In “Creating the Myth,” Linda Seger outlines the essential aspects that make up the hero myth, and why movies that follow this outline are generally successful. In her analysis, she begins with the idea that every hero myth revolves around a hero who is called upon to accomplish a feat that nobody else in the story is able to do. The hero’s journey begins with an unlikely person being called upon to serve a purpose greater than themselves. Along their journey, the hero is influenced by several archetypical characters that either help the hero, or try to deter the hero from accomplishing their task. The hero’s journey ends when they have accomplished their task, and in doing so, become a greater person than what they were in the beginning. A film that found tremendous success by following this outline was “Kung Fu Panda.” The film’s protagonist is Po, a panda that, from the beginning, does not appear to be capable of doing anything heroic. As in the hero myth outline stated by Leger, Po comes from a “mundane world, doing mundane things” (Seger 312). He works in his father’s noodle shop and although he admires those that practice Kung Fu, he does not have any martial arts training of his own. But Po is content with …show more content…
In the movie, this low point occurs when Po finally receives the Dragon Scroll, which is supposed to grant him the power to become the Dragon Warrior. When he opens the scroll, he finds that the scroll is blank, and realizes that the scroll would not give him the powers he needs to defeat his adversary. At this point, Po comes to the conclusion that he was indeed picked by mistake and that he has no chance of ever becoming a Kung Fu Master. Master Shifu comes to this conclusion as well and tells Po that, for his safety, he should return
What is a hero? The book Mythology by Edith Hamilton has a lot of heroes and most of them have 2 things in common. The heroes are in their own ways superior whether it be strength, intelligence, and/or courage. The second thing they have in common is a quest that establishes their greatness and proving that they are good enough to be called heroes. The catch is that even though they may have the characteristics of a hero, not all of them are epic heroes.
One day an old man comes to join the family for supper-- he new Poh-Poh from Old China... the man is odd looking and Liang thinks him to be "the Monkey Man" from the ghost stories her grams is always telling. Regardless Liang and this man she comes to call Wong-Suk become great friends. They go to the movies together and get jeered at (I'm not sure if this is beacause 'Beauty and the Beast' or because they are Chinese); he tells her stories; and she dances for him.
Most myths have a common pattern between them. Today, this pattern is often seen in some of our most beloved motion pictures. Joseph Campbell-a respected 20th century American mythologist, lecturer, and writer- observed this and created a theory based off of the similarities he saw. He showed the world that almost every story with a hero follows the three stages in his theory he called “Monomyth” (Campbell). The monomyth, often times called “The Hero’s Journey” or “The hero with a thousand faces”, includes the departure, initiation, and return stages (Campbell). In these stages the hero leaves his normal life behind, fulfills him/herself in some activity, and returns as a hero (Campbell). These stages can be applied to a smash hit released in 2009, a science-fiction film titled Star Trek. James T. Kirk in Star Trek closely follows Campbell’s theory as he departs from his childhood home in Iowa, fights a rogue Romulan enemy, and returns to Earth as a Starfleet captain.
The book, Beyond The Myth: The Story of Joan of Arc, by Polly Schoyer Brooks, is a biography.
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.
Mark Salzman was perfecting his calligraphy skills and as weeks had passed he began to make progress. He was getting tired of the models and wanted to try something new. When he told Hai Bin,(his teacher), he frowned and said,”Some people spend their entire lives researching a single model. You should be willing to spend a year on this one.” This is an example of the dedication and perseverance these men have towards their chosen artform or skill. Another example of this theme, was Mark’s Wushu teacher, Pan, who punched a fifty pound plate of steel up to ten thousand times a day. Mark’s relentless practicing of the many forms of Wushu was influenced by Pan.
Transformation is used to deal with the predetermined ideas that their societies have. Jin Wang faces stereotypes that make it hard for him to function in his new neighbourhood. The Monkey King desires to match the others that originally humiliated him. Danny has trouble being tolerated by peers who at first enjoyed his presence. All must transform to handle an unwelcoming society.
The end of the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, is a tragedy as Jen leaps off the mountain and leaves Lo trying to understand her decision (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). She is also overwhelmed by the death of Li Mu Bai, who demonstrated chivalry in the film. She has also upset her fantasy is gone and that she is no longer the person she was in the Gobi desert where she was with Lo (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). She tells him to make a wish and this connects the story of the young man leaping from the mountain to save his parents (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). Jen feels by leaping, she is granting Lo’s wish (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). This makes Jen the tragic hero as she is finally free from the imprisonment of her duties as a governor’s daughter as well as her past with the Jade Fox (Crouching Tiger, Hidden
Joseph Campbell defines a hero as “someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself ” (Moyers 1). The Hero’s Journey consists of three major parts: the separation, the initiation and the return. Throughout a character’s journey, they must complete a physical or spiritual deed. A physical deed involves performing a daunting and courageous act that preserves the well-being of another person. A spiritual deed calls for action that improves another individual’s state of mind. While fulfilling their journey, a hero must undergo a psychological change that involves experiencing a transformation from immaturity into independence and sophistication.Campbell states that these events are what ultimately guides a hero into completing
From the beginning of time, mythology has appeared to be one key method of understanding life’s confusions and battles. Within these myths lies a hero. From myth to myth and story to story, heroes experience what may be called a struggle or a journey, which lays down their plot line. Bearing tremendous strength, talent, and significant admiration, a hero holds what is precious to their audience, heroism. Over time however, no matter the hero, the hero’s role remains indistinguishable and identical to the position of every other hero.
“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them - that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like” (Lau Tzu). Born into a life of noodles and relaxation Po, a chubby panda, always wanted to be a Kung Fu master. Out of nowhere an opportunity arises to have his dream become reality. Po, like any normal panda snatches up this once in a lifetime opportunity and runs with it. But when the going gets tough, he doesn’t know if this is the life he was meant to live. While the film was meant for enjoyment, DreamWorks has incorporated clear examples of the three major Chinese Schools of Thought: Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism.
In her poem "Myth," Natasha Trethewey uses mythology, a unique structure, rhyme pattern, and punctuation to make form and content inseparable. Each of these elements serves to share the stages of grief one goes through one feels at the death of a loved one as well as the feelings of deep loss and longing.
In movies, novels, and life, people are named as heroes. The heroes we establish and the heroes we recognize, however, may not meet the criteria for a mythic hero. A mythic hero ventures forth on his journey, and comes forth from the hero’s path to greatness. Joseph Campbell, a mythologist who studied many of the great human myths and religious tales, realized, in studying these myths and tales, that there were certain steps that every hero went through. Campbell called this “The Hero’s Journey”; it is based on Carl Jung's idea that all human beings have an archetype.
Though Bruce was an accomplished actor, he had many other talents that made his even more memorable. He was a skilled dancer, who had won a cha-cha competition in Hong Kong and studied ballet. Upon first moving to America, he taught dance and martial arts to help bring a steady cash flow. Dance did not simply provide a paycheck for Bruce but it also helped to make his fighting style more original. With that, he was able to create his own fighting style known as Jeet Kune Do, this was a modified version of Wing Chun that included other techniques like fencing and Kung Fu. Bruce Lee said, Jeet Kune Do was mainly focused on ways to avoid a hit. This was revolutionary in the fighting world and on screen. Bruce Lee paved a way for martial artists and Asian actors, he was a hit in Hollywood. It did not stop there though, he also owned 3 different martial arts schools, two in California and one in in Seattle, Washington. Bruce was a dancer, instructor, skilled fighter and actor but most importantly was a devoted husband to Linda Emery and a father to a young boy named Brandon and a girl named Shannon. His daughter, Shannon now speaks publicly about her father. She says he was a hero to many people, especially her. She is an actress, martial artist and was lucky enough to learn her father’s style Jeet Kune Do under one of Bruce’s students. Unfortunately, Brandon Lee is not here with us anymore. He thought so highly of his father; he followed in Bruce’s footsteps spending eight years in Hong Kong, becoming an actor, specializing in martial arts and had died young and tragically. Brandon had a hard time coping with the loss of his father and being the son of Bruce Lee and living up to the expectations. Brandon had a hard time in school continuously dropping in and out of school. Brandon wanted to honor his father
If you search Amazon Movies & TV for kung fu, it returns over 5000 hits. Every kid in America knows that kung fu is a Chinese martial art. Even though kung fu is almost always associated with China, it’s historical significance in ancient and modern Chinese life is underappreciated and not given the analysis it deserves. If you ask someone to name the great inventions and accomplishments of ancient China, he or she will probably mention the Great Wall, the compass, fireworks, and paper. And yet kung fu is one the original great inventions of China, one that embodies fundamental elements of Chinese culture. In fact, it has probably, more than any other Chinese creation, influenced and even helped sustain the Chinese cultural identity.