed replies to Morie and the sleepiness that was tugging at my eyes (haha). I did happen to catch a fact new to my ears, the same one as Max, Nick, and Madeleine. Every hero accomplishes a physical and spiritual deed. The physical deed is what is generally seen by the audience, the visual effect the hero makes on his world. The spiritual deed is usually something only seen by the hero himself and is later introduced to the audience when he decides to share his wisdom to further improve the world around him. This is just something that is kind of a duh, but I had never put much thought into it, and now it's been brought to my attention.
If you noticed, when I was talking about the hero in the previous paragraph I referred to the hero as a "he". Other things that I take from Campbell's interview on heroes is that the typical stereotype of a hero is wrong. Anyone can be a hero, in fact they are a hero since the day they are given birth. Campbell connected being a hero to a coming of age story, as we grow up we overcome the feats and gain knowledge and strength. It's not that I didn't know this before, it's just a reminder to keep in mind that everyone is someone great and capable of many thing, especially girls (girl power, ftw). So there's a small recap of my acquired knowledge on another glorious Campbell interview.
-Anna N. (pd. 8)
Campbell mentions that everyone is a hero. Stereo-typically, most heroes would have powers such as super-strength, super-speed, etc. But, he explains that a hero is someone who have challenges of their own, but they help others regardless. He/she gives his life to help others, not just for himself. It's not always the superpowers that make the hero, it's what the person does that makes the hero.
Campbell says that just being born makes the hero. We are all heroes from the very start of our lives. I agree with Olivia when she says that we also have to help others out of the goodness of our hearts to truly be a hero. We don't need to do outrageous actions; simply smiling at others everyday is just as good. These small kind actions can make the hero.
Katie Lee
Period 4
In the interview with Joseph Campbell, I learned that we are all born heroes, it's the act done that fulfills heroism. Heroes don't go searching for adventure, they use their instincts to know when someone is in need.
I learned all heroes fight temptation as well. Like Charissa said about spiritual and physical heroes- that the heroes take action and risk their lives to save others in distress. Spiritual heroes are sort of like self-heroes; they find ways to live more like a hero- this is a lifestyle I wish more people would live by; helping those (even in small) need of help.
Matt Shiramizu, Period 4
Joseph Campbell is a very interesting man. I found his opinion on heroes very interesting. Hearing his opinion on heroes really got me thinking about all the stories of heroes I have heard, and then I realized they are all quite similar.
Something that I learned from watching this video, is that not all heroes seek the adventure that lies before them; some heroes are forced to become a hero. An example of a hero that is thrown into becoming a hero is Jesus. Jesus is thrown into the world and is expected to fulfill a prophesy. While Jesus is going through this prophesy, he is tempted, just as any other hero would be, but Jesus is such a good hero that he does fall into the temptation. Another interesting thing that I learned, is that all heroes have an entrance, a middle, and a exit. Jesus also goes through all those stages. He is born to his virgin mother Mary, he is tempted, and then he is finally crucified, resurrected, and ascended.
There is another cycle heroes go through, and it explained in Lucas' comment and I fully agree with what he has to say about the cycle.
Tofa Faingaa 8
Just like all of the interviews with Mr. Campbell, I found this one to be very interesting. He is a very wise man, and always has an intelligent response to every question that he is asked. Even though I only viewed half of his interview, the part that I saw was very informing. It's always intriguing learning even more about a concept that you believe you already know all about, things that are eye opening on many levels. I learned quite a few things about heroes and the concept of the hero while watching it.
Just like Charissa, one of the major things I learned was that a hero can be either physical or spiritual. A physical hero does a more active feat, such as saving another's life, or sacrificing himself. A spiritual hero, on the other hand, finds a mode of spiritual life, and then communicates it. I also find it rather complicated, but with Charissa's explanation I understand it much more easily.
Kendall Thorsen
Period 4
Joseph Campbell is obviously a philosophical genius. He can take something that's usually perceived as general and vague in pop culture and force the listener to really think about it. This is precisely what he did with the idea of the hero.
Campbell dissects the ideas, motifs, and behavior of heroes. Something new that was brought to my attention was that really anyone can be a hero. Campbell defined a hero as someone who devotes himself to a greater purpose, whether it's a moral idea or something tangible such as a person.
The idea that anyone can be a hero, that the presence of the hero is present in all of us, is a wonderfully crazy idea. It counters everything pop culture offers. Pop culture heroes are almost always set a level above everyone else. Some are strong (Superman), some are clever (Batman), and some are just super filthy rich (Iron Man and Batman). In every case, there's something unique that the hero possesses that the great majority of us don't.
However, Campbell takes that idea and turns it on its head. He even discusses consequences of being the hero, and how oftentimes we pity the hero instead of admiring them. For example, Hercules is among one of the most well loved Greek heroes ever. However, he murders his family and to repent must go through a series of grueling trials. This is what could be called a tragic hero.
In many hero stories, the hero must sacrifice something for the greater good, whether by a fault of their own or from an outside source. This is part of the hero cycle. Every hero is also on a mission of sorts, but the ultimate goal is to find peace. Isn't that what all humans crave?
The true hero is the one that can find inner peace without screwing up their moral compass. In this sense, the idea of the hero is an attainable one. Although wealth, power, or some strange power from being exposed to radiation can help, they don't compose everything. There's some form of innate goodness that rests within each hero, and according to Campbell, that goodness dwells within us as well.
Jami Dorrity
Period Two
While watching Joseph Campbell present the ideas on "The Hero", I was awakened by many reoccurring themes that I had yet not realized. Such as, the accomplishment of a spiritual and physical deed, the orphan, and the old giver of wisdom. These ideas always appear in a Hero's tale, because it is a part of what makes a hero a hero.
First, the most common seen deed is the physical deed. It is the typical actions everyone expects from a hero. Then a spiritual deed is something only seen through the hero himself, then later revealed as the hero continues to grow. Stories of Heroism have both types of deeds, because both types contribute to who the hero is and why.
Now something that is so commonly seen, but never pointed out, is the fact that most of the hero's were/are orphans and they seem to always has a wise adviser to teach and guide them. Now that we look at the worlds most famous characters, like Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore, and well the classic Luke Skywalker, Obi Wan Kenobi, and Yoda.
You see, these things have always been present in all hero stories, but Joseph Campbell has helped me recognize them, then give me the ability to later intelligently apply these ideas.
I truly love how Marc points out that we can all be heros in our own way. 1. Begin our own Journey/ Take a chance 2. Change and Grow as a person 3.Be the hero of our own story
Alicia Canales
Period: 4
Something that I learned about "Heroes", is that heroes not only reflect our lives but go through challenges that relate to situations in our lives today. They then go through a transformation, by avoiding the intellectual state of mind. For Luke Sky-walker it was the
temptation of Joining the dark side. They achieve this with the help of a mentor, or Ben Ken-obi.
Adam Mulder
Period 4
For the last two years I’ve taken Latin as my foreign language at judge. Since Latin is a dead language most of the curriculum is mythology. Mr. Soran is constantly reciting old stories about different heroes and such, but we’ve never learn the story behind the myth. I find Joe Campbell’s theories very intriguing, because he explains the meaning behind the myths.
I’ve always known there was a common theme about hero stories, but I could never put my finger on it. Joe Campbell referred to this common theme as a cycle, a cycle where the hero metaphorically dies and then is reborn. The ironic part of being a hero is that eventually your rebirth kills you (Unless you’re bairdman, then you’re strength will never be your weakness).
It’s interesting how media portrays heroes with a supernatural power such as strength, x-ray, or super spider skills. As Joe Campbell explained there are only two types of heroes, spiritual and physical. Charissa perfectly defines spiritual and physical heroes in her response “The physical heroes are the ones that do things such as sacrifice. The spiritual ones are those who find a mode of spiritual life and communicate it.” I find this interesting, because it seems like anyone could be a hero, you just have to find it in yourself.
-Lexi Hoggan
8th period
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