Hero's Journey Research Articles

Thematic and intertextual analysis from a feasibility study of the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music with clients in eating disorder treatment.

Eating disorders (ED) are characterized by serious and persistent disturbances with eating, weightcontrol, and body image. Symptoms impact physical health, psychosocial functioning, and can be life-threatening. Individuals diagnosed with an ED experience numerous medical and psychiatric comorbidities due to issues caused by or underlying the ED. Therefore, it is vital to address the complex nature of an ED, as well as the comorbid and underlying issues. This necessitates a psychotherapeutic approach that can help to uncover, explore, and support working through unresolved emotions and experiences. Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) is an in-depth music psychotherapy approach utilizing therapist-programmed music to support the client in uncovering and examining underlying and unresolved issues. The literature surrounding the use of GIM with clients in ED treatment is anecdotal and comprised primarily of clinical case studies. This secondary analysis, based on a descriptive feasibility study that integrated GIM sessions into the client's regular ED treatment and examined 116 transcripts from a series of sessions of eight clients. Thematic analysis of the transcripts identified nine subthemes and three themes that emerged. These themes include emotional landscape (feeling stuck, acknowledging emotions, and working through unresolved emotions), relationships (self, others, and eating disorders), and transformation and growth (finding strength, change, and empowerment). A short series of GIM sessions helped ED clients identify and address issues underlying the ED and to gain or reclaim a sense of self that enabled them to make choices for their life that support their recovery and sense of empowerment. Intertextual analysis revealed imagery indicative of the Hero's Journey. Further, how engagement in this embodied aesthetic experience stimulates perceptual, cognitive, and affective brain functions which are key in fostering behavioural and psychological change is explicated as it relates to ED treatment and recovery.

Hero's journey as a framework to study a project manager

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore which insights the hero’s journey framework provides to the micro-level perspective of the process a project manager goes through in a project.Design/methodology/approachThe study design involves a longitudinal qualitative case study in which we follow a project manager over the course of two projects. In Canada, the project manager undertook the world’s first hotel rooftop honeybee garden project. Later, he implemented a rooftop honeybee garden at the Waldorf Astoria New York. The stages and archetypes within the hero’s journey framework are used as an analytical grid for analysis.FindingsOur research reveals how the hero’s journey framework can be utilized as a lens to understand the process of a project from the viewpoint of the project manager. The research shows that projects can have comprehensive stages and transform the project managers themselves.Research limitations/implicationsThe research investigates small-scale projects that are peripheral to the core business of the case organizations. A limitation is that the findings may not be applicable for bigger, more complex and core business projects. Another limitation is that the research relies on secondary data only. Two managerial implications: For a project manager to start out on a hero’s journey, triggers that make the project manager respond to “a calling” need to be present. The project manager must be able to deal with different archetypes, whether helpful or harmful, along the process.Originality/valueThe research extends existing knowledge on a project manager’s decisions, obstacles, opportunities, thoughts, emotions and actions through the project process by showing how the hero’s journey framework can be used as a supplement to the well-known metaphor of a project as a temporary organization. Further on, the research demonstrates how an analytical framework can enhance the understanding of the process of a project manager from a micro-level perspective. In addition, the research deals with corporate social responsibility (CSR) related projects that are of high relevance in the contemporary society.

Telling Data Stories with the Hero's Journey: Design Guidance for Creating Data Videos.

Data videos increasingly becoming a popular data storytelling form represented by visual and audio integration. In recent years, more and more researchers have explored many narrative structures for effective and attractive data storytelling. Meanwhile, the Hero's Journey provides a classic narrative framework specific to the Hero's story that has been adopted by various mediums. There are continuous discussions about applying Hero's Journey to data stories. However, so far, little systematic and practical guidance on how to create a data video for a specific story type like the Hero's Journey, as well as how to manipulate its sound and visual designs simultaneously. To fulfill this gap, we first identified 48 data videos aligned with the Hero's Journey as the common storytelling from 109 high-quality data videos. Then, we examined how existing practices apply Hero's Journey for creating data videos. We coded the 48 data videos in terms of the narrative stages, sound design, and visual design according to the Hero's Journey structure. Based on our findings, we proposed a design space to provide practical guidance on the narrative, visual, and sound custom design for different narrative segments of the hero's journey (i.e., Departure, Initiation, Return) through data video creation. To validate our proposed design space, we conducted a user study where 20 participants were invited to design data videos with and without our design space guidance, which was evaluated by two experts. Results show that our design space provides useful and practical guidance for data storytellers effectively creating data videos with the Hero's Journey.

Console to Movie Success, Leveraging Nostalgia, and Introducing Subversion in The Super Mario Bros. Movie

This research examines the success of "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" by leveraging nostalgia and introducing subversion. The adaptation process from video game to film often fails, as seen with previous attempts like "Warcraft" (2016) and "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li" (2009). However, "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" (2023) succeeded by retaining core elements of the original game while innovatively transforming its narrative and character dynamics. The movie's success is attributed to its nostalgic appeal, faithful yet refreshed character portrayals, and the subversion of traditional gender roles. By making Princess Peach a mentor and strategist and providing Mario a hero's journey from an ordinary plumber to a savior, the film connects with both old fans and new audiences. This study utilizes Andrew Tate's theory of fidelity and transformation, along with perspectives on nostalgia, audience engagement, and gender role subversion, to analyze the movie's reception and success.

A review of cultural and social representations of islands: Implications for island destination marketing

Abstract Islands have always inspired human imagination, being associated with heroic journeys, myths, mysteries, and sacred quests, and often romanticised as ideal places to escape from ordinary life towards pleasant tourism destinations. Some studies have assessed island destination image, but only little attention has been paid to the social and cultural representations of islands and their role in island destination image formation. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to conduct in-depth research on the social and cultural meanings of islands and discuss practical implications for destination marketing. This work was based on an extensive literature review of scientific articles, books and chapters on island destinations to identify categories of such meanings assigned to islands over the centuries. The results reveal that islands are generally perceived as sacred and unique remote places, marked by a pristine environment and often associated with a romantic idyll. However, islands also face challenges, as there are several negative image elements, namely related to isolation, inaccessibility, and extreme weather events. Both attractive dimensions and those revealing islands’ vulnerability, visible in social representations, should be considered in destination image assessment, revealing potentialities and challenges for the marketing of island destinations.

The Hero in the Epic of Sheikh San'an Hawrami According to Joseph Campbell's Theory of the "Hero's Journey"

This paper entitled (The Hero in the Epic of Sheikh San'an Hawrami According to Joseph Campbell's Theory of the "Hero's Journey") is an attempt to introduce the hero of the Epic of Sheikh San'an Hawrami according to the theory of the hero's journey, That was set by the American mythologist Joseph Campbell (1904-1987). This theory consists of three sections, All three sections consist of seventeen stages. Joseph Campbell believes that no hero being is excluded from these seventeen stages, but not every Hero has to go through all seventeen stages in parallel, but varies from Hero to Hero. In this study, the journey of the hero of the Epic of Sheikh San'an Hawrami has been evaluated according to this theory and all the stages that the hero has gone through with the stages that the hero has not gone through have been discussed. Finally, the results are presented, one of which is the circular event of the Epic and the relationship between the gender of the hero and the subject of the journey. Through this special feature, the hero and the path of the journey within the structure of Sheikh San'an Hawrami epic is identified and by using the theory takes the relationship of Sheikh San'an Hawrami epic with several genders of Sufism and mythology to the structure of world epic.

IMPACT OF THE JUNGIAN ARCHETYPES OF THE INNOCENT, THE ORPHAN, THE PATRON, THE WARRIOR, AND THE HERO’S JOURNEY ON YOUNG'S FIVE SCHEMATIC AREAS

This research investigates the impact of Jung's archetypes of innocent, orphan, patron, and hero's journey on Young's five schematic areas. Its statistical population is individuals who were active members in social network groups of psychology, whose total number is not available. The research is correlational. The statistical sample with four predictive variables should be more than (50 + 8M) (82 people) according to Tabachnik and Fidel's formula, to calculate the sample size in regression research. 244 people participated in this research. The sampling is random. It used the Pearson-Mar archetype questionnaire and the 75-question short form of Young's schema to collect data. This research used Pearson's moment correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression to test the hypotheses, and α=0.05 was a significance level. The results showed that the Jungian archetype of the innocent, orphan, supporter, and hero’s journey has, apart from the warrior archetype, a relationship with Young's primary maladaptive schemas and can predict them.

From Modernizing Tradition to Traditionalizing Modernity: U. R. Ananthamurthy's Samskara as Postcolonial Bildungsroman

Abstract The twentieth century is witness to a revival of interest in the bildungsroman as writers, especially from postcolonies in the Global South, turn to it to reflect on concerns of history, culture, and social life in a postcolonial setting. Scholars, however, disagree regarding the nature of these reworkings. Some see them as a continuation of the original European models established by Goethe, Dickens, and other European writers. Others find such associations Eurocentric and call for more local standards of evaluation. This article examines this debate by looking closely at a version of the postcolonial bildungsroman proposed by the Kannada writer U. R. Ananthamurthy in his 1965 novel Samskara. The novel follows an orthodox Brahmin priest from Karnataka who, disillusioned by the corruption and moral decay in his community, embarks on a pilgrimage to rediscover his identity in the rapidly modernizing world of twentieth-century India. Ananthamurthy's bildungsroman, while retaining some structural similarities, departs from European models in fundamental ways. The motif of the hero's journey, for instance, is flipped. The novel tracks the hero's growing discontentment with his community leading to a sense of communal alienation, thus inverting the European journey-trajectory that typically follows the hero's movement toward social integration. It also deviates from the generic Western rags-to-riches storyline that complements that hero's road to social integration. Instead, it adopts the narrative structure of the Niti-shastra, a set of precolonial Hindu texts that teach about the wise conduct of life. Such readings not only facilitate fresh ways of understanding the relationship between the Western and the postcolonial models, but they also allow new insights into understanding how South Asian authors utilize the bildungsroman to rediscover precolonial and classical works through modernity.

“FORMULATING JOKOTOLE’S HERO'S JOURNEY: ANALYSIS OF THE LIFE JOURNEY OF THE MADURA’S LEGEND"

This study looks at Madura's culture using Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey, focusing on the story of Jokotole. It explores how this tale shares regular story parts and reflects Madura's culture using Campbell's ideas. The different parts of the Hero's Journey, like 'Call to Adventure' and 'Tests, Allies, and Enemies,' show how Jokotole changes during the story. This study shows how the story is lasting, teaches good values, and tells about Madura's way of life. It's not just a story; it keeps important things about who Madura's people are and what they believe. This research shows that Madura's stories are still important today, crossing time and cultures. It helps us see how stories connect people all around the world. Keywords: Madurese legends, Hero's Journey, Cultural insights.

The Legendary Struggle: A Hero’s Journey

The hero's journey is a timeless narrative framework that explores the transformative journey of a protagonist facing trials, tribulations, and personal growth. Along their journey, they face inner and outer challenges, battling monsters, facing moral dilemmas, and ultimately undergoing a profound transformation. This study focused on The Legendary Struggle: A Hero’s Journey. A direct content analysis approach was used in the selected epic stories in the Philippines such as Ibalon, Indarapatra and Sulayman, Hinilawod, Hudhud of Aliguyon, and Kudaman by examining the struggles of a hero’s journey in terms of separation, initiation, and return. The results indicated in the separation phase have an emotional impact on the hero’s part and most likely on the family members and the people around. Moreover, the hero felt bothered because he would be away from his loved ones and homeland. In the initiation phase, the hero has struggles and challenges in his journey where he needs to fight to preserve the role, defend the homeland, and fight in the name of love. In the return phase, the hero struggles in returning home due to hindrances as obstacles. Despite all the struggles encountered by the heroes they still managed to return home safely.

Comparative Analytic Autoethnography: Situating The Doctoral Journey and The Hero’s Journey

This analytical autoethnography offers a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the researcher's academic odyssey by drawing parallels between their personal experiences and Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey archetype. Adopting Anderson's analytical autoethnographic approach, the researcher assumed the role of a complete member of the Doctor of Education (EdD) program, engaging in analytical reflexivity to develop a theoretical understanding of their academic journey. Through systematic data collection and introspective analysis, the study uncovers thematic threads and arcs of growth that resonate with the monomythic narrative archetype. The research incorporates a comparative examination with Campbell's Hero's Journey, providing a structured framework for organizing and analyzing the autoethnographic data. This framework reveals potential connections and emergent themes throughout the doctoral pursuit. Concurrent data analysis involving reflective journals, coursework materials, social media dialogues, and communications with cohort members allows for a comprehensive exploration of the researcher's personal experiences. The analytical layered-account autoethnographic data analysis illuminates the relationship between the researcher's academic journey and the theoretical framework, elucidating the significance and relevance of their experiences within the broader context of the monomythic narrative archetype. As a result, the autoethnographic account provides a comprehensive and thought-provoking narrative of the researcher's transformative doctoral odyssey.

Investigate How the Archetypal Hero's Journey is Represented in Literature Across Different Cultures and Genres

This study examines the representation of the archetypal hero's journey across diverse cultures and literary genres using thematic analysis. The research focuses on classical epics, Eastern literature, and modern media to explore how the hero's journey framework is adapted and portrayed in different contexts. The study employs thematic analysis to identify patterns and themes within the selected texts, including Homer’s The Odyssey, Virgil’s The Aeneid, Snorri Sturluson’s Prose Edda, Wu Cheng’en’s Journey to the West, and modern narratives like George Lucas’s Star Wars and J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Data collection involved primary texts and secondary sources, while data analysis encompassed familiarization with texts, coding, theme development, and synthesis. Findings reveal that while the hero's journey serves as a universal narrative archetype, its manifestations vary significantly across cultural contexts, reflecting unique societal values and themes. Modern reinterpretations in genres like science fiction and fantasy demonstrate the framework’s adaptability to contemporary issues and technological advancements. The study highlights both commonalities and differences in the hero’s journey across global literary traditions, offering insights into universal and culturally specific storytelling elements. Future research directions include exploring emerging media formats, subcultural interpretations, and interdisciplinary approaches to further understand the hero's journey’s evolving role in narrative frameworks.

Research story telling: using the research journey map to communicate information, data, systems, and artifacts

AbstractThe Research Journey Map is introduced to guide researchers on creating engaging, meaningful and impactful presentations and publications. Built on the foundational work of the Hero's Journey by Joseph Campbell, this template helps technical researchers communicate information, data, systems and artifacts that result from research so that audiences grasp and embrace the research findings.

Verses Through Thorns: An Archetypal Interpretation of Trauma in Emily Dickinson's Poetry

Emily Dickinson, a renowned American poetess, authored nearly two thousand poems, embodying her legendary life through themes rich in emotion and complexity. Trauma, manifesting in various forms from her childhood to her reclusive later years, pervades Dickinson's secretive existence. Her poetry, marked by a profound personal touch, weaves the pain of loss, social isolation, unrequited love, physical suffering, and existential quandaries into metaphoric and symbolic language. Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung posited the existence of a collective unconscious in the human psyche, comprising universal symbols and motifs known as "archetypes", which subconsciously influence the poet's comprehension of trauma, thereby revealing themselves in her intricately profound verses. This paper explores the symbolic elements and manifestations of Dickinson's inner trauma through three classic archetypes— the Shadow, the Magician, and the Hero's Journey— examining how these archetypes' themes and symbols relate to her personal trauma experiences, thereby delving into the poet's psyche as she confronts trauma, seeking self-healing and personal growth.

One myth to rule them all and in the darkness bind them: a critical examination of Joseph Campbell's The Hero's Journey

ABSTRACT This special edition embarks on a critical exploration of Joseph Campbell's The Hero's Journey, challenging its dominance as a universal narrative framework and its implications for contemporary storytelling, particularly in the context of evolving media landscapes. Drawing on C.P. Nield's critique of Campbell's monomyth as a "Hollywood McMyth," the collection of articles within this edition seeks to unravel the monomyth by advocating for a narrative plurality that reflects a more inclusive and diverse spectrum of stories. Contributors to this edition engage with alternative narrative paradigms that emphasise community, companionship, and commonality, moving beyond the individualistic focus of Campbell's framework. This shift is underscored by the rise of interactive and immersive storytelling technologies, such as VR, AR, and XR, which demand a re-evaluation of narrative structures to accommodate the dynamic and fluid nature of contemporary storytelling. Through a decolonial lens, the articles collectively argue for a decentring of narrative meaning, proposing new approaches that embrace the complexities of global challenges and the multiplicity of human experiences. Setting the stage for a critical examination of The Hero's Journey, inviting readers to consider the ethical implications of narratives in shaping socio-cultural values and norms in an era of immersive and participatory media.

Alice in Wonderland: A Mythical Journey

The theme of this work is a study of theories about the myth of the hero lived out by the character Alice, of the film Alice in Wonderland, directed by Tim Burton and based on the work of the writer Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll in 1865. A brief psychological analysis is made of the relationship of the fantastic narrative with the process of individuation of the protagonist and the symbolic representations in the psychic development that occurs, through her mythical experience of the “hero's journey” that was elaborated by Joseph Cambpell in The Hero of a Thousand Faces. This theory presents the various stages of the mythical journey of the hero, trajectory which is marked by complications, trials and lessons that the hero must undertake to develop inwardly. At the end of the journey Alice not only develops herself but also interferes with the local order of her community which is governed by rigid and patriarchal norms. As Campbell puts it, the hero's return entails putting the learned wisdom into practice so that he/she shares the benefits gained on the journey.

The application of Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey to the Sri Lankan Award-Winning Classic film "Purahanda Kaluwara" ("Death on a Full Moon Day")

The application of Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey to the Sri Lankan Award-Winning Classic film "Purahanda Kaluwara" ("Death on a Full Moon Day")

The Monomyth in Momoiro Clover Z's Narrative

This study explores the distinctive narrative of Momoiro Clover Z, a Japanese female idol group that defied traditional idol conventions. Central to Momoiro Clover Z's identity was their deliberate departure from the typical kawaii idol image, portraying themselves as strong women. Their narrative closely adhered to the monomyth or Hero's Journey framework, chronicling their transformation from ordinary individuals to celebrated idols. This storytelling strategy resonated deeply with fans and was pivotal to their meteoric rise. Despite having only few members and abolishing interactive events like handshakes, Momoiro Clover Z used the concept of kyara to distinguish members and engage fans. They cultivated a family-friendly image, appealing to diverse demographics while avoiding objectification and the sexualization often associated with idols. In summary, Momoiro Clover Z's success can be attributed to their unique narrative approach, differentiating them from traditional idols, and their emphasis on their journey to stardom. By incorporating elements of the monomyth framework, they solidified their identity as strong women and earned their status as one of Japan's most influential female idol groups.

RECONTEXTUALIZATION OF SUN WUKONG’S HEROISM IN THE MONKEY KING FILM TRILOGY 2014–2018

The classic Chinese novel, Journey to the West, written by Wú Chéng’ēn in the 16th century of the Ming Dynasty, is an influential work in Chinese culture. The main character of the novel, the Monkey King Sun Wukong, has become a highly popular character and been adapted into various cultural products. Sun Wukong’s popularity was adapted into three films directed by Cheang Pou-soi, namely Monkey King 1 (2014), Monkey King 2 (2016), and Monkey King 3 (2018). This article analyzes the reconfiguration of Sun Wukong in the films based on the monomyth schemes by Joseph Campbell, focusing on the construction of Sun Wukong’s heroic journey and his hybridity visualization that is closely related to his transformation from an archetypal hero who represents the principle of the “Three Teachings in One” to a modern superhero who represents social and individual values in the “Twelve Core Values of Chinese Socialism”. Through the archetypal theme of the journey, hybridity visualization, and a set of values associated with Sun Wukong, this article tries to analyze the transformation of his heroism from a classic hero into a modern superhero. The re-contextualization of this transformation to the contemporary China’s situation reflects the spirit of China today and its long journey from traditionalism to modernity.

영웅신화론을 통해서 본 중년남성의 모래놀이 사례연구

This study is a case of a middle-aged man. The client is intellectually excellent, but has not achieved psychologically balanced growth due to psychological problems (trauma) that occurred in the course of a dramatic life since childhood, has difficulties in interpersonal relationships, and has high levels of anxiety and depression. Sandplay counseling was conducted 24 sessions for the purpose of strengthening the ego and transforming negative motherhood. The entire process of sandplay was examined by applying Campbell's three stages of hero’s journey, the process of departure, initiation, and return. In addition, it was confirmed that the client’s trauma became the golden key and in the process of overcoming it, the inner growth of individuation progressed to the integration of consciousness and unconsciousness. The results of comparative analysis are as follows. At the beginning stage (Departure, episode 1-4), in the developmental history of knowing the adoptive mother as the birth mother until the second grade of elementary school due to the divorce of the parents and growing up with the 6 month younger sister, the hero was originally born and abandoned and went through all kinds of difficulties. Receive the call of the hero's journey to overcome. This stage of individuation is entering into the internal life that is urged by the unconscious. At this time, the client showed the direction to grow the negative maternity, guilt, and weak ego, which are the shadow parts. Second, in the initiation stage (5th - 18th), the hero goes through a gateway like the stomach of a whale and suffers. And while overcoming the ordeal, the meeting with the goddess takes place. This meeting confirmed that the growth in the true meaning of finding oneself occurs by integrating the conscious and the unconscious, distinguishing the self and persona, and consciously conscious of the shadow, anima, and animus. Third, in the stage of return (sessions 19 to 21), he realized that there is everything inside himself, adapt to the reality, become free, and move on to the process of becoming individual beings. In the sandbox, in the 19th session, a strong adult male appeared instead of a tall boy, and in the 20th session, the rise of being an individual appeared. And in the 21st episode, the last of the sandbox, a woman who had been lying down in the previous box got up and stood side by side with a man in a dress and wedding dress, suggesting integration. And in reality, they appeared to be confident in choosing a job that was beneficial to others and the environment that matched their values ​​rather than remuneration. The hero who returned to reality expressed his firm will to live a life that contributes to mankind. Accordingly, through a case study of sandplay counseling, based on Campbell’s hero’s journey, Jung’s process of individuation, persona, was distinguished, and the process of internal growth to find oneself by consciously consciously identifying the shadow, anima, and animus was confirmed.