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?