Christopher Vogler The Writers Journey
T h e Hero's Journey language is clearly becoming part of the storytelling
common knowledge and its principles have been used consciously to create hugely
popular films. But there is danger in this self-awareness. Overreliance on traditional
language or the latest buzzwords can lead to thoughtless, cookie-cutter products.
Lazy, superficial use of Hero's Journey terms, taking this metaphorical system too
literally, or arbitrarily imposing its forms on every story can be stultifying. It should
be used as a form, not a formula, a reference point and a source of inspiration, not a
dictatorial mandate.
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PREFACE
CULTURAL IMPERIALISM
Another of the clangers of standardized language and methods is that local differ
ences, the very things that add zest and spice to journeys to faraway places, will get
hammered into blandness by the machinery of mass production
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