Heroes

1. Heroes

2. Characteristics of Heroes:mental model/image = scheme/archetype • Put common good ahead of personal concerns • Makes a moral choice = doing the right thing • Highly competent/talented/skilled • Complete control of person & environment • Handsome = attractive to both men & women • Leaders & leadership • Do the right thing at the right moment (even if rest of life not heroic) • Overcome challenging obstacles • Making personal sacrifice for a cause • Hero has sidekick to aid efforts • Defined in relation to villains

3. Characteristics of Villains represent evil: fight for selfish, immoral interests motives: jealousy or envy power greed evil of villains needs no explanation talent & competence

4. Fine line between heroes & villains whether an individual ultimately acts for good or evil is by no means certain some people's actions often represent combinations of good and bad, not just absolute virtue or vice who is a hero and who is a villain is in the eye of the beholder

5. The Hero with a Thousand FacesJoseph Campbell • “a hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.” • 3 components of hero’s story/narrative: • Departure • Initiation • Return

6. Departure:how the hero’s adventure begins John Hamilton MortimerThe Hero's Father Blesses his Departure (1775) • Voluntarily undertake something great • Understands destiny • Situation sweeps hero onto heroic path • Initial steps into unknown & out of safety/comfort of own world (guide/helper to assist)

7. Initiation:tests/challenges must overcome to succeed • “aided by the advice, amulets, and secret agents of the supernatural helper” • “there is a benign power everywhere supporting him” • common test is temptation of flesh e.g. Odysseus & sirens • ultimate challenge: “atonement with the father” e.g. Luke Skywalker/Darth Vader

8. Return:return to original world with great reward • Return fraught with dangers • Needs assistance • Changed forever: • adjustment challenges • spiritual awakening • freedom from material concerns • no longer fear death

9. Basic truths about the human condition:confront challenges & figure out ways to overcome them

10. Important Distinctions among Heroes view heroes as being either moral or competent or, very often, both at once believe that heroes are either born or made heroes inspire or show great leadership: directly through interactions or indirectly through deeds and works

11. Morality vs. Competence perform remarkable moral actions display significant intellectual or physical competencies accomplish tasks that require a high degree of both morality and competency moral heroes evoke powerful emotions show complete and utter selflessness at great personal cost

12. Born or Made to Be a Hero innate or acquired reflect the hero's basic personality develop steadily over the course of a person's life emerge from the circumstances that person faces in a defining moment surprising combination of all of these

13. Direct vs. Indirect Leadership direct leader: leader interacts directly with potential followers, and by his or her words or deeds, attempts to persuade or mobilize an audience to believe something or to do something indirect leader: one whose works and deeds provide an example or model

14. Heroes