1.3 Hero's journey

The hero's journey is a storytelling framework that revolutionized film and TV narratives. It provides a universal structure for character development and plot progression, emphasizing the cyclical nature of narrative arcs that mirror human experiences and psychological growth.

Originating from Joseph Campbell's monomyth concept, the hero's journey has become a foundational tool for screenwriters and showrunners. It consists of various stages, from the ordinary world to the return with the elixir, guiding protagonists through transformative adventures that resonate with audiences across cultures.

Origins of hero's journey

• Hero's journey concept revolutionized storytelling in film and television by providing a universal structure for character development and plot progression
• Emphasizes the cyclical nature of narrative arcs, mirroring human experiences and psychological growth
• Serves as a foundational framework for screenwriters and showrunners to craft compelling character journeys

Campbell's monomyth concept

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• Joseph Campbell's groundbreaking work "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" introduced the monomyth theory in 1949
• Identified common narrative patterns across world mythologies and religious stories
• Proposed a universal structure for heroic tales consisting of 17 stages divided into three acts (departure, initiation, return)
• Influenced by Carl Jung's concept of archetypes and collective unconscious

Influence on storytelling

• Provided filmmakers and television writers with a blueprint for crafting engaging narratives
• Inspired George Lucas in creating the original Star Wars trilogy, popularizing the hero's journey in modern cinema
• Adopted by major studios and writing programs as a fundamental storytelling tool
• Influenced narrative structures in various media beyond film and television (novels, video games, advertising)

Stages of hero's journey

• Represents the protagonist's transformative journey from ordinary individual to hero
• Each stage corresponds to specific plot points and character development milestones
• Flexibility allows for adaptation across different genres and storytelling mediums

Ordinary world

• Establishes the hero's baseline existence and everyday life
• Introduces the protagonist's character flaws, desires, and limitations
• Creates contrast for the extraordinary adventures to come
• Often depicted through mundane routines or unfulfilling circumstances (Luke Skywalker's life on Tatooine)

Call to adventure

• Presents a challenge or opportunity that disrupts the hero's ordinary world
• Often delivered by a herald character or inciting incident
• Can be external (a quest or mission) or internal (a personal goal or desire)
• Sets the main conflict of the story in motion (Frodo receiving the One Ring in "The Lord of the Rings")

Refusal of call

• Hero initially resists or hesitates to accept the challenge
• Highlights the stakes and potential dangers of the journey
• Reveals the hero's fears, doubts, or attachments to their current life
• Can be overcome through external pressure or internal motivation (Neo initially rejecting Morpheus's offer in "The Matrix")

Meeting the mentor

• Introduction of a wise figure who guides and prepares the hero
• Provides essential knowledge, tools, or training for the journey ahead
• Can be a physical character or a symbolic representation of wisdom
• Often serves as a surrogate parent figure (Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series)

Crossing the threshold

• Hero commits to the adventure and leaves the ordinary world behind
• Marks the point of no return and entry into the unknown
• Often involves a physical or symbolic boundary
• Can be accompanied by guardians or threshold-crossing ceremonies (Dorothy entering the Land of Oz)

Tests, allies, and enemies

• Series of challenges that test the hero's skills and resolve
• Introduction of supporting characters who aid or hinder the hero's progress
• Establishes the rules and dangers of the new world
• Develops the hero's abilities and relationships (Harry Potter's first year at Hogwarts)

Approach to inmost cave

• Hero prepares for the central ordeal or confrontation
• Often involves gathering resources, making plans, or facing inner demons
• Raises tension and stakes as the climax approaches
• Can include a "calm before the storm" moment (The Fellowship's journey to Mordor)

Ordeal

• Central crisis or supreme challenge of the hero's journey
• Often involves facing the hero's greatest fear or most powerful enemy
• Represents a symbolic death and rebirth for the hero
• Tests the hero's growth and newly acquired skills (Luke confronting Darth Vader in "The Empire Strikes Back")

Reward

• Hero gains something valuable as a result of facing the ordeal
• Can be a physical object, knowledge, or personal transformation
• Often comes with a moment of celebration or relief
• May reveal new complications or responsibilities (Tony Stark creating the Iron Man suit)

The road back

• Hero begins the journey home or faces the consequences of their actions
• Often involves pursuit by enemies or new challenges
• Tests the hero's commitment to bringing their newfound wisdom back to the ordinary world
• Can include a moment of doubt or temptation to abandon the return (Odysseus's long journey home)

Resurrection

• Final test or confrontation that proves the hero's complete transformation
• Often involves applying lessons learned throughout the journey
• Represents the hero's final death and rebirth as a changed individual
• Resolves the main conflict of the story (Harry's final battle with Voldemort)

Return with elixir

• Hero returns to the ordinary world, changed by their experiences
• Brings back knowledge, power, or treasure that can benefit their community
• Demonstrates the hero's growth and newfound mastery
• Often sets up potential for future adventures or sequels (Bilbo returning to the Shire with the Ring)

Variations of hero's journey

• Adaptations of Campbell's original model to suit different storytelling needs and cultural contexts
• Reflect evolving narrative techniques and audience expectations in film and television
• Provide alternative frameworks for writers to structure their stories while maintaining the core elements of the hero's journey

Vogler's writer's journey

• Christopher Vogler's adaptation of Campbell's work for modern storytelling
• Condensed the 17 stages into 12, making it more accessible for screenwriters
• Emphasized the practical application of hero's journey in film and television writing
• Introduced archetypal characters like the shapeshifter and trickster to enrich narratives

Alternative models

• Dan Harmon's story circle: Simplified 8-step circular structure (used in "Community" and "Rick and Morty")
• Blake Snyder's beat sheet: 15-point structure tailored for screenplay writing
• Michael Hauge's six-stage plot structure: Focuses on character arc and internal journey
• Jessica Brody's "Save the Cat! Writes a Novel": Adapts screenplay structure for novel writing

Hero's journey in film

• Provides a recognizable structure for audiences across various genres
• Allows for visual representation of character growth and world-building
• Adaptable to different film formats (feature-length, short films, animated movies)

Classic examples

• "Star Wars: A New Hope" (1977): Quintessential hero's journey following Luke Skywalker's transformation
• "The Matrix" (1999): Neo's journey from office worker to humanity's savior
• "The Lion King" (1994): Simba's coming-of-age story and reclaiming of his kingdom
• "The Wizard of Oz" (1939): Dorothy's adventure in a magical land and her quest to return home

Modern interpretations

• "Black Panther" (2018): T'Challa's journey to become a true leader and hero
• "Moana" (2016): Subverts traditional princess narratives while following hero's journey structure
• "Inception" (2010): Applies hero's journey to a complex, multi-layered narrative
• "The Lego Movie" (2014): Playful deconstruction of hero's journey tropes

Hero's journey in television

• Allows for extended character development and multiple journey cycles
• Adapts to both episodic and serialized storytelling formats
• Provides structure for long-term narrative arcs across multiple seasons

Episodic vs serialized structure

• Episodic shows: Apply hero's journey structure to individual episodes (procedural dramas, sitcoms)
• Serialized shows: Extend hero's journey across entire seasons or series (prestige dramas, fantasy epics)
• Hybrid approaches: Combine episodic adventures with overarching character arcs (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
• Mini-series: Compress hero's journey into a limited number of episodes (Chernobyl, The Queen's Gambit)

Character arcs across seasons

• Multiple heroes: Develop parallel journeys for ensemble casts (Game of Thrones)
• Recurring cycles: Characters face new challenges each season, repeating journey stages (Stranger Things)
• Evolving roles: Characters transition between hero, mentor, and other archetypes over time (Breaking Bad)
• Extended ordeals: Stretch central conflicts across multiple seasons (The Walking Dead)

Critiques of hero's journey

• Examines limitations and potential drawbacks of relying too heavily on the hero's journey structure
• Encourages writers to consider alternative narrative approaches and diverse storytelling traditions
• Reflects ongoing debates in film and television studies about narrative conventions and innovation

Overuse in storytelling

• Predictability: Audiences becoming too familiar with the structure, leading to less engaging narratives
• Formulaic writing: Risk of stories feeling derivative or lacking originality
• Neglect of other narrative structures: Overshadowing alternative storytelling approaches
• Pressure to conform: Studios favoring hero's journey-based scripts over more experimental narratives

Cultural limitations

• Western-centric perspective: Reflects primarily European and North American storytelling traditions
• Gender bias: Originally focused on male heroes and masculine archetypes
• Individualistic focus: Emphasizes personal achievement over collective action or community-based narratives
• Simplification of complex cultures: Risk of reducing diverse mythologies to fit a single model

Adapting hero's journey

• Explores ways to innovate within the hero's journey framework or combine it with other narrative structures
• Addresses critiques by finding fresh approaches to character development and plot progression
• Encourages writers to tailor the hero's journey to specific genres, cultures, and storytelling mediums

Subverting expectations

• Reversing stages: Altering the traditional order of hero's journey stages for surprise (Memento)
• Anti-heroes: Applying hero's journey structure to morally ambiguous protagonists (The Sopranos)
• Deconstructing archetypes: Challenging traditional roles of mentor, ally, and enemy (Game of Thrones)
• Unexpected outcomes: Subverting the typical triumphant return (The Graduate)

Blending with other structures

• Non-linear narratives: Combining hero's journey with fragmented timelines (Pulp Fiction)
• Multiple perspectives: Telling the same journey from different character viewpoints (Rashomon)
• Genre fusion: Incorporating hero's journey into unconventional genres (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind)
• Metafictional approaches: Self-aware stories that comment on hero's journey tropes (Adaptation)

Psychological aspects

• Explores the deeper psychological implications of the hero's journey structure
• Connects narrative patterns to human psychological development and emotional experiences
• Provides insights for writers to create more relatable and emotionally resonant characters

Character growth

• Internal vs. external journey: Balancing outer plot events with inner psychological development
• Overcoming flaws: Using journey stages to address and resolve character weaknesses
• Psychological archetypes: Incorporating Jungian concepts like the shadow, anima/animus into character arcs
• Transformative experiences: Crafting pivotal moments that fundamentally change the hero's worldview

Audience identification

• Universal themes: Tapping into shared human experiences and emotions through the hero's journey
• Vicarious growth: Allowing viewers to experience personal development through the hero's struggles
• Catharsis: Providing emotional release and resolution through the hero's triumph
• Aspirational narratives: Inspiring audiences to pursue their own personal growth and challenges

Hero's journey analysis

• Provides tools for critically examining and understanding narrative structures in film and television
• Helps writers and critics identify strengths and weaknesses in story construction
• Facilitates the application of hero's journey principles to new and original works

Identifying stages in stories

• Scene breakdown: Mapping specific scenes or episodes to hero's journey stages
• Character analysis: Examining how characters embody different archetypes throughout the story
• Plot structure evaluation: Assessing the pacing and balance of different journey stages
• Comparative analysis: Contrasting how different works interpret and apply the hero's journey

Applying to original works

• Story outlining: Using hero's journey as a framework for developing new narratives
• Character development: Creating character arcs that align with journey stages
• World-building: Structuring fictional universes to support the hero's transformative journey
• Revision techniques: Identifying and strengthening weak points in a story using hero's journey principles