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This will be a borderline religion/philosophy thread, but I've always approached it in the same spirit as I once did religion, so it feels more at home here.

Joseph Campbell was probably the foremost mythological scholar of the last century. And certainly mythology's primary champion. He was profoundly prolific, but much of his best-known work deals with the unifying themes present throughout religious and philosophical mythology, and how they speak to underlying truths about the human condition. Myths, to him, were and are the spiritual guideposts of our shared experience.

One of my favorite books is Campbell's "Reflections on the Art of Living." Campbell has sometimes come under scholarly criticism for the perception that he homogenizes myths at the expense of remembering their differences (I wholly disagree), and for his occasional predilection for likening mythological meanings to now-debunked psychoanalysis (on this, I agree).

But, to me, his ability to find the transcendent in mythology, to boil down stories to their essence, and to pull from them meaning that can be universally applicable to those of any belief, remains untouched. Those things, then, will be the aim of this thread.

I've somewhat tragically lost my copy of the book, which was marked extensively with notes and highlights from my many readings of it. It may yet be found, but until then I'm left with the internet. So many of these will be shamelessly ripped from a few well-known sources of Campbell quotes.

There isn't a particular talking point or question here. But I hope to regularly update this thread with quotes and ideas, and if any of them inspire you to discussion, feel free to chime in.

"Love is exactly as strong as life."

from A Joseph Campbell Companion

Originally posted by Digi
This will be a borderline religion/philosophy thread, but I've always approached it in the same spirit as I once did religion, so it feels more at home here.

Joseph Campbell was probably the foremost mythological scholar of the last century. And certainly mythology's primary champion. He was profoundly prolific, but much of his best-known work deals with the unifying themes present throughout religious and philosophical mythology, and how they speak to underlying truths about the human condition. Myths, to him, were and are the spiritual guideposts of our shared experience.

One of my favorite books is Campbell's "Reflections on the Art of Living." Campbell has sometimes come under scholarly criticism for the perception that he homogenizes myths at the expense of remembering their differences (I wholly disagree), and for his occasional predilection for likening mythological meanings to now-debunked psychoanalysis (on this, I agree).

But, to me, his ability to find the transcendent in mythology, to boil down stories to their essence, and to pull from them meaning that can be universally applicable to those of any belief, remains untouched. Those things, then, will be the aim of this thread.

I've somewhat tragically lost my copy of the book, which was marked extensively with notes and highlights from my many readings of it. It may yet be found, but until then I'm left with the internet. So many of these will be shamelessly ripped from a few well-known sources of Campbell quotes.

There isn't a particular talking point or question here. But I hope to regularly update this thread with quotes and ideas, and if any of them inspire you to discussion, feel free to chime in.
The main Campbell critique I've heard is that he was misogynist.

That's more of a personal criticism. And one which, frankly, I was unaware of. Still, if his work is profoundly moving, as long as it isn't reflected in his work, that's where I'd prefer to keep the focus. But I did say "scholarly criticism" in the OP. If true, it's unfortunate, but a bit beyond the scope of my intent.

It's also surprising to me. Given the sensitive nature of gender relations today, and the sheer volume that he wrote, there are probably quotes that could be used (twisted?) toward that end. But given some of his writings/lectures on the power of the female and the feminine mode in mythology, it's somewhat shocking to me.

One of my favorite Campbell quotes isn't about myths, though. It's a tangent in a lecture he gave where he talks about having a list of people that he openly and actively hates. He also demonstrates full awareness of this aspect of his personality, and acknowledges it in a self-deprecating manner. He wasn't a saint; just a gifted writer/speaker. If there are warts, I'd happily acknowledge them as flaws while maintaining my love of his work.

Originally posted by Digi
That's more of a personal criticism. And one which, frankly, I was unaware of. Still, if his work is profoundly moving, as long as it isn't reflected in his work, that's where I'd prefer to keep the focus. But I did say "scholarly criticism" in the OP. If true, it's unfortunate, but a bit beyond the scope of my intent.

It's also surprising to me. Given the sensitive nature of gender relations today, and the sheer volume that he wrote, there are probably quotes that could be used (twisted?) toward that end. But given some of his writings/lectures on the power of the female and the feminine mode in mythology, it's somewhat shocking to me.
Well, if you look at the hero's journey, he doesn't really consider women much as beings with agency, and the two points of the hero's journey where women are involved they exist as Goddesses to be worshipped/protected or as temptresses. Basically the virgin-whore dichotomy.

Yes, but he's talking about mythological archetypes. Where do we draw the line between his elucidation of historical stories and what we consider to be his own beliefs? I'd say he was drawing out a history of shared motifs, not really imposing his own beliefs onto them.

I'm quite sure I could find quotes where he clarifies that the "Hero" is a gender-neutral term. "Hero With a Thousand Faces" was first published in 1949, after all. No one would have batted an eyelash at gender-specific terms in the way we do today.

{edit} not for nothing, I Googled "Joseph Campbell criticism" and scrolled through about 5 pages of headlines. One accusation of Anti-Semitism, several on his work, but nothing on misogyny. Doesn't mean it isn't out there, and I was admittedly only clicking on links that seemed promising, but it seems somewhat buried.

Dug a little deeper into some of the criticism articles. The aforementioned "homogenization" criticism seems the loudest. But it's mentioned that he focuses a lot on stories that feature a male hero, and myths that reinforce this archetype as male-centric.

Even in Hero With a Thousand Faces, he cites dozens of examples that demonstrate that many of these stages on the Hero's Journey are metaphoric. The "Goddess," while often literally a female, is in mythological terms a gift, boon, or other aid to the hero. That it routinely manifests as female in history is at least partially incidental. Same with the Temptress; which, if memory serves, is at least marginally more likely to show up as a devil, serpent, or demon or somesuch in actual myths. It's all reflective of an inner journey, and not mired in strict enough terms to claim gender roles for each stage.

It's also hard to have a representative sample when pulling from ancient myths. Female-centric stories were hard to come by. I consider that less a criticism of his scholarship than the ancient civilizations he catalogs.

I dunno. Maybe there's something to it. Maybe I haven't read the texts that such criticism focuses on. I just have an almost impossible time reconciling that criticism with everything I've read from both his writings and lectures, where a profoundly different man shows up. I consider his work equally applicable to any gender, age, or ethnicity.

"In the poetic mythological systems, the power that one is addressing out there is a magnifying image of the power that's operating in oneself. One's deity is a function of one's own ability to experience and conceive of the divine. It is the reflex of one's own position in the spiritual hierarchy. As the Chāndogya Upanishad puts it about 900 B.C. in India, "Tat tvam asi" (Thou art that". The mystery of your being is that mystery which you cannot conceive of, which lies beyond the touch of the tongue, and which is metaphorically referred to by the images of your pantheon."

Joseph Campbell, Goddesses: Mysteries of the Feminine Divine, p. 101

"Thinking in mythological terms helps to put you in accord with the inevitables of this vale of tears. You learn to recognize the positive values in what appear to be the negative moments and aspects of your life. The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure."

The Power of Myth (with Bill Moyers)

The Art of Living? Is that a book or are you asking how someone should live?

Originally posted by Van Hohenheim
The Art of Living? Is that a book or are you asking how someone should live?

It's part of the title of the book.
http://www.amazon.com/Reflections-Art-Living-Campbell-Companion/dp/0060926171

"What is it we are questing for? It is the fulfillment of that which is potential in each of us. Questing for it is not an ego trip; it is an adventure to bring into fulfillment your gift to the world, which is yourself. There is nothing you can do that's more important than being fulfilled. You become a sign, you become a signal, transparent to transcendence; in this way you will find, live, become a realization of your own personal myth."

Joseph Campbell, "Pathways to Bliss"

Have you found your copy again?

And what would you say, in your own words, speaks to you in his writing. What are your main takeaways in a couple sentences?

Originally posted by Bardock42
Have you found your copy again?

What, would you say, in your own words, speaks to you in his writing? What are your main takeaways in a couple of sentences? FTFY

Originally posted by Bardock42
Have you found your copy again?

And what would you say, in your own words, speaks to you in his writing. What are your main takeaways in a couple sentences?

I haven't. And likely won't at this point. I'll rebuy it, but it's a shame. LOTS of notes in that old copy. But this is a good question (I may not be able to do a couple sentences, but I'll try to stay somewhat brief).

I discovered him as I was leaving religion, and he was a former Catholic as well, so there were some commonalities. For me, Campbell's writing reignited the power of shared stories for me. Stripped of its literal meaning, myths, stories, and religious tales could still have immense power to elucidate the universality of the human experience, and provide shorthand bridges to strength, understanding, and acceptance. Great art in numerous genres - music, movies, dance, written and spoken word, many others - can do the same. And it's with the ultimate goal of something that was put well in an earlier quote I posted here, that of living in a way that you're the realization of your own personal myth.

He also taught me the importance of adopting such metaphors into ones own life. I don't believe, well, any religion really. But so many mystic traditions point toward this idea of transcending the daily, materialistic grind of life. You don't need to literally believe in a soul/spirit/etc. to understand that finding a personal way to transcend such cyclical banality can be beneficial.

He pulls from now-outdated psychology too often. And in speaking to universality, he occasionally ignores the cultural and sociological differences in the stories. And he'll usually get reduced by the media as the guy who invented the concept of The Hero's Journey. He may have coined it, but the concept is far older. And it's his best known idea but far from his only one. And, to me, the underlying message(s) in his works are wonderful.

...

I realize spamming quotes isn't the best way to handle this topic. But I don't particularly have the patience to be in this forum with any regularity, and it's at least a a sidestep from the usual threads we see here.

I have a digital copy of The Hero with a Thousand Faces, but have never finished it. I've gotten somewhat out of reading full books, and average only like 1 a year now. A few more with Audiobooks. Maybe you could explain a bit more of the "mystical" aspects that speak to you, the messages in his works you find wonderful?

I think generally not just stories but narratives are so important in our day to day life. Basically everything from politics to work to private life is filled with different narratives that informs decisions and the way we think.

As an aside maybe, not sure you play video games, but if you do, have you played "Journey" on the Playstation 3/4? It's a game very much inspired by the hero's journey. Extra Credits did a video about it at well (with some spoilers).

SWKKRbw-e4U

Originally posted by Bardock42
I have a digital copy of The Hero with a Thousand Faces, but have never finished it. I've gotten somewhat out of reading full books, and average only like 1 a year now. A few more with Audiobooks. Maybe you could explain a bit more of the "mystical" aspects that speak to you, the messages in his works you find wonderful?

I think generally not just stories but narratives are so important in our day to day life. Basically everything from politics to work to private life is filled with different narratives that informs decisions and the way we think.

As an aside maybe, not sure you play video games, but if you do, have you played "Journey" on the Playstation 3/4? It's a game very much inspired by the hero's journey. Extra Credits did a video about it at well (with some spoilers).

SWKKRbw-e4U

The Hero's Journey has become a bit ubiquitous in lots of genres. I haven't played Journey but I have, for example, read a book about utilizing the hero's journey to write novels and screenplays. The Hero's Journey played an integral role in George Lucas crafting the original Star Wars films, for another well-known example.

Some dislike this because they think it reduces storytelling to a specific template. I'd argue that it does that only in the wrong hands, as the particulars and myriad permutations of the journey make for near-infinite variability. But once you're aware of the basics, you do start to see a lot of it in movies especially, but also other forms of art on occasion.

I'm in communications/marketing, and have also been a freelance writer. Literally everything I do ties into the idea of narrative in some way. So I understand and agree with you wholeheartedly on narrative, and how it shapes our understanding and approach to nearly anything. And yes, it literally can change the way we think.

And it's not mystical aspects, per se, as that implies somewhat specific beliefs. But I first encountered this firsthand as part of a Greek organization. The initiation rituals and tennants mirrored those of numerous ancient esoteric traditions. The Masons are another well-known example with similar rites and codes. It doesn't require the supernatural, but is - at its core - a vehicle for creating awareness of personal ideals. Usually they juxtapose these ideals with the materialistic outside world, which doesn't cater to the "higher self." Whether to find comfort, solace, strength, or many times to literally transcend those baser instincts, there's some call to action in service of higher goals and ideals than are normally presented to us. And many more public religions and myths tell the same stories with the same end goals, though they're often obscured by petty conflicts or the need to treat myth as literal, historical fact, thus obscuring the metaphoric meaning(s).

Now, I am a huge advocate of free thinking, so I don't necessarily think one Order or another has the best ideals by which to live. But I've also heard other free thinkers disparage such traditions, because they espouse a particular set of standardized values. Or because - as with the Masons - they keep things secretive. I'm not as hard on them on either count, because I can see the aim as being noble, and I think that contemplation of living by a set of noble ideals - whatever form they may take for you - can be a valuable practice that can not only benefit the world around us but, importantly, the individual as well.