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Tuesday, March 16th, 2010 at 10:45 am

Mythic Hero Picture Barack Obama: an evaluation

A brief summary of the major newspapers, news sites and television shows that, although it has been a month since the U.S. election, "Obamania" is still in full swing. Obama has become an icon of popular culture, in the pair of Madonna, Batman and rock stars. It then occurred to me that Obama's image and history can compare with the myth of Joseph Campbell and the dogs, which Campbell called "monomyth" (1). Consciously or unconsciously, people - and sometimes Obama himself - tend to project this image on it. In 2006, he was called star and Legend (2), and recently I have even read an online blog where the writer called him "savior"! (3) the mind, I'm not making a claim the profound originality of this - I discovered that George Lucas has already indicated to Obama after the hero's journey (4) and two bloggers talking about it, albeit very briefly (5, 6). However, I would see this in more detail than the others I have read - and this article will be longer than most others!

Let's start with the beginning. For those who do not know, Joseph Campbell (1904-1987) was one of the most important mythologists of age (7). He is chiefly remembered for his groundbreaking book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces. It is in this that articulates the myth of the hero's journey, which directly influenced George Lucas 'Star' War Disney The Lion King, and countless movies and books since then (8). The book 'deconstructs' the hero's journey in three parts. It is my intention here for comparison with the story of Obama's rise to power and the Presidency.

Preliminary:

As the analysis of Campbell, the hero is someone special, of course, highlighted in some way among her peers. Born of an African father and white mother, Obama's mixed heritage has been marked as "special" appropriate person from the beginning. Moreover, an campbelli hero is that he is often neglected by his family and the story of Moses. This Obama is an archetype fits well: it was abandoned just two years, by his Kenyan father Barack Obama Sr., whom he met only once in his life. This has a great impact on him, according to his autobiography Dreams from my father's best-selling (9).

Part I: Departure

1. The call of adventure: the hero gets a call from the lighthouse, often from another person (called a "herald")
Obama describes a moment self-awakening in his book Dreams from my father when he realizes, after a year working with a corporate enterprise, that his vocation was to work for poor (10).

2. Refusal of the Call - Sometimes, the hero initially refuses the call to action.
This is an optional element in Campbell's book that does not apply to Obama, who appears as a positive and ambitious person.

3. Supernatural help - The hero is helped by a figure of protection that gives support
In youth, Obama's main support seems to have been his mother, Stanley Ann Durnham, and his grandfather Stanley Durnham, who acted as a surrogate father (11). In politics, was an important figure in Illinois State Senator Emil Jones, Democratic leader. His wife, whom Obama has called his "rock" also had a major influence on his political career.

4. Crossing the first threshold - the hero must pass a test first to enter the new world of heroic action
There were some key moments for Obama's life that shaped his future political career. One of them was his decision after two years of attending Occidental College in California to transfer to Columbia University, where graduated in political science. Another Search for low-paid work as a community organizer in Chicago. Thirdly, his decision after two years working in Chicago to go to Harvard Law School.

5. The belly of the whale - the hero must pass through an initiation process that consists of a descent into a dark and dangerous realm
In Dreams from My Father, Obama presented his darkest moments, such as excessive alcohol and drugs at Punahou High School and Occidental College. Obama confessed to becoming a "pothead" to "promote the issues I was out of my mind "(12). Eventually, however, he got his life in order to move from Occidental College, Columbia University.

Part II: Initiation

1. Road Test - succession of obstacles
Barack Obama has been found with a series of obstacles that exceeded the political ascendancy. The first was a candidate for the Illinois State Senate in 1996, when he had to eliminate the best candidates title. He succeeded, but with what some critics say that as unfair tactics - which successfully challenged the campaign to vote for two candidates were therefore suspended from competition law (13).
The second obstacle was his failed candidacy of U.S. House of Representatives in 2000 when it was defeated by the current rush Bobby by two to one. This was a painful defeat, the only time he considered leaving the full policy (14). He did not, and Obama learned many useful aspects of the campaign this attempt.
In 2004, succeeds his candidacy for U.S. Senate. Finally, in 2007, won backing from Democrats for president against the best title of Hillary Clinton.

2. Meeting with the Goddess s - a marriage between the hero and queen or a mother figure
In 1988, Obama met Michelle Robinson, a researcher at Harvard Law graduate, while he was doing an internship Summer in the law firm Sidley Austin. He married her in 1992. Obama is deeply admirative his wife, whom he called his "rock." He speaks of it, "There something about her that projects honesty and strength. It's what makes it a incredible professional, and partner, and mother and wife "(15).

3. Woman as the temptress - the rejection of a powerful female figure
A reading of Obama's life shows that seem to respect or even admire the female figures. First was his mother, Stanley Ann, and then there was Michelle Obama. Finally there are other political mentors as Alice Palmer (16). If there was a woman whom Obama had to "reject" was Hillary Clinton, Democrat against their candidate for president. However, Obama seem to harbor bad feelings toward Hillary, nor to act in 'corrupt' kind of way in favor of Obama.

4. Atonement with the Father - reconciliation with the tyrant and merciful aspects of a parent, as an authority figure
As a sign of Dreams from My Father, Obama was affected by the absence of his father, Barack Obama Sr. (17). An important part of life Obama youth was taken by his effort to reconcile the absence of his father with his ever-present racial heritage.

5. Apotheosis - Expansion of the hero of altered self, or deep perception of reality
First apotheosis of Obama was his famous speech in 2004 Democratic National Convention, which will put you in the spotlight and change the course of his career. Obama's grand finale was his candidacy and the success of the bid for the Democratic nomination in 2007.

6. Last Boon - the hero gets a key point or victory
His first major victory was his landslide victory in the U.S. Senate in 2004, following the Democratic nomination in 2007 and, finally, his election as President in 2008.

Part III: Back

1. Refusal to return - having attained enlightenment or happiness, the hero does not want the world ordinary
This is not the case for Obama because his victory was achieved in the "ordinary" world, not a land of another world or mythical. In addition, has always been an ambitious figure, who would not settle in one place, but aim higher (18), (19).

2. Magic Flight - The hero will have to fight with the 'gift'
Obama had to pull all stops in the Democratic presidential nomination in 2007, it had to be struggled since better-titled Hillary Clinton.

3. Rescue Sin - the hero may need supernatural help to bring the blessing in the ordinary world
There were several times that Obama is "lucky streak" to play in. It's not a coincidence that the Washington Post, in an article in August 2007, called his promotion to the U.S. Senate "a series of fortunate events" (20). It is recorded that in 2004 his victory for U.S. Senate was aided by Peter Fitzgerald's decision, the senators not running for his own seat again, on charges of domestic abuse against Democrat candidate against Blair Hull, who was the favorite for the job a month before the elections and internal sexual scandal against Republican candidate Jack Ryan. Obama finally came to win the seat in the Senate by a landslide: 70% (21).

4. Crossing the Threshold of return - the hero returns to the ordinary world
The "Threshold of Change" is without doubt the triumph of the American presidency, which was both a challenge and give a - after winning the Democratic nomination to Hillary Clinton.

5. Master of both worlds - the hero refers to both the divine and the human
After his political ascendancy and experience Obama is now seen as able to run the U.S. and share their vision for the American people.

6. Freedom to live - The hero gives his blessing to his fellows.
Once it has won the presidency, Obama is now in a position to contribute to improving American life and improving the United States a bad image abroad.

Conclusions: The Story of Barack Obama and the image fits nicely with Campbell "Hero's journey" pattern, but does not flow linearly as Campbell designed it. This is, after all, natural: Campbell was dissecting a single fairy tales and story books, but Obama is real life, figure and life beyond imagination.

On the other hand, a noteworthy aspect is that the pattern Campbell does not go beyond the point 6, where the hero is in a position to grant the 'blessing' to others. Obama should go further campbelli of the heroic journey in the actual work to share the blessing. Today, Obama is a hero because of his past, and the symbol of change, youth and unity he symbolizes racial. However, its long-term work is defined as a true hero.

References:

(1) Campbell, J. (1949). The Hero with a Thousand Faces. New York: Pantheon Books.
(6) Cocca, C. (2008). Barack Obama and the hero's journey. Online. Available in: http://christophercocca.wordpress.com/2008/11/08/barack-obama-and-the-heros-journey/. Retrieved November 11, 2008.
(3) Edinger, R. (2008). Obama Rocks: America and the planet. Online. Available at: http://www.obamabook.org/obama_book_introduction.html. Retrieved on November 9, 2008.
(2) Graff, G. (2006). The Legend of Barack Obama. The Washingtonian, November 1 Available at: http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/1836.html. Retrieved on November 9, 2008.
(11) Jones, T. (2004). Barack Obama: Mother not just a girl from Kansas. Chicago Herald Tribune, March 27 online. Available at: Accessed November 9, 2008.
(9), (10), (12), (17) Obama, B. (2004). Dreams from My Father. New York: Three Rivers Press.
(5) Snapp, M. (2008). Obama walks the hero's journey ... Against Costa Times. Online. Available at: http://obamamessiah.blogspot.com/2008/03/obama-walks-heros-journey.html. Accessed November 9, 2008. ]
(4) The Huffington Post. (2008). George Lucas on Obama: A hero in the making. Online. Available at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/04/george-lucas-on-obama-a-h_n_105102.html/ Accessed November 9, 2008.
(7), (8) Wikipedia. (2008). Joseph Campbell. Online. Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Campbell. Accessed on November 10, 2008.
(13), (16) Jackson, D & Long, R. (2007). Barack Obama: Showing Your Bare Knuckles. Chicago Herald Tribune, April 04 online. Available at:. Www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-0704030881apr04-archive, 0.5507395 history. Accessed November 9, 2008.
(14), (20), (21) Mundy, L. (2007). A series of fortunate events. Washington Post, August 12 online. Available at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/08/AR ... Retrieved November 10, 2008.
(15) Parsons, C., Japs, B. & Secter Barack B. 'S Rock: Michelle Obama. (2007). Chicago Herald Tribune, April 22 online. Available at:. Accessed November 9, 2008.
(18) Pearson, R. & Long, R. (2007) Barack Obama: Careful steps, looking ahead. Chicago Herald Tribune, May 3. Available at:. Www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0705030101may03-archive, 0.2521558 history. Retrieved November 10, 2008.
(19) Dorning, M. & Parsons, C. (2007). Carefully crafting brand Barack Obama. Chicago Herald Tribune, June 12 online. Available at:. Www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-obama_senate_recordjun12-archive, 0.3195588 history. Retrieved November 10, 2008.

About the Author

Jo Hedesan is currently studying a MA in Western Esotericism at University of Exeter. She is a member of the European Society for the Study of Esotericism (ESSWE) and American Association for Study of Esotericism (ASE). She has published several journal articles and has presented papers at scholarly conferences on the topic of esotericism and history. She is writing a blog on esoteric topics and research at http://www.esotericoffeehouse.com

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