Ben Upbin The End?

 So with it being the final day and all I wanted to reflect on what I’ve learned throughout the year. 

We began the year with the discussion of myth and distinction between mythos and logos. Mythos being the sacred, unexplained world and logos being the scientific, profane and explained world. We talked about how mythos is still a thing and how many authors of fiction are actually creating mythos, a world where the unexplained explained away as something out our comprehension. 

We then took to the real topic of the class: hero stories. We began reading Campbell’s Hero with a Thousand Faces and wrote an essay on the hero’s journey in a story of our choosing. We learned the hero’s journey is split into the departure, initiation, and return and it loops in a cycle. As the hero gets called to action, he initiates his journey. He meets with the spirit mother and gains higher understanding before reaching the apotheosis. He then returns to his own world and he becomes the master of both, waiting to be called to action again.

We discussed for a time mystics, real people whose legacy took on a more mythical appeal. People like St. Theresa are known as mystics. We then discussed artifacts and how even an inanimate object can spark memories and emotions and cause someone to relive a spiritual journey. 

I think the lessons from this class will stick with me for a long time. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to read a story or hear about a person’s adventure without trying to piece together where all the stages of the hero’s journey fit. Dr. Redick you’ve been an amazing teacher to all of us and I hope I can take another class with you soon.