Holly Bell at 2013-04-17 21:27:30:

Hi Scott, I'm really enjoying this series. I just want to see if I'm getting it right: Michael C. is initiated into the family business to learn revenge. Michael D. is initiated into a woman to learn what a jerk he was as a man. Clarice is initiated into the FBI field work to meet Lecter for her journey. I just watched Casablanca, so, as an example, Rick is initiated into a cause again and old relationship to learn/regain altruistic behavior? I haven't read Campbell or other Hero's Journey material, but I've been getting initiated by following your blog, and I do see the the relevance in many of the movies I watch and love. Well, did I get it right? Am I in the club? Thanks again for the series.

Scott at 2013-04-17 22:45:14:

Holly, sounds like you've gotten the gist of it. The thing to remember, just like many tribal initiation rites for adolescent males or females, it is about recognizing the adult potential that ALREADY exists within the initiate. So: * Michael C already has the DNA and awareness, albeit limited, to become a Mafia don. * Michael D already has a feminine aspect to his psyche, whether he realizes it or not, which blossoms when he becomes Dorothy Michaels. * Clarice already has the need to redeem the death of her father which she does by saving Catherine Martin and slaying Buffalo Bill. * Rick Blaine already was an idealist, lost that when Ilsa dumped him, then gets called back into the fray through what transpires in the movie. Even though Protagonists leave their Old World for the New World, and the external circumstances of what transpires may be entirely unfamiliar to them, this initiation awakens their Core Essence / True Self / Authentic Being, psyche aspects that were already present, and now emerge throughout their Hero's Journey. Campbell talks about it this way: "Our task is to become who we already are." This is why the experience is authentic: It is about getting in touch with and arousing true aspects of our Self, as opposed to slapping on some externally based way of being. By the way, much of Campbell's language and ideas derives from one of his heroes: Carl Jung which is why for the last several years I have been studying his writings. And yes, I would say you have now entered the Joseph Campbell club!