Story Lab, Week 12

Harry Potter
Young Potter

Story Lab: Style

The eight videos within the story lab module of style are as varied as the types of styles in writing. Exploring “Orwellian” and “Kafkaesque” to nominalization to poetic repetition, this video series covered  a lot. However, the video that was most interesting to me was the video “What Makes a Hero?” by Matthew Winkler. Since watching the Crash Course mythology videos, I have been enthralled with Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero’s Journey.” Since embarking on this class, I can attest to how often this structure is used in mythology. However, I am amazed by how often this structure is utilized in modern writing and movies. The video in this series mentioned a few characters or heroes - Harry Potter, Katniss Everdeen, and Frodo. Certainly, many Disney movies utilize this structure. The video did an excellent job explaining the Hero’s Journey in terms of time. The journey begins with the Status Quo then moves to the character having a Call to Adventure. On the adventure the character seeks Assistance from someone else - often someone older. Next, the character has a Departure and undergoes many Trials. He/She has an Approach or big ordeal and faces a Crisis - sometimes facing death or dying, but being reborn. Next, a Treasure is claimed - sometimes a special power or item. The Result takes many forms such as the monster chasing or bowing down to the character. However, the hero Returns to the ordinary world and his/her New Life but as a changed person. The Resolution occurs and the story aligns. In the end, the hero returns to Status Quo, but nothing is ever quite the same. I like the completeness, neatness, and how the hero makes a full circle.