Vogler Annotation (p.293 - 312)

Analytical and Persuasive Writing
Annotated Bibliography
Vogler (p.293 – 312)
Rajeev Rupani

Vogler, Christopher. The Writer's Journey (Mythic Structure for Writers). 3rd ed. Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions, 2007. 293-312.

Summary:

    Vogler discusses the Writer’s Journey and the concept of stories being “alive” as well as “responding to human emotions”. Vogler connects the Hero’s Journey and the Writer’s Journey by listing out similar stages that are followed by the writer when “setting out to write a story”. Following this, Vogler describes the art of writing as “magic” by relating spelling words to “magical symbols” and by explaining that “words have power to hurt or heal”. Using this latter concept, the connection and similarities between writers and shamans are discussed. Finally, the concepts of “solitude” and “traveling to another world” are shown to be necessary for the writer, in order to answer the “ageless” questions of the reader.

    Vogler provides a brief account of his first encounter with Disney (in the 1980s) before making several propositions, the most important of which is that “stories are somehow alive, conscious, and responsive to human emotions and wishes”. The idea of stories inducing a “change” in the reader is then described and the underlying concepts behind the story of “Rumpelstiltskin” are then discussed. Vogler connects the assumptions associated with the “faerie folk” to several points in the story, such as the want for the human child and the attraction towards human emotions. This then leads to the “power of wishing” idea, where Vogler probes wishing as being “an underlying principle of storytelling” and the “orientation” of the audience. Vogler points out that the wish of the hero is often granted but also in a way “that teaches the hero a lesson about life”. This leads into the confusion of the hero (initially) between “wants” and “needs” and how the lesson of a story is often presented in the “NOBA” (Not Only..But Also) format. Vogler then proceeds to discuss how the audience can relate with hero’s sympathetic situation and adopt his/her “wishes” by identifying them as their own. Vogler concludes this section by explaining the evolution of a character (in a story) from wishing to “willing” and how this action can have pros and cons as well. The wishing and willing states are described as “important tools for story-tellers and necessary stages for everyone’s development.”

Reaction:

    Vogler makes a very essential connection between the writer and the hero, which has been hinted at throughout the text. By stating that the “boundaries of space and time and even the limitations of death can be transcended”, Vogler puts forth the image of writers having some sort of godly powers. As an avid reader, I do believe part of this to be true but the journey made by the reader (while reading the story) should also be credited to their imagination. On the other hand, the discussion of writers as shamans was a very interesting one because I had not thought of such a connection before. A few stories provide underlying answers to some of life’s difficult questions or provide a path to finding such answers. The conclusion chapter, where Vogler provides the proposition of stories being “alive”, was a great read. I have been influenced by several stories without even knowing the effect that they have had upon my choices in life. Looking back at such influences, it was not hard to imagine stories being alive and breathing entities in themselves. I recalled my experiences from wishing to willing when I began my memoir project and understood the emphasis of these “tools”, when relating to the audience. I hope to have developed into a better writer by the end of this course and Vogler’s so-called “guide” will also be a useful “tool” to me when I encounter my hero’s journeys throughout life.

Questions:

1. Did the reading of this text affect your decisions throughout this term? If so, how?

2. What was one story/novel that you felt was “alive” and influenced or changed you in some manner?

3. How do you perceive Vogler’s connections between the writer, hero and audience? Do you approve or disapprove of them?