188 Stage Heros Journey (monomyth) - Fourth Catharsis, Antagonism Of The New World
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Kal Bishop’s 188 stage Hero’s Journey (Monomyth) is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188+ stage template. Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters. This is the template you must master if you are to succeed in the craft.
[The terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].
THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY
UNIVERSAL TERMINOLOGY
The Hero’s Journey uses specific terminology, such as “Final Conflict,” “Hand-to-Hand Battle,” “Unbearable Antagonism,” “the Oracle,” etc. Again, when taken literally, this misleadingly implies that it is fit for only specific story-types (Arthurian Legend, Damsel in Distress, Fantasy, etc). In fact, metaphorically, the terminology applies to the vast majority (in fact, every) successful story or screenplay you may have come across:
In The Godfather (1972), when Sonny is gunned down, what is that if not an Unbearable Antagonism?
In Annie Hall (1977), when Alvie finally goes to meet Annie in Los Angeles, that is a Hand-to-Hand Battle and is the same one-on-one confrontation as Luke and Vader battling it out at the end of Star Wars (1977); the same mano-a-mano confrontation between Riggs and Joshua in Lethal Weapon (1987), the same confrontation as the one between John McClane and Hans Gruber in Die Hard (1988) and the same as the confrontation between Harry and Sally at the end of When Harry met Sally (1989).
(For the Complete 188+ stage Hero’s Journey simply go to http://www.heros-journey.info/ )
ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES:
*****Fourth Catharsis*****
One of the Antagonist’s Lieutenants (who may be the Shape Shifter) may appear from nowhere and be quickly vanquished. In Die Hard (1988), Karl appears from under the sheet and takes the officer’s gun.
In the Bond franchise, the third catharsis is (sometimes) the defeat of the Antagonist’s evil plan and the fourth catharsis is the defeat of the Antagonist himself. In Goldfinger (1964), Bond has to tackle the pilot - who turns out to be Goldfinger. [the normal structure is retained in Diamonds are Forever].
This stage of the Journey sometimes manifests itself with the surprise turning of the Shape Shifter. In Star Wars (1977), Han returns.
*****Antagonism of the New World*****
When the Hero et al arrive in the New World, it is not uncommon for it to be a normal domain of the Antagonism. In Straw Dogs (1971), David and Amy say hello to Charlie.
Learn more…
WRITE THAT SCREENPLAY!
The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.heros-journey.info/
188 stages of the Hero’s Journey can also be reached from http://www.story-structure.org/
You can also receive a free sample file by entering your email address at this site.
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Kal Bishop, MBA
Tags: monomyth