Annotated bibliography #11

Andrew Biersack
11/16/08
Robinson
Annotated bib. #11

Vogler, Christopher. The Writer’s Journey Mythic Structure For Writers. Studio City, CA: Michael
Wiese, 1998. 293-312.

Summary.
At this point Vogler has completed the text of his novel and these sections are a quick commentary on the Writer’s journey and subsequently the Appendices section called Stories are Alive. In the first section, Vogler takes the opportunity to relate the extensive Hero’s Journey he just covered and relate it to the journey he undertook in writing this text as other authors do. He claims that the Writer’s Journey and the Hero’s Journey are one in the same and relates writers to the Shaman of old, travelling to “other worlds” and bringing back information to the tribe. He expresses his belief in the true powers of words and their power to heal people among other things. The proceeding section he explores his claim that stories are alive and respond to human emotion. Writing itself allows us to build upon the wisdom, knowledge and accomplishments of those before us a “stand on their shoulders” to achieve something even more. One reason he likes stories so much is because of the hard questions these plots, characters, and adventures make us ask ourselves and compare. This leads him into analysis of Disney fairy tales and uses the extended example of Rumpelstiltskin, which he gives an overview of. Then Vogler emphasizes what he calls, the “power of wishing”, as a key structural tool in getting the audience orientated and ready follow the journey ahead. This transitions into his discussion of “Wants vs. needs” in stories which are a great way to show character development and are set up to continue the story after the wish phase. Usually the hero originally wishes for something they desperately want, triggering the adventure, and along they way through tests and ordeals they grow, mature, and/or prioritize and the desire is changed to something they need in their life like knowledge or understanding.
Reaction
First I must admit I agree with Vogler’s claim about the importance of written language, its cumulative power and the immensity of different things something that seems so simple can allow human kind to achieve so much, but object to his analogy of writers as “healers”. In exactly the same fashion that words can heal than can be used to spread fear, anger and hate and even mobilize an entire nation on a mad global conquest resulting in the deaths of millions as a result of persuasive propaganda. The power lies within the human being whom controls the words, not the mere existence of words themselves. He was a bit vague in his reasoning for the Rumpelstiltskin example and I missed the point.
Questions
1. Does a wish ever come at the end of a story?
2. Are the characters wish(es) always considered and/or granted?
3. Do we wish for the same things as characters in stories?