WHO IS JOSEPH CAMPBELL?

WHO IS JOSEPH CAMPBELL AND WHAT IS THE HERO’S JOURNEY?

I mentioned Joseph Campbell in my last blog. So who is he?

Joseph Campbell was an American writer (1904-1987). He was a professor of literature at Sarah Lawrence College and specialized in comparative mythology. His best-known work is “The Hero with a Thousand Faces” in which he discusses his theory of the journey of the archetypal hero that is written about in many world mythologies. His publication of “The Hero with a Thousand Faces” has been applied by a wide variety of modern writers and artists, among them George Lucas who credits Campbell’s work in influencing his Star Wars saga.

The central pattern in Campbell’s theory is “The Hero’s Journey”. The hero’s journey is the story of the man or woman who through great suffering, reaches an experience of the eternal source and returns with gifts powerful enough to set their society free.

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

In the case of Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz”, she suffers at the machinations of the wicked witch, overcomes her evil and returns home (there’s no place like home) to appreciate the people who surround and love her and the beautiful simple life of her Kansas farm. Shouldn’t we all aspire to appreciate those around us and the simple things in life?

My Wizard of Oz series continues with these two paintings: “Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!” and “The Munchkin’s Village”. Dorothy overcame some frightening events and found a friendly place with the Munchkins…but it wasn’t home.

All three of these are available for sale at the time I am writing this blog.

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