Revised Four Modes

My visual and textual elements are all describing the struggles that college student have with the illicit use and abuse of prescription stimulants, primarily the prescription medication Adderall. Because of the pressure in our society for students to be over achievers in all aspects of their lives (both academically and socially), the use of these drugs is becoming increasingly tempting and more popular among students.

 

Visuals:

I included two pictures for my visual that are on my poster and in my power point. My first picture includes a pile of several different pills with a caption underneath stating “Medication – Sometimes the world just needs a break from the real you”. The concept of this photo is that medication is stripping us from our own individual self and turning us into what society thinks we should be.

This photo relates to the appeal of logos because you realize how overmedicated we are as a society and realize that these medications are taking away peoples individuality. It also deals with Ethos because ethically the over use of these medications in our society may go against many peoples values. We are so worried about being perfect that we will go to any resort to fix what we consider to be “flaws” by constantly taking medication to correct them even though these flaws may be typical human behavior.

            Another photo I used was a photo of a student studying, a book opened in front of him with a pile of pills pouring out on top of the text. This photo shows a situation that many college students endure. Sometimes when students have to study they are faced with the choice to take medication in order to keep them up and concentrate late into the night.

This shows the ethos appeal because you realize that students are so focused on being overachievers that they resort to taking pills in order to feel that they can succeed, although this is not at all the case. The fact is that taking these medications may be in fact harming them instead of helping them.

 

Book: Prozac Nation, Elizabeth Wurtzel

            The book I chose is called Prozac Nation by Elizabeth Wurtzel, the book is a memoir about what Elizabeth went through as a young a woman in college.

Elizabeth was a talented writer at Harvard University and dealt with these pressures by abusing drugs and alcohol. This book is a good depiction of what college students can go through if struggling with the pressures of school and life all together. Elizabeth tried to balance her schoolwork, her newspaper column, her family life, her love life and her partying life until finally breaking down and going into a depression where she began to depend completely on medication.

The book deals with Ethos appeal because the credibility is very apparent within this book. The book is written by Wurtzel herself and through her own experiences that we learn from as readers.

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Movie: Prozac Nation (2001)

            Although reading the book can be very impacting, actually visualizing it is a great way to understand the character as well. The character Elizabeth is played by Christina Ricci whose pain you experience throughout this film.

One quote in particular that really struck me in this film was when Elizabeth was at the doctor’s office and stated, “I call this the crack house where I come to score, and Dr. Sterling is my dealer. Seems like everyone’s doctor is dealing this stuff now… sometimes it feels like we’re all living in a Prozac nation.”

This quotation expresses the fact of how easy it is to gain access to prescription drugs. The reference to the doctor being a “drug dealer” shows that people are using these medications not only for health reason but for recreational purposes as well.

Although the movie doesn’t deal exclusively with Adderall, it does deal with the issues of how stressful college life is for students and more importantly how overly medicated we are as a society. Although some people really do need it, it seems like these days anyone can get their hands on these medications.

This movie definitely has a pathos appeal to it because you feel for Elizabeth who seems to have it all until it all just comes crashing down. You see her achieve, you see her make mistakes, and you see her become dependent on drugs that are available to all of us.

 

Song: Amphetamine by Everclear

My other textual is the song Amphetamine by Everclear. This song describes the life of a girl who has changed so much because she is dependent on amphetamines (an ingredient in Adderall). The writer could tell she “used to be happy”, however now she is just a hollow shell of someone who used to be happy. Now she thinks she continue using in order to make her life better. This also will show how serious this epidemic is and how more awareness should be shed upon this issue.

 

“Yeah, you just take your pill

And everything will be all right

She looks like a teenage anthem

She looks like a magazine girl

She looks like a teenage anthem

Like she used to be happy in another world”

 

This song deals with pathos because the writer feels bad for this girl who once was happy but now must rely on a pill in order to make her feel like everything is okay.

 

           

           

 

Volunteer Blog!

Volunteer Blog:

For my volunteer work I was able to help my brother who is an Assistant District Attorney in Nassau County, Long Island. More importantly than helping him during the day was what I able to observe during this entire experience. By looking at his every day life at his job, I was able to receive a better understanding of the legal system and how it relates to my project on prescription medication.

At the Nassau County Court house I reviewed my brothers drug cases and afterwards was able to actually witness how the criminal system worked from arrest, to an arraignment, to how a file ends up on the desk of an ADA.

My brother and I first went to arraignment court to observe where people who have been newly arrested are brought before a judge to decide weather or not bail or how much bail should be set. Here I observed numerous cases of driving under the influence as well as the sale and possession of narcotic drugs including prescription medication.

I learned that paperwork on these cases are then turned to files for the ADA to handle, my brother handles exclusively drug cases and he was able to show me files and arrest reports indicating what crimes took place. I was also explained the process in which a lab report is created in drug cases in order to convert a misdemeanor complaint, which is the accusatory instrument usually used to start a criminal proceeding, into a misdemeanor information, which is the accusatory instrument needed to bring a case to trial.  However, if the crime charged is a felony a grand jury must be convened and the case must be presented to them in order to obtain an indictment which is the accusatory instrument needed to prosecute a felony charge. For many people selling and using these drugs, a felony charge was granted.

Some things I learned about prescription drugs such as Adderall is that it is a schedule three controlled substance and is a class C felony which means a heavy fine and jail time as well as a criminal record whether you are selling or giving it away to a friend, because in the eyes of the law giving away is equivalent to selling the substance. I also learned that driving while under the influence of these medications if not prescribed is a felony as well because it is considered a DUI. I had no idea that the law had considered this to be such a serious issue up until now.

This was a good opportunity for me to observe the legal process and understand the gravity of using prescription medication illicitly. By seeing regular people who were held in jail go to court for these instances was a very impressionable on me who sees these crimes take place on a regular basis and now understands the gravity of what can occur if someone is caught using, selling, or giving away prescription medication.

Preparation for project three

In preparation for my project three I have created an interview that I am conducting back home with a friend of mine who has had a personal experience with this topic. She is a student who has dealt with selling and using Adderall illicitly which took a serious toll on both her body and mind. Her experience could help others who are dealing with this issue and inform those who don’t know much information about this epidemic.

            What I am planning to do in the future for my project three is volunteer at a Children’s daycare. I believe it is important to invest time with children and understand their own individuality instead of medicating them in order to become the ideal child who is calm and cooperative. These days I think that children are over prescribed and overmedicated because parents think it will help them even though sometimes children may not need it at all and doctors are ready to hand them out quite easily as well.

            I am also planning on polishing my Ethos Pathos and Logos as well as creating a visual poster to create a better presentation that the audience can actually see and understanding the ideas I’m presenting.

Vogler # 11

Summary:

 

            In this section of Vogler he expresses the similarities between the writers journey and the heroes journey in that the writer experiences a journey while writing his story. He will encounter allies and enemies that support as well as hold him back, he will find the “shadow” within himself as well as the “mentor”, he will have “near death” experiences and will survive it in order to continue writing until he comes to his “elixir” once he has finished his story.

            Vogler then goes on to speak about how stories are “alive.” Stories are there to inspire you, to make you think, to motivate you, and comfort you. Once you see a film, you become part of that character and begin his journey with him and see his thoughts, desires, and ambitions throughout the journey and hope that he can make it to the end to achieve his dreams. He goes on to speak about the power of wishing, as how we human beings wish for things just like characters in a movie or book, and we hope that they can achieve that wish because we can relate to that character wanting something and striving to earn it. The wish the hero has soon becomes the wishes of the audience, and when he finally achieves that goal we are content. As the audience, we live through this character through his journey.

Vogler also describes the difference of wishing and willing. We as human beings constantly wish for things, weather its reasonably in reach or far fetched, but aren’t always willing to go after what we wish for because its too difficult or we don’t believe enough in ourselves. The difference between the audience and the heroes in movies is that the heroes are willing to go after what they want no matter what. I believe we like watching movies so much because of this, we like seeing someone go after their dreams, save the world, and fall in love because sometimes we aren’t able to or aren’t willing to.

 

Reaction:

I thought that Vogler did a really good job at describing the wishes within a story and was accurate in saying that every story involves some sort of wish from the characters. We as human beings can relate to this because every day we wish and hope for things, and by reading and watching movies and plays we can actually see people accomplish those things that seem so impossible for us to do.

            I also liked his insight into Rumpleskiltskin because I never really understood that story as a child and even more now as an adult. It’s hard to tell who’s the villain or the hero in a story like that, but the doors are open to many interpretations. Nonetheless, the story of Rumpleskiltskin remains “alive” in all our minds.

             

1. What is something you have seen a hero do in a story that you wish you could do? Are you willing to do this? Do you see yourself doing it in the future?
2. What is your personal interpretation of Rumplskiltskin? Who are the hero, the villain, the mentor, and the shape shiftor?
3. What is an example of a wish in the movie that turned out badly (“be careful what you wish for”)?

Four Modes

My visual and textual elements are all describing the struggles that women have with the illicit abuse of prescription stimulants. Because of the pressures of current society for women to be beautiful as well as be overachievers, the use of these drugs is becoming increasingly tempting.

 

Visual: Woman With Pill Between Lips

 

My visual is a photograph of the lips of women who has a capsule between her lips. This is supposed to look attractive yet it is promoting something extremely dangerous, thus promoting something that seems harmless although the substance actually is.

 

Move: Prozac Nation

 

My other visual is movie called Prozac Nation, about young a woman who is a talented writer in Harvard and deals with these pressures by abusing prescription medication. This movie is a good depiction of what a woman can go through if struggling with this issue. One scene in particular I would like to use is when she says the hospital is like her “drug dealer” which shows how over prescribing these medications to an individual can cause serious drugs problems.

 

Book: Prozac Nation

 

My textual is the book Prozac Nation that the movie is based upon. I will use some specific text here to show my audience the burden of someone having this drug problem and what they are going through. Words can be a very powerful thing, and actually reading it can have a huge impact on my audience.

 

Song: Amphetamine by Everclear

 

My other textual is the song Amphetamine by Everclear. This song describes the life of a girl who has changed so much because she is dependent on amphetamines. The writer could tell she “used to be happy”, however now she a just a hollow shell. This also will show my audience how serious this epidemic is and how more light should be shed upon this issue. 

Vogler # 10

Summary:

 

             In the next section of the Writers Journey, Vogler puts the Journey to the test by explaining how its used in very successful and popular movies such as Titanic, The Lion King, Pulp Fiction, and The Full Monty. By examining these movies and the hero’s journey within each of them, we can understand more accurately why these movies are so famous and enjoyed by the audience.

            The most depth Vogler goes into is when explaining Titanic and the hero’s journey within it. It shocking to see that movies that we love have this storyline that was never recognized before until after reading the Writers Journey. Although Vogler emphasizes before going into the Titanic that the Journey is not a “formula” but a “guideline” and Titanic along with the other movies are a perfect example of this.

            Titanic doesn’t have the exact steps in the exact order, and the characters aren’t simply defined (except for the Villains such as Cal, which is actually a flaw that Vogler pointed out within the movie) and take place as multiple archetypes such as being both a hero and a mentor and mentor and a villain. Throughout the story the character unfold and go through different challenges and when looking deeper into the movie you can find a full trace of the writers journey.

            Vogler does the same with the Lion King, and shows how a Disney movie was transformed into a journey that children, teenagers, and adult can enjoy and relate to. Samba’s journey is one of growth and experiences that teach him how to stand up to the future and defend those that he loves most. Samba, along with the rest of the cast of the lion king (including Timon and Pumba as his allies and Rafiki and his father as his mentor), work together in order for the hero to develop and complete his quest.

            One thing I liked about the Lion King is that it is relatable to Hamlet, and Vogler was actually able to have an input on this film and suggested using Hamlet as a sort of guideline. Within the Film you can see touches of the Shakespearean play, but not too much that it is a replica. I like the idea that you can gain inspiration from past films, books, and plays in order to create a whole new story and idea, because all these stories are journeys who involve some sort of hero and therefore we can gain inspiration from all sorts of stories.

            Vogler goes into criticism about both these films and speaks about how some sections should have been switched around or eliminated and some characters should have been more developed. No story is perfect and it’s easy to take a look at someone else’s work and critique it. However, his insight will help us all take a better look at our own work and see what can be done in order to improve it.

 

Reaction:

 

            I really loved these sections of the Writers Journey because I was able to look more closely at two films that I love and see the reason why I was drawn to these films, it was because of how the created and structure to create a complete journey that I was content with and characters that I could relate to. These films had all the right elements of sadness, happiness, suspense and action more importantly it created stages that kept our attention and got us involved in the journey.

            I never saw Pulp Fiction or the Full Monty, so it was a difficult read for me because I didn’t fully understand the characters or the plot. However this made me want to see both those films and see if I can follow the journey and understand throughout. I’ll see it and remember, “hey this is where the Ordinary World is” or “here’s the innermost cave!”

            Overall I really enjoy analyzing movies that I thought just came from pure talent and not inspired by some sort of structure. I realize now that there is a structure to everything you write, or else it just comes out bad.

            I especially liked the tad bits of humor wrapped into intelligent insight that Vogler used throughout such as when he is describing how the Titanic is relatable to all audiences saying “Despite our foolish attention to superficial differences of birth, wealth, and status, we are all trapped by the absolutes in life, all alike to be subject to inevitable forces like gravity, fate, death and taxes.”

 

1. What makes Pulp Fiction’s Journey different from other hero’s Journey? Why do you think this has created such an effective film?
2. Do you think Titanic would have been less successful if it wasn’t based upon a love story?
3. Vogler discusses “Universal Fear”, why do you think that we as an audience are so attracted to seeing characters frightened and being scared ourselves?

 

 

Four Elements

Song: Amphetamine - Everclear

Movie: Prozac Nation

Book: Prozac Nation, Elizabeth Wurtzel

Picture:

 

Vogler # 9

Summary:

 

            The Resurrection is a step in the Hero’s journey that allows the character to form into a realistic and believable character that the audience can both admire and relate to and begin to say goodbye to. Vogler relates the resurrection to a “final exam” where the hero takes what he’s learned from his previous test, or “midterm”, and applies it to this ordeal. By this time, there is much more at risk for the hero and much more to lose. The first time could have been a life and death situation, but now this final task it must seem as if his world is at risk.

The resurrection is also the part where he finally leaves behind who he used to be and is transformed into some sort of hero. During the Resurrection, things that must occur within the hero and be displayed to those around him that show that the character has changed and he has bettered himself in some way. A “new self” must be created before going back to the “ordinary world”. 

Also, heroes must make a choice to show their sacrifice and devotion to their true cause. This shows the audience how serious they are about the journey and accomplishing their task. This can be giving up something they believe in or sacrificing some routine they used to partake in, such as crashing weddings in “Wedding Crashers”.

The hero doesn’t exactly have to live through this part in order for him to leave his mark on those around him. “Tragic Heroes” die, but they leave their memory with those they saved and impact they had on the world around them, such as Will Smith in “I Am Legend”.

Vogler also mentioned three types of climaxes that may occur in this step. One is regular “climax” where there is a “big explosion” and something very substantial occurs and the audience is fully aware that this is the final big event. Another is a “quiet climax” where the hero has a “sudden realization” and that is the change that begins concluding the story. Lastly, there is a “rolling climax” where a series of climaxes occur until the finally.

By the end of the Resurrection, it must be clear to the audience that a change has been made so that the hero can finally return home with all he has learned.

 

 

The next step is the Elixir, where the hero’s journey is at last at its conclusion. Here two forms of conclusions are acceptable. One is the Circular form which most Hollywood films posses because it has more of a “happily ever after ending.” Here you are shown how far the hero has come from beginning his journey and you see how different the ordinary world looks to him now that he has experienced his journey. You are aware that a new chapter has begun in his life although you leave the story feeling complete.

The second type of conclusion is called the “open-ended” and is more popular outside the United States. This leaves the audience with some questions and leaves them thinking that the story continues on after the story has ended. This is good when creating a story with a “hard realistic edge.”

In either the stories ending cannot be finished too “neatly”, their needs to be a bit of a twist. In Wedding Crashers, although both the lead characters got their girls in the end they all decide to go to a wedding and crash it which a little humor that leaves the audience feeling like the characters are only human and fathomable.

The Elixir can come in many different that show the hero has changed and learned a valuable lesson.

Vogler goes on to discuss things you should not do such as “abrupt endings” which can lead the audience feeling incomplete.

 

 

Reaction:

 

            I think Vogler does a very good job at depicting the proper ending to any hero’s story or any characters story for that matter. His outline helps us create a character that is real to the audience because if he is not than the story itself is not enjoyable. I liked the different options that Vogler gives in ending a story because it gives the writer room for creativity and her own input on things and this characters own personal circumstance. Hero’s journeys are all different and they all end differently just as ours are in our own lives.

The fact the writer must stress the fact that the hero has changed, grown, and learned a lesson is very vital and Vogler makes it a point to go through this. A journey is not a real journey if you come out of it with nothing gained. Until that lesson, prize, or realization has been earned, the hero’s journey can never be complete.

 

Questions:

 

           

1.     What is an example of a movie with an “open-ended” ending?

2.     On Pg. 205 Vogler states that “ A common flaw in stories is that writers make heroes grow or change too abruptly.” What is the problem with this and do you know of a movie that has this problem?

 

 

 

Vogler # 8

Summary:

 

            In this section of The Writers Journey, the hero’s quest is beginning to come to an end. By this point, the hero has faced his life “life and death” experience, and now he is moving forward to retrieve his reward and to return back to his “ordinary world”.

            Vogler describes the “reward” as being a physical object, a lesson learned, a love gained, a realization in ones self or more insight when returning to the “ordinary world” because of the experiences he endured while in the “new world”. This is a very important part of the journey because it is where the hero acquires something in exchange for the challenges he had to undergo during his journey. Now, the life and death experience he has is worth it because he gained something so much more meaningful because of it, and he has come out a changed human being that he himself as well as others take note of. This scene is also a good part of the film, play or book to allow the audience to realize the sacrifices the hero has made and how he has grown from this entire experience. This is a good chance for the audience to familiarize with the main character, and allow them to relate to his experience and who he has now become as a human being.

             The reward then leads to the “road back”, which is the part of the journey where the hero decides to leave the “new world” along with all his newfound knowledge (or some other form of reward or prize) and return to the “new world” with his new belongings. Many things can occur during the road back that is not planned. A villain who was not completely defeated can return to seek revenge, a “chase” scene can occur in order to build up the excitement for the audience, or a “setback” may occur when suddenly the hero’s good luck turns around and something else is may suddenly occur which he must deal with before he is finally finished with his journey. After these events occur, the hero just needs a little more support and effort in order to return back home.

 

Reaction:

 

            I think that these sections of Vogler were very accurate and clear in describing how a hero begins the conclusion of his journey. I feel if a move suddenly ends abruptly with no slow down period of the “reward” and no fast paced excitement of the “road back”, the movie would leave me feeling confused and unsatisfied. These elements are very important to establishing the journey and the character of the hero as well. In order for the audience to relate to both the hero and his journey these steps must take place before the conclusion.

 

Questions:

 

1.     What is the “reward” for hero’s who are deceased by the end of the movie such as Kevin Spacey’s character in American Beauty or Will Smith in I Am Legend?

2.     Are there situations where the hero doesn’t want to return back to the “ordinary world”? Does the hero ever remain in the “new world?”

3.     Name a “Setback” that occurred in the Dark Knight.

 

Annotation # 7

Vogler, Christopher. The Writers Journey. Third. CA: Michael Wiese Productions, 1998. Pgs. 135 -145 "Crossing The First Threshold", "Test, Allies and Enemies"

 

            In this stage of Volger’s book he talks about the extensive Approach to The Innermost Cave, which deals with various challenges and obstacles that the hero faces before his final test.

            Approaching the innermost cave is a time period that involves many events before the “bigger ordeal”. This is also a time for a love scene to occur in films and books. Vogler speaks about how the Wizard of Oz had almost every one of the steps taken in the Innermost Cave so used it in order to lead the way and explain what occurs during this crucial time period. Because I have not seen that movie in quite some time, I thought of The Dark Knight instead while reading through this section.

While approaching the innermost cave the hero faces complications, relies on his allies and mentor, realizes the significance of his reward and journey along with many other complications that show that the hero is human and is having difficulty facing obstacles even before facing his true test. There were many sections that reminded me of what Batman had to go through during the Dark Knight. I felt that the most significant point in the “approach to the innermost cave” stage in the Dark Knight was when Alfred tells Batman that “Some men aren’t looking for anything logical, like money. They can’t be bough, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with, some men just want to watch the world burn.” At this point Batman is “cutting into the opponents mind” by realizing that the Joker is crazy and will never stop because he has no logic behind what he is doing and has no reason to suddenly stop. Batman now realized that “the stakes are high” because if he doesn’t stop the joker everyone will get hurt. He is also facing what seems like an “impossible test”, like the gigantic head had displayed in The Wizard of Oz. Thanks to him mentor, Batman realizes he can never stop saving Gotham because the Joker will never stop killing people. Therefore, he faces his destiny because there is “no exit” for the hero and he must eventually face his biggest challenge, facing the Joker.

The next stage of the journey deals with finally facing the villain, the Ordeal. In this stage Vogler displays a mountain, which shows the “crisis” the hero must face. This is created differently depending on the movie with some crisis’s being delayed or extended. The “tension” however must still keep the audience tension, or else this section can be too lengthy and drag on.

The Ordeal is the chance for the hero to fail and then get reborn again, because there is always excitement and energy added to a film or book when the hero first does not succeed but continues trying. As Vogler puts it, “sometimes things have to get better before they can get worse.” Vogler also explained human emotions as “basketballs”, and the audience gets a tremendously pleased feeling after feeling really low about the hero and his failures. After the basketball hits the ground it flies right back up again, which adds more human emotions to the character and empathy by the audience who know that he is struggling like everyone else.

Of course, the hero must get back up again and continue. This is when the hero faces his greatest fear; this can be losing the love of his life (John losing Clair in Wedding Crashers) or facing his worst enemy (Harry fighting Voldermort in Harry Potter). Eventually he faces the villain and defeats him.

 

Reaction:

These sections for me were more difficult and complicated for me to read than others. For one, the Wizard of Oz references were quite irritating and got my side tract on the main idea. Vogler kept discussing the “male energy” in the movie and how it affects the female hero as well as what everything “symbolized” in the movie. I wanted to read about and think about my hero, not have a lesson on what The Wizard of Oz is about if you look into it symbolically. Also because I have no seen the Wizard of Oz it just got me confused. There were so many steps during this section that I just got lost and them and although I tried to focus on what I thought was important they all just somehow meshed together into one.

The ordeal section was easier for me to read, however they were a few sections such as Ariadne’s Thread that I didn’t feel was so significant that it had to be there.

 

Questions:

 

1.     Can you think of a movie that had a “delayed crisis?”

2.     Where is the “other special world” in The Dark Knight?

3.     In love stories, what is their “shamantic territory”?

 

Annotation # 6

Vogler, Christopher. The Writers Journey. Third. CA: Michael Wiese Productions, 1998. Pgs. 125 -145 "Crossing The First Threshold", "Test, Allies and Enemies"

Summary:

            In this section of The Writers Journey the Hero’s quest is now in full effect. The hero has transferred from the “ordinary world” to the “new world” where he must deal with his new surroundings, people, and conflicts.

            Crossing the first threshold is when the hero decides personal and with the help of an external force to take part in this journey. He has now decided to leave his ordinary life behind in order to seek something new that is missing or to accomplish some sort of task that needs to be achieved. Vogler calls this the “leap of faith.” The moment when the hero jumps into action and there is no changing his mind or looking back. Even though the hero may have a “rough landing”, he is now in the new world where he will encounter tasks and individuals that will motivate him, aggravate him, and attempt to stop him from reaching his goals.

            This brings us to the next section, tests, allies, and enemies. In this section tests occur before the final big test in order to prepare the hero for what is to come. He must encounter some trouble before he faces his major confrontation. He can face these either by himself or with the help of allies or sidekicks. Like in the Harry Potter movies, Harry would not be the same without Ron and Harmony by his side to help him fight off villains and unravel mysteries, although ultimately the final battle is between Harry and Voldermort. We also get to know Harry’s character more through his friends. A hero’s allies show what they themselves are like. An enemy does the same because it shows the hero’s stance on morals. The batman wants to stop the Joker because the Joker is evil therefore we know Batman is a good guy. This section is just another part of the hero’s journey that develops the hero’s character as well as leads up to the hero’s true test.

 

Reaction:

            The only problem I had with this section was that I didn’t know most of the movies, so all of Voglers examples instead of guiding me to understand left me more confused. However it was an easy read and I could understand the two stages from experiencing it in the many movies I’ve seen as well as my own personal life. I like the airplane analogy, where he talked about starting the engine and than finally taking off, because that gave me a good idea of where I was in the journey. I also liked when he spoke about hero being a “freshman all over again” when entering the “new world.” I felt that was very relatable.

 

Questions:

1. Can you think of other popular locations other than a bar where the hero meets his allies, enemies, or love interest?
2. Can you give examples of any hero’s that had a “rough landing” when entering the “New World.”
3. How does entering the “new world” relate to your first year in college? Does it relate to any other experience you’ve had?

Annotation # 5

Vogler, Christopher. The Writers Journey. Third. CA: Michael Wiese Productions, 1998. Pgs. 107 -125
Summary:
In this Section, Vogler speaks about two very important steps within the journey: The “Refusal of Call” and “Meeting with the Mentor.”
The refusal makes the character appear more likeable because it makes him more human. The fact that this character is not ecstatic about this sudden and drastic change in his life shows that there is a more human quality about him. He should question his journey and be uncomfortable with this change because the audience can relate to that. We as humans like remaining in our comfortable lives and to jump right out of that comfort zone for what seems like no reason would seem odd and make the character seem phony. This time should be a difficult one for the hero, not easy.
The Refusal of Call is present in almost all stories. Even for what Vogler calls the “Willing Hero’s” there is still a sense of refusal displayed. Even if the refusal is small it still should exist within a story to show the importance of the journey in general. Of course eventually after refusing, either the threshold guardian, the heroes “natural curiosity”, the need for a change in his life or the influence of a mentor often pushes the hero to take on his journey.
Meeting with the Mentor plays a huge role in influencing the hero to begin his quest. This character also adds a lot of depth and realism to the hero as well because the audience can relate to a person who has greatly influenced them in their own lives.
For the most part, its hard to make a radical change in our lives without the ideas and support from others, someone is usually present in our lives to stress the importance of our adventures and point us in the right direction. The Mentor is so important that there are even entire movies based upon the mentor and his relationship to the hero.

Response:
The thing I liked about this section is that the “Refusal of Call” and the “mentor” are not set in stone to create “cookie-cutter” boring stories for the audience. Instead there are various amounts of ways to refuse the adventure as well as many different types of mentors.
The refusal of call was something I never really realized existed but now looking back at almost every movie I watched its present in every single one. There is always that time, even for just a moment, where the hero wishes to avoid the adventure all together.
I also understand now that the mentor can be a lot of different types of people. The “wise old man” and “wise old woman” don’t have to exist in my story in order for a mentor to exist. The mentor can have flaws, the hero might not like the mentor, the mentor can sometimes turn against the hero, and the mentor might not even be physically there but may come from within. The mentor in general can be viewed at from a lot of different angles.

1. What was a “Refusal of Call” you had in your life and who was the “Mentor” that influenced you to take on the journey instead of ignoring it?
2. In Remember the Titans is Denzel Washington’s character a mentor or a hero or is he both? How does that movie relate to the hero/mentor relationship?
3. Who is the mentor in Fight Club? Was this mentor a positive mentor?

Quiz #1 Metamorphosis

1. The ordinary world isn’t displayed typically in Metamorphosis. In this story, our idea of the characters “ordinary world” is actually unordinary for him. We are thrown into the confusion and chaos that Gregor is suddenly going through and only understand his life beforehand through his thought process (such as how he hates his boss and being a salesman, ect). This “ordinary” world turns into the “call to adventure” when suddenly another force comes into the plot. Mr. Manager forces Gregor from his ordinary world (laying in bed as a bug) to beginning his adventure (getting out of bed and exposing himself). From here on out Gregor must figure out why he has turned into a bug and how he is going to transform back into a human.
2. I felt like I saw some social issues presented in Metamorphosis. One was the relationship between boss and employee. Gregor never missed a day of work, never went out at night and worked very hard yet still got reprimanded by his boss. Mr. Manager came to his house because Gregor was late, demanding an explanation as if Gregor was a completely inferior being. Gregor’s well-being was not a concern at all. This shows that maybe at the time this story had taken place employees were treated a lot harsher than they are now.

Another thing was the relationship between the son and his family. It was as if Gregor was he sole provider for his family, which is something you don’t see too often now.

Metamorphosis also relates to the “Red Scare” in a way because people were afraid of Communists even when their was no actual threat, just like Gregors family and boss now fear him although he is not imposing a threat either, in reality he is just as scared.

3. Greogor turns into a very large bug that I believe is a cockroach.

Revision Plan

Revise:

• My first paragraph needs work. I should grab my reader’s attention and let them into my characters state of mind. I want to captivate my audience from the beginning and throw them into the plot and into my characters world.
• I need to make more connections for the reader and use more transitions so it is easier to follow and understand my story.
• I need to make sure I guide my reader in the same direction so that all my points come together to create a larger picture and one main point.
• I need to “unpack” my ideas and explain them more so that my reader understands why I am telling them certain things and what it has to do with the theme of my story.
• In my final paragraph I must make my point more clear and emphasize what I learned from my experience. I need to explain why my story is important and what others can learn from it as well.

Edit:

• I need to remember FANBOYS. I use commas too often and rely on them too much in my sentences. I should know when to use semi-colons instead.
• I should use more powerful words than “it, this, that, you.” These will bore my audience and leave them feeling unsatisfied with my language.
• I use “thing” a lot as well, and this is very unclear and can confuse my audience. I need to define my “things."

Annotated Bibliography # 4

Summary:

            In this section of the book Vogler begins speaking about the stages of the journey that the hero now embarks on.

            The first stage that the hero is placed in is called the “ordinary world” which is where the audience observes the heroes life prior to beginning his journey. In this “ordinary world” we meet the hero who must have several qualities in order for the journey to occur. The hero must be relatable to the audience even if he isn’t a sympathetic one. Something about him and his life has to be understood by the audience so that they are willing to follow him along on his quest. There must be also something missing in his life that he must find during his journey. These might come from the “inner and outer problems” because he as an individual must have  “flaws” or else he will be and uninteresting to the audience.

            Vogler also speaks about the ways that are most effective when presenting the hero in his ordinary world. He speaks about the impact of the first scene in the ordinary world as well as the first scene where the hero is actually present. The ordinary world foreshadows the reason for the adventure as well as grabs the audience’s attention and keeps them focused on the plot.

            The ordinary world is so important because it allows you to glimpse at the heroes life before it drastically changes so that the audience knows the importance of what the hero is fighting for and why he is doing it.

            Following the Ordinary World comes the “Call to Adventure.” Here is where the hero feels the need to leave the ordinary world in order to find something different, something that is missing in his life. Vogler states that the hero’s motivation may come from within the hero or by another character that brings something else to the table that somehow changes the hero’s usual path. This character can be the “Herald”, a love interest, or a villain.

 

Reaction:

I think that Vogler depicted accurately how many stories begin. The audience must experience the hero’s ordinary world prior to his adventure so that they get to know the hero and his life before it drastically transforms.

This ordinary world is extremely important because without it you won’t be able to understand the hero and why he is on this journey. You won’t, as Vogler puts it, know “what is at stake.” It is also important to no only portray the ordinary world but portray it well so that the audience is instantly sucked into the plot and interested in what will occur next.

The call to adventure occurs in every piece of literature I’ve read and movie and play I have seen. Sometimes the hero decides on his own to go on a journey, but in my opinion there is usually an outside force that somehow persuades the hero to begin his journey weather the force is good or bad. Even in life the little journey we have embarked on are usually influenced by something else.

 

Questions:

1. What qualities do you look for in a hero? What flaws do you think a hero can posses and still be a hero?

           

2. Do you think it is more effective when the herald calls the hero to adventure or when the hero decides to embark on the adventure himself?

 

3. Do you think it is more effective when the hero or the villain’s entrance is first within a story?

Annotated Bibliography #3

Vogler, Christopher. The Writers Journey. Third. CA: Michael Wiese Productions, 1998. Pgs. 49 -88

 

Summary:

 

            In this section of The Writers Journey, Vogler discusses several Archetypes that influence the Hero on his journey. These archetypes are complex and diverse characters that hold many different functions within the journey. They all affect the hero in different ways but ultimately come together in order create the heroes character and define his task.

            The archetypes included the Threshold Guardian, the Herald, the Shapeshifter, the Shadow, the Ally and the Trickster whose qualities can be found among many different characters within the story and not just one distinct character throughout.

The Threshold Guardian is one who is suppose to test the hero on his journey however is not suppose to be overcome by him because he is more of a motivational figure rather than a villain. The Herald challenges the hero and is usually the one to persuade him to begin his journey and accomplish his mission. The Shapeshifter, who can be interpreted as numerous amounts of characters, often involves someone who the hero has mixed feelings about throughout the story (usually someone of the opposite sex). The Shadow is someone who threatens the hero and acts as a threat or villain while the Ally is someone who is there to support the hero and assist him. Lastly the trickster is there to humor the audience and allow them to enjoy the journey in a more lighthearted way.

 

Reaction:

When reading about this separate Archetypes I thought about how these different types of characters are present in almost every story I’ve ever heard as well as written. They are so significant and important because their presence is what makes the story come alive. Weather they challenge the hero, help him, or try to stop him from achieving his goals these individuals are what creates the obstacles which creates the need for a change which creates a journey which creates a hero and his allies. The fact is that without these archetypes the story itself would cease to exist. Knowing more about these archetypes will surely help me understand the concept of hero and who needs to involved in his life in order to create a successful story.

 

Questions:

1. Do you think that all the Archetypes must be present in a story? Do you think that some can be combined with each other?
2.  Who do you think are the archetypes in I Am Legend?
3. Can you describe someone in your life that you consider to be a Shapeshifter besides someone of the opposite sex?