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007: Seeing Patterns

I just saw the premier episode of "24." I was supposed to have been planning the novel, but needed a little distraction. As I'm watching the show, I realize that they are walking through the process of introducing the main character -- they're setting up the mythology.

Joseph Campbell wrote a book a while back called Hero With a Thousand Faces. I'm not going to go all Syd Field on you and say that Campbell's breakdown of the Hero's Epic Quest is the end-all be-all of creative structures, but he certainly managed to distill the story arc of the hero's journey into a series of five essential steps.

The POPULACE faces a CRISIS. For whatever reason, they are unable to resolve this crisis on their own and they turn to the HERO who is either RELUCTANT or an OUTSIDER. Once convinced of the necessity of undertaking the QUEST to resolve the crisis, the hero begins his journey. On the way, he usually acquires some sort of MENTOR who guides him on the more esoteric aspects of his quest. The hero must leave whatever space he is in and enter some other space. In mythology, it is usually a transference from PROFANE space to SACRED space (to crib a few terms from Mircea Eliade) and, while in that altered space, the hero must perform a DEED in order to gain the knowledge that is required to save the population. Hero returns, crisis is averted, life goes on.

But here's the kicker: Hero must then leave. Why? Because he has been to SACRED space and he is no longer completely part of the PROFANE world. He has been changed by his journey and may no longer participate in the realm of innocence. If he wasn't an Outsider prior to the journey, he certainly is afterward. The price of knowledge, after all.

This percolates through my head as I'm watching "24." Jack Bauer, cast out of CTU after last season's debacle, wanders the streets of LA. He's bearded, driving a van, wearing flannel: those symbols which our media culture uses to symbolize "outsider." A crisis emerges. The people need help. They turn to the man who helped them before. The call goes out to bring Jack back in. Reluctantly, grudgingly, Jack accepts his mission and undertakes the quest.

Two scenes at the end made me smile. Jack takes charge and delivers the line which is on everyone's lips this last week and says to his former boss, "You want results, but you are afraid of getting your hands dirty." Jack is the creature who is no longer part of the social group -- his outcast status isn't just an emotional state, but it is a mental state as well -- he is willing to act. He has gone to a realm of ACTION and has easy access to such states again. This is, partially, why the townsfolk call upon him. And finally, Jack stands in front of a mirror, having cut his hair and beard. The final shot is of the hero transformed in preparation for his entry into the mystical realm of the quest. He has assumed a different skin; he has put on his armor in order to be ready for battle.

The importance of knowing Campbell is not to adhere to the structure which he outlines, but to be aware of it. If you can see the patterns, you can know how to avoid falling into the complacency of their structure.

My main character in the novel is named "Jack" as well. [And there's entirely different discussion about how the name "Jack" is synonymous with "agent of the people."] Is he reluctant? Is he an outsider? What space will he have to enter in order to finish his journey? Who will he rescue? What knowledge is he going to bring back? I have to go find out now.

Posted by Teppo at November 4, 2002 04:32 PM

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