Vogler's Annotated Bibliography (Shaman & Stories are Alive)

Vogler, Christopher. “Shaman & Stories are Alive.” The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers. 3rd Edition. Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions, 2007. 293-312.

Summary

Just like the hero has been through a lot of things during his/her journey, the writer also experiences stages when writing a story. In fact, Vogler states that: “The Hero’s Journey and the Writer’s Journey are one and the same” (293). It is not easy for writers to write a story; it requires a lot of effort, critical thinking, and hard work. Some problems writers can experience when writing a story are: computer problems, losing focus, and difficulties with time. These problems act like tricksters in the process of making a story (293). Something that Vogler mentioned in the reading, and that I really liked, is that words have a strong power, almost like magic. Words posses the power to hurt people, and also to heal them and make them happy. Writers’ healing power of words is their most magical aspect; they are often compared to Shamans who have the potential to heal with their words (294).

In most of the stories we know, there is always somebody that possesses so much knowledge and wisdom that is hard to believe. These people are known as shamans, or “the wounded healers” (294). They gain wisdom and knowledge from previous journeys and experiences, and share them with others as guidelines for right living (295). Just like shamans, writers gain knowledge from experiences throughout their lives, and often share them within a story. I think that every story has a meaning, and that each person finds it according to what they believe. That is one of the powers of stories; you can write something and have your own opinion about it, but others will have a completely opinion about it, even though both read the same text. Every person has its own opinion about a text.

Vogler believes that “stories are metaphors by which people measure and adjust their own lives by comparing them to those of the character” (300). That is totally true, because when I watch a movie, no matter what kind of movie it is, there is always something that I can relate to my personal life. According to Vogler: “stories are somehow alive, conscious, and responsive to human emotions and wishes” (300). Wishing is an important part of every story; when a hero is in a difficult situation he wishes to escape, and we also wish the hero gets out. Sometimes the hero wishes for something he/she really wants instead of something that he/she needs, thus bringing in the issue of needs vs. want (305). As mentioned before, the audience is also involved with the hero’s wishes. In fact, “the aim of good storytelling is to get the audience to make the wish along with the hero” (306). But the audience does not make wishes for the hero only; they also have wishes for the villains. The most common wish that the audience may have is: “I hope it dies.”

These conflicts and hard circumstances in the hero’s journey makes the hero grows personally and spiritually. “Encountering conflicts and obstacles can force characters to evolve to a yet higher level on the pyramid of emotions, that of willing, which is quite a different mental state than mere wishing” (309).

Reaction

This was definitively of the most interesting sections of Vogler’s book. There is a quote mentioned by Vogler that I really liked; “I believe stories are metaphors by which people measure and adjust their own lives by comparing them to those of the characters” (300). I agree with Vogler, because I get some kind of moral from every story. I think you can be able to relate at least a little part of the story with your life. I also agree with Vogler’s idea of the power of words. Words can change your mood, make you happy, make you sad, and manipulate your feeling without even noticing it. I do not know where Vogler got all this from, but he is a genious! I enjoyed reading the part when Vogler mentions that we also have wishes for the hero, and for the villain as well. I laughed when he also mentioned that we have the common wish for the villain to die, which is funny, but also makes me think of how a story can change your feelings so rapidly. It is kind of scary. Although this section took me a while to read, I really enjoyed it and learned a lot from it.

Questions
1. Have you had any personal experience when you wish about something that you wanted, instead of something you really needed?
2. Do you think words have the power Vogler mentioned before? Why or why not?
3. Why do you think words have such a great power that can either hurt us or heal us?