Vogler 5!

Key points:

In the most recent Vogler reading he discussed the act of crossing the first threshold. It is the time that they finally commit to the adventure. Whether there is an external force like a severe storm or an internal force, for example a chance where the hero could lose his soul the hero is forced to cross the threshold. Many times a combination of the two internal and external forces contributes the pushing the hero to commit. There are those who try to block ones way and they are called the threshold guardians. These guardians are there for a part of the training and it is the heroes job to figure out a way to get around the threshold guardian. Vogler then addresses the crossing. The crossing is what signifies that the hero has reached the border of both words. Many objects in stories such as doors, gates, walls, cliffs, and rivers all act as crossings. Whether heroes are crossing into the special world or figuring out a way to move around a threshold guardian it’s all about taking that leap of faith. There are many times where the leap of faith turns into the crisis of faith. Jospeh Cambell spoke of the special world as  “a dream landscape of curiously fluid, ambiguous forms, where he must survive a succession of trials.”  This new world is where everything needs to be learned all over again and one is tested through trials and challenges. Throughout the test stage heroes make allies, friends, and enemies. Teams are also present in the testing stage. They are the opportunity for people to show off their special qualities or talents. Vogler then goes into the topic of enemies and rivals who are the heroes competition. The last thing Vogler addresses is “watering holes.” Movies, books, and plays use watering holes as a common gathering place to receive information.

Reaction:

 I found that Vogler always has someone or something in all of his chapters that forces the character into adventure. Shadows and threshold guardians have some of the same characteristics and sidekicks are mentioned a lot throughout Vogler. I find it very helpful that Vogler relates a lot of the archetypes and terms throughout the text to the Wizard of Oz. It helps me match all of the characteristics up.

Reflection:

 I really like how Vogler addressed the topic of watering holes. They really are present in the majority of stories and I find it neat to recognize that writers use a bar scene to make the script easier to follow because they can incorporate a lot of information and activities into one scene.

Questions:

1.     How do the characters and terms present in these Vogler chapters relate to Kafka?

2.     In which movies does the leap of faith turn into a crisis of faith?