* Ethos * Logos * Pathos *

Songs -

*The Chemicals Between Us by Bush
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9T55V-FY6A

*Woke Up This Morning by Alabama 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgoyXJiZqLk

Stage 1 & 2 of the Journey

Vogler, Christopher. Vogler, Christopher. “Book Two: Stages of the Journey.” The Writer's Journey. Third. Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions, 1998. 83-105.

Summary:

The Ordinary World –
1)Pre-story Basic:
a.The title is important in attracting the audience’s interest.
b.The prologue gives the back-story, lets the audience know what kind of movie or story it will be, or starts the story with a bang and lets the audience get adjusted.

2)Setting up the story:
a.The opening image
i.Meant to attract the audience, set up the ordinary world, and show where the story is going to go.
ii.Lets the hero make an entrance, introduce themselves, and relate with the audience.
b.The initial moments are very important in setting the scene for the reader. It is important to conjure up familiar moods, images, comparisons, or metaphors so that the story relates to the reader’s life.

3)The Ordinary World:
a.Contrasts with the world that the journey takes the hero to.
i.Shows the hero’s back-story.
b.Usually has foreshadowing.
c.Sets up a series questions for the audience to ask about the hero.
d.Humanizing the hero
i.The Ordinary World lets the audience see the hero’s inner and outer problems; show what they are lacking, or how they are flawed/wounded.
e.Informs the audience that something is in jeopardy.
f.Sets up themes.

The Call to Adventure –
1)There is an inciting incident which causes the hero to stray from their Ordinary World.

2)Kind of Calls:
a.Synchronicity, Temptation, Herald, Reconnaissance (Villain), Disorientation, Lack or Need, No More Options, Warnings – Negative, Multiple Calls

3)Establishes the kind of Heros:
a.Reluctant
i.Refusal of the call.
b.Willing
c.Gung-ho
i.Go after adventure.

Reaction:
Before reading this book I never noticed the call to adventure, but it makes sense to have it. Without it, the hero’s journey would just seem like his normal life, and by no means an epic journey of change. This reading has made me realize how important setting the scene is, especially in creating an identity for the hero.

Questions:

1)How do multiple calls to adventure make you feel about the hero? Does it create a sense of immediacy/importance to the issue, or make you feel like the hero is kind of cowardly?

2)What kind of effect does a story gain, or lose from having the ordinary world show up later?

Vocabulary:
Synchronicity

Vogler 3rd Reading

Vogler, Christopher. “Book One: Mapping the Journey.” The Writer's Journey. Third. Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions, 1998. 49-80.

Summary:

Threshold Guardians – They are usually not the main villain, but rather a lesser evil. Their main duty is to test the hero’s determination and ability to adapt. The Threshold Guardian is usually just a small obstacle (person or thing) that slows down the hero’s journey, but does not stop it. A successful hero will: 1.) will not be discouraged from their journey to change, 2.) will see Threshold Guardians as useful Allies, and 3.) will feel compassion for their enemies and will not destroy them.

Herald – They are the catalyst for adventure. Heralds issue challenges and announce the coming of significant change; the Call to Adventure or warn the Hero of a “new energy.”
*The Herald can come into the story at any point, but usually appears in the beginning.

Shapeshifter – They change mood or appearances, and are difficult for the hero and audience to characterize. The Shapeshifter is usually a projection of the Hero in a member of the opposite sex. Shapeshifters add doubt and suspense. They can either be helpful or hurtful; a catalyst for change, or a symbol of the psychological urge to transform.

Shadow – They are the things that we do not like about ourselves, all the dark secrets that we cannot admit, even to ourselves. However, the shadow is not all bad. Shadows usually bring out the best in the hero, by challenging the hero (i.e., by putting them in a life-threatening situation).

Ally – They are the sidekicks who do the mundane tasks. Allies usually express our underutilize parts, which would make us better friends.

Trickster – They embody the energies of mischief and desire for change, but as catalyst characters they usually affect the lives of others and remain unchanged themselves.

Reaction:
I never realized how much our brains analyze movies, even if we do not do it conscientiously. It really is important to choose the movies I watch carefully. I usually watch the murder- drug dealing movies and do not want to idolize either of those things.

Questions:
1.) Do you guys think that Allies, as sidekicks, are truly important to the progression of a story?
2.) Do you think a Shadow could be the Hero?
3.) Can a story be happy and exciting at the same time without Allies, Villains, and Threshold Guardians?
4.) If you guys were to psychoanalyze your lives, do you think you would see these characters appear?

Cindy-rella

If I were to be considered any Disney character, it would have to be Cinderella. First off, we are both fair-skinned blondes. Second, we are both hard workers who have spent years dutifully listening to our parent/guardian’s orders and have been overshadowed by our siblings. It is important to note that just because we are obedient, does not mean we are submissive. We fight for what we want, like Cinderella fought for her right to go to the ball. Sometimes, however, our efforts don’t work as planned and we need a little extra help from the powers that be (i.e., the Fairy Godmother).

More importantly, we are both believers. We believe in the good in the world. Even during the darkest moments, Cinderella managed to stay positive. We believe in our own dreams of the future. She had aspirations for a life with the Prince, and I hope to find a good job and have a happy life in the future. Finally, we believe in the power of friends. Like Cinderella, I feel like I can always count on my friends. Her mouse friends helped her get to the ball in style and they, along with the birds, helped the prince find her. In turn, I would do anything for my friends and try to have good intentions in all that I do. I believe that even the little things you do for others go a long way. That is why it was so special that Cinderella made clothes for the mice, even though they clearly did not need them.

We are both slaves to the clock. She had to leave the ball before midnight and I have to wake up way too early for class and always find myself looking at the clock hoping that the day will go by quicker. We also seem to share the bad habit of losing things.