Joseph Campbell once proposed that, “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” Over time, the ideology of the characteristics making someone a hero, has changed. The way Campbell perceives a true hero, may differ depending on who you ask. Elton John is an awe-inspiring candidate to not only be a true hero, but an epic one at that. Elton John is an award-winning pianist, singer and composer. Not only is he one of the most controversial, flamboyantly dressed celebrities out there; Sir John is also very invested in philanthropy in addition to giving gratitude. Sir Elton John is an epic hero because he is good-natured and public-spirited, he has overcome many problems, and is an indubitable leader for the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Questioning) community. …show more content…
To be both good-natured and public-spirited has worked out in Sir John's favour. Elton John has shown miles upon miles of gratitude for people suffering AIDS. When it comes to AIDS, he has always put his best foot forward, doing anything to assist those diagnosed. At a Human Rights Campaign, Sir John stated, ”Everyone deserves compassion. Everyone deserves dignity. Everyone, everyone, everyone deserves love. Why am I telling you this? Because the Aids disease is caused by a virus, but the Aids epidemic is not. The Aids epidemic is fuelled by stigma, violence and indifference,” (Watson). To elaborate, Elton John does show vast attentiveness when it comes to AIDS. It is common to see a celebrity care for a cause such as AIDS. What is seldom is all the articulated devotion Elton John has shown to the virus itself and towards the people it has single-handedly affected. ((((((((((NOT
The dictionary defines hero in mythology and legend as, "a man who is endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for his bold exploits, and born of divine or royal blood. He is a person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life." In addition, I believe a hero is one to be looked up to and emulated. What is interesting about epic heroes is that their great deeds and exploits all have to do with defeating themselves, so with help from the gods they can truly become heroic. They can only defeat themselves with the help of the gods.
Watching a film, one can easily recognize plot, theme, characterization, etc., but not many realize what basic principle lies behind nearly every story conceived: the hero’s journey. This concept allows for a comprehensive, logical flow throughout a movie. Once the hero’s journey is thoroughly understood, anyone can pick out the elements in nearly every piece. The hero’s journey follows a simple outline. First the hero in question must have a disadvantaged childhood. Next the hero will find a mentor who wisely lays out his/her prophecy. Third the hero will go on a journey, either literal or figurative, to find him/herself. On this journey the hero will be discouraged and nearly quit his/her quest. Finally, the hero will fulfill the prophecy and find his/herself, realizing his/her full potential. This rubric may be easy to spot in epic action films, but if upon close inspection is found in a wide array of genres, some of which are fully surprising.
Who is a hero? In contemporary times, usage of the term has become somewhat of a cliché. Over the years, the term “hero” has become representative of a wide variety of individuals, each possessing differing traits. Some of the answers put forth by my colleagues (during our in-class discussion on heroism) as to whom they consider heroes pointed to celebrities, athletes, teachers and family members. Although the occupations differed, each of their heroes bore qualities that my classmates perceived as extraordinary, whether morally or physically. Nonetheless, Webster’s defines “hero” as “a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities.” Thus, it is worth considering that individuals become heroes relative to the situation with which they’re faced.
Elton John is listed as the top supporter on www.looktothestars.org (a celebrity charity database). The famous singer has donated countless money in previous years to organizations around the world. John has retained the title of the most generous person in music for many years since 2004 (Look). A great example of the fantastic things he does was shown in 2008, when he donated over 100 motorcycles to a small African nation, for use of doctors and nurses visiting patients (Look).
A hero is somebody who commits an act of remarkably bravery or who has shown an admirable quality such as great courage or strength of character. (Encarta, 2009) Joseph Campbell has come up with eight of his own characteristics of a hero. Joseph Campbell is known as a scholar of mythology. There are several people in our times that are considered a hero. Whether, these heroes are fictional or nonfiction, they all portray some kind of heroic abilities.
The dictionary definition of a hero is someone who is admired of their achievements or their noble qualities. To me, the definition of a hero is someone who helps people and is caring. In this world there are so many people mistaken for heroes. One example of a “hero” is O.J. Simpson. O.J was best known for being the running back of the Buffalo Bills and was nicknamed “The Juice”. Although he was a Heisman Trophy winner he was also a major suspect of a murder case involving his wife and her new boyfriend. Even though all the evidence was there he was found innocent and never went to jail. OJ Simpson was an amazing football player, but he should be judged by everything he does not just his achievements. One person I think is a hero in all realms is Walter Payton. A little after Simpson retired Walter came and played football for the Chicago Bears. Very quickly into his career he was given the nickname “Sweetness” which describes his personality in one word. Walter inspired his team and community. Every Christmas him and his wife helped the underprivileged children around the Chicago area. Walter said “I want to be the guy who is always remembered for giving his all whenever he was on the field”. I think that this quote shows his respectfulness of the sport and his kindness for others.
A hero is a person, typically a man, who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievement, or noble qualities. John Jay was a hero because he was one the nation’s Founding Fathers. He helped bring independence to the colonies along with creating a constitution
Ser Elton John has been one of the most iconic and successful British pop stars since the 1970’s. His music is based from his own life experiences as well as those of his country and of his time. Elton John is known for his passion and vivacity for his career, his fortitude to fight AIDS, his homosexuality and his importance to the evolution of the British and the American pop/rock genre.
The Hero’s Journey is a pattern of narrative that appears in novels, storytelling, myth, and religious ritual. It was first identified by the American scholar Joseph Campbell in his book A Hero with Thousand Faces. Campbell also discussed this pattern in his interview to Bill Moyers which was later published as a book The Power of Myths. This pattern describes the typical adventure of the archetype known as The Hero, the person who goes out and achieves great deeds. Campbell detailed many stages in the Hero’s Journey, but he also summarized the pattern in three fundamental phases: Separation, Ordeal, and Return that all heroes, in spite of their sex, age, culture, or religion, have to overcome in order to reach the goal. Alice in Wonderland, written by Lewis Carroll, provides a good example of the Hero's Journey. This story describes the adventures of Alice, a young English girl, in Wonderland. Although she lacks some of the stages identified by Campbell, she still possesses many of them that are necessary for a Hero to be considered a Hero.
According to google.com a hero is someone who “is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievments, or noble equalities.” (google.com). For example, superman , superman is an all time american classic modern hero who is admired for his courage and for saving earth multiple times from super villains. Another example of a hero is Beowulf. Beowulf was created around 1000 AD and was known far and wide throughout the lands for his selflessness,bravery, and courage .
The definition and guidelines for using the term “hero” to describe a person can be as diverse as the land we live in, however, regardless of your cultural identity the shield of “hero” must be earned. It is defined as “a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities, is regarded as a model or ideal (Dictionary.com, 2014). In Classical Mythology, a hero is “a being of godlike prowess, a warrior of special strength, courage or ability” (Dictionary.com, 2014). This describes how we have portrayed our present day heroes, the pedestal that we put them on, after actions reflecting heroism, have been awarded the title. Difficult to earn, harder to retain, but forever remembered.
According to Webster’s dictionary a definition for a hero is “a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent” (Dictionary). The thing with heroes is that they are not all mythological or legendary figures; in fact, heroes can be almost anyone that hold our admiration towards them for whatever reason. Any person can be deemed a hero from the random person seen walking across the street to one of your relative, so eloquently it is there journey that person goes through that makes them become the hero. In Joseph Campbell’s book Hero with a Thousand Faces to be a hero you have to follow along the steps that Joseph Campbell created called Mystic Hero’s Journey. From the start of the first stage where the call to adventure begins it all,
To the world today, a hero is someone distinguished by exceptional courage, nobility, or strength; but really, anyone can be a hero. A hero can vary from someone as well-known as George Washington to someone as unheard of as anyone’s very own mother. Someone who has done a good deed for someone else is hero. The biggest heroes are the ones in well-known books and plays, such as Odysseus from The Odyssey, or have made a huge difference in the history of this world, like Mahatma Gandhi. Siddhartha Gautama is a hero, but not in the same way Odysseus or Gandhi are. Although these three influential people went through different journeys in order to accomplish different things, they are all heroes in their own way and have been through the same cycle of the road of trials and crisis/salvation.
I think a hero is someone that can risk their lives, they don't have to even risk their lives they can also do things for other people. My hero is Martin Luther King Jr because he helped end segregation because it was a horrible thing.
Who is a hero? A hero has a different definition depending on who you ask. The definition always carries an opinion on who said it. To me a hero is a quick-witted leader who does not ever take the easy way out of something hard and they always function like normal people because that’s what they are. They might not be noticeable, but they will always make the greater good the priority.