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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Joseph Campbell, author of The Hero with a Thousand Faces, a scholar who achieved legendary status as an explicator of myths, is reverently profiled in this documentary that encompasses his long life and career. During his childhood in New York City, Campbell was taken to see "Buffalo Bill" Cody's Wild West Show at Madison Square Garden. Young Campbell was fascinated by the Native Americans in Cody's performing troupe and eventually became obsessed with mythology. As he came to realize that myths worldwide had the same underpinnings, he also discovered his life's work. This documentary mentions Campbell's affinity for the writings of James Joyce and Carl Jung, and there is ample footage of Campbell, casual in flannel shirts, giving lectures salted with references to Buddhism, Christianity, classical mythology, St. Augustine, and the rituals of plains Indians. In later life, Campbell is seen being honored at a banquet at which George Lucas rises to give him credit for helping to inspire the writing of Star Wars. After Campbell's death in 1987, heated controversies arose about his work, but this documentary is an overwhelmingly positive look at his writings, lectures, and personality. --Robert J. McNamara
Product Description
"And so Galahad decided that it would be a disgrace to set off on a quest with the other knights. Alone he would enter the dark forest where there was no path. This is the myth of the Hero’s Journey." —Joseph Campbell
One of the greatest storytellers of our time, and arguably the greatest mythologist, Joseph Campbell spent most of his long, rich career explaining how ancient myths like the Hero’s Journey are relevant to modern life. In understanding the importance of myth as a vital, vibrant source of "mankind’s one great story," Campbell inspired others to embark on a quest for the meaning of myth in their own lives. This biographical portrait, filmed shortly before his death in 1987, follows Campbell’s personal quest—a pathless journey of questioning, discovery, and ultimately of delight and joy in a life to which he said, "Yes."
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
90 of 90 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
After owning the VHS of this movie for over five years, and having watched it several times I am really beginning to appreciate the narrative structure of the movie. It just flows well. The amount of ideas expressed in a mere 58 minutes is gargantuan. This is about the best overview of Campbell's overall teaching that I know of (and I have an extensive JC collection). The best parts of the movie are the footage of actual interaction between Campbell and his students (who were often his teachers in other aspects). George Lucas says in the movie that as wonderful as Campbell's books are, they just don't capture the essence of the man. This is the biggest understatement it the movie. This was a wonderful, wonderful man, a genius. Even in death, he remains a role model in an age without them. Add this documentary to your collection and you will not be disappointed.
77 of 81 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I am a reflective person by nature, I believe that most people are, I just think that for the most part, a lot of us have gotten sidetracked. Instead of facing our issues and our challenges we face the television and we escape our pain by watching the pains that others are going through...Anna Nicole...Brittney Spears...and I've heard a lot of people comment on these two women...they're "nuts", "freaks", they "have everything but don't even know it..." but I see these women as symbols for where we are as a culture; lost, sad, empty...
This documentary reminds me in such a brilliant way that we really are on a journey. That each one of us has a role to play out and that is to learn how to be the "star" of our own production. Most of us have not learned how to do this. Most of us think that life just happens and we have to deal with what life gives us. But nothing can happen to us, until it happens "through" us...through our own perceptions, our own attitudes, our own beliefs about it. Most of us profess to believing in some kind of Higher Power and yet we are afraid to admit that this Higher Power is within us...that we are, in Truth, expressions of this Higher Power.
Joseph Campbell would be the first to admit that for the most part, most of us are not afraid of our darkness, our shadows, our fears...what we are most afraid of is our brilliance, our light, our beauty. There is no devil outside of us waiting to "snatch" our souls, we steal from ourselves every time we think we are "miserable sinners" rather than extensions of the Divine.
We are literally in the dark about who we truly are. Anna Nicole was. Brittney Spears is. Most of us are. We are not our bodies. We are not these personalities or these behaviors or any of these things that we typically identify with in the physical world. We will not change anything in our life through hate. In fact, hating certain things will only bring these things about more frequently. We must instead yield to the Light, surrender to Love, be willing to use our Lives in way that serve, bless, and heal the whole world. We must learn to trust our own heart, be guided by our own soul, be lead by our own Light. Don't let yourself become hypnotized or seduced by power "out there"...the true power, the only power...is right where you are...you are your own savior, you are your own hero. Your human life is symbolic for something greater. The only reason why there are shadows in your life is because you are standing in your own Light.
I highly recommend anything by Campbell. His wisdom and his gentle humor can cut through years of accumulated "junk". Campbell truly followed his own advice, he lived his "bliss". His passion, his dedication to Truth, his willingness to shine all shows up in this DVD. He truly was a "godsend" just as you are...just as I am...just as we all are...
Let your Light shine today.
Peace & Blessings.
This documentary reminds me in such a brilliant way that we really are on a journey. That each one of us has a role to play out and that is to learn how to be the "star" of our own production. Most of us have not learned how to do this. Most of us think that life just happens and we have to deal with what life gives us. But nothing can happen to us, until it happens "through" us...through our own perceptions, our own attitudes, our own beliefs about it. Most of us profess to believing in some kind of Higher Power and yet we are afraid to admit that this Higher Power is within us...that we are, in Truth, expressions of this Higher Power.
Joseph Campbell would be the first to admit that for the most part, most of us are not afraid of our darkness, our shadows, our fears...what we are most afraid of is our brilliance, our light, our beauty. There is no devil outside of us waiting to "snatch" our souls, we steal from ourselves every time we think we are "miserable sinners" rather than extensions of the Divine.
We are literally in the dark about who we truly are. Anna Nicole was. Brittney Spears is. Most of us are. We are not our bodies. We are not these personalities or these behaviors or any of these things that we typically identify with in the physical world. We will not change anything in our life through hate. In fact, hating certain things will only bring these things about more frequently. We must instead yield to the Light, surrender to Love, be willing to use our Lives in way that serve, bless, and heal the whole world. We must learn to trust our own heart, be guided by our own soul, be lead by our own Light. Don't let yourself become hypnotized or seduced by power "out there"...the true power, the only power...is right where you are...you are your own savior, you are your own hero. Your human life is symbolic for something greater. The only reason why there are shadows in your life is because you are standing in your own Light.
I highly recommend anything by Campbell. His wisdom and his gentle humor can cut through years of accumulated "junk". Campbell truly followed his own advice, he lived his "bliss". His passion, his dedication to Truth, his willingness to shine all shows up in this DVD. He truly was a "godsend" just as you are...just as I am...just as we all are...
Let your Light shine today.
Peace & Blessings.
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
This video gives the viewer an overview of the life of Joseph Campbell from his early beginnings as a student to his later years. Marvellous examples of synchronicity in action, this video is a must for any serious collector of mythology or comparative religion. Thoroughly entertaining!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Getting Campbell
If you have read Joseph Campbell and were a little mystified, this documentary will send you back to his work for another read. Read more
Published 13 days ago by Griffith Lambert
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic
Always enjoy listening to Joseph Campbell. Very interesting and informative.
And that's a fact!
Joseph Campbell ~ The Other JC
And that's a fact!
Joseph Campbell ~ The Other JC
Published 17 days ago by P. Gagler
5.0 out of 5 stars
Campbell: Consummate teacher
Listen to the sessions and realize you are experiencing a graduate course in religion that nearly priceless. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Larry Langley
4.0 out of 5 stars
new perspective
Campbell unites the different concepts of all the world's religions into his philosophy, not favoring any particular one. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Jenniflower
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Hero's Journey
Joseph Campbell was one of the most outstanding and enlightened men of the 20th century.All of his work will last long after his death . I give any of his work 5 stars and more.
Published 7 months ago by Lenore Tomlinson
5.0 out of 5 stars
brilliant
A spectacular tour-de-force of the Hero myth - required reading for any cultured person. Campbell teaches us how to live life in the spiritual dimension - being "transparent to... Read more
Published 7 months ago by John V. Baumgold
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not what I had expected
I am a huge fan of Campbell. That being said, I was a bit disappointed by this DVD. First, I thought it would be an in depth discussion of "The Hero's Journey". Read more
Published 8 months ago by Aprilia Driver
5.0 out of 5 stars
For all J. Campbell fans
I have most of the works and DVDs produced by Joseph Campbell and I highly recommend this DVD
as a review of his thinking.
as a review of his thinking.
Published 9 months ago by Betty Daubs
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Interesting Guy With a Lot to Teach Us
It's a documentary, it's a biography, it's an intimate glimpse into one of the most fascinating scholars of the 20th century. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Barbara Frederick
4.0 out of 5 stars
A tribute
This documentary was made shortly before Joseph Campbell's death and is a nice mix of biographical and academic material. That said, it's really only an introduction to both. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Enjolras
