Zoah Alvarado
Vogler Annotation
Vogler, Christopher. "Book One: Mapping the Journey." The Archtype, Hero, and Mentor.
Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions, 2007. 23-47.
Summary.
Vogler continues to argue the existence of what Swiss psychologist, Carl G. Jung, calls the "collective unconscious of the human race". This time he defines the terms Archetypes, Heros and Mentors to further prove his point.
Vogler defines Archetype as described by Joseph Campbell, "...biological: as expressions of the organs of the body, built into the wiring of every human being"(24). The archetype is thus essential to every storyteller and audience since it is what establishes a crucial connection between both entities. Without a fully functioning archetype acting as a translator between the storyteller and the audience there cane be no story.
The term Hero, from the Greek root word meaning "to protect and to serve"(29), is defined as "someone who is willing to sacrifice his own needs on behalf of others..."(29). Vogler states that the archetype of the Hero is represented by what Sigmund Freud called "the ego". The ego at first completely permeated the Hero, giving him or her the idea that they are distinguished from all the rest through some kind of separation, be it physical or mental. The Hero's journey generally addresses all the turn of events in which he or she act out in their separate identities only to discover, in the end, that they are incomplete by themselves. The Hero is the archetype put in place to attract the most attention and illustrate the story. This character is needed to bring the human ( or inhuman) element into the story and translate it to the audience in a way in which they can relate.
The Mentor is typically the "Teacher", be it male, female, genderless, in the flesh or in spirit. This character provides guidance that is crucial to the development of the Hero and usually does not draw very much attention from the audience except for when stepping in to help. The Mentor is usually depicted as a much older person, one who has gained knowledge and wisdom from years of experience and passes it on to to the young (sometimes scornful) pupil.
Reaction.
I am glad that Vogler uses the term Archetypes when describing the nature of a character instead of the word stereotype. Stereotypes restrict character possibilities and cut short the truth(s) behind them. Using an archetype, however, opens up the field of possibilities, greatly broadening the creative potential because it does not follow a set conformity. Archetypes are so multifaceted they are more ably fitted to the real world. For this reason an audience is more likely to relate , and prefer, a character based on archetype rather than on stereotype.
Questions.
1. Do you think stereotypes are very limiting to the story when applied to a character?
2. Should the Mentor be an ambiguous figure or should he or she carry some focus besides the Hero?
3. Can a Mentor also be the "Villain" in that the evil person teaches the Hero a moral lesson although attempting to destroy him?
Words.
1. Anti-Hero (34): (Noun); a central character in a story, film, or play who lacks conventional heroic qualities.
Sentence: Humphrey Bogart, who plays Rick Blain in the famous movie Casablanca, is my all time favorite anti-hero.
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