Mythology

Joseph Campbell - Mythos II

Joseph Campbell, the late mythologist who became a household name among public television viewers in the 1980s, embarked on a series of final lectures for TV audiences before his death. Joseph Campbell: Mythos II is part of that effort, with a special emphasis on the Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Campbell begins the five programs on this two-disc set by reminding us that the purpose of myths is to relate human beings to their world. Early myths, says Campbell, connect humans to their place in the plant and animal world; later myths relate human society to the workings of astronomical cycles. It's an evolving process. When we're in accord with nature, says Campbell, we reap nature's bounty. Hinduism and Buddhism are both efforts to relate people to their place in a cycle of existence that does not end until one transcends that cycle. Hinduism, Campbell says, is to Buddhism as Judaism is to Christianity: the older religions are traditions, while Buddhism and Christianity are "credo religions," i.e., newer, "I believe" faith systems. Campbell spends some time discussing the development of Buddhism from monastic beginnings to its later appeal to millions of people, from an era of no images of the Buddha to the creation of beautiful sculptures of him immersed in transcendent consciousness. Campbell goes on to discuss, at length, the workings of yoga and their connection to increasingly sophisticated orders of love. (He also explains why the lowest cakras--pronounced "chakras"--are ruled by Dharma.) Finally, Campbell explains why the moment of death is the moment of illumination in Buddhism, and why the Boddhisatva of Compassion (i.e,, the Dalai Lama to some people) is so important. This is a wonderful collection underscoring how unique Campbell was to a Western understanding of the role of myths in our lives. --Tom Keogh

"Myth comes from the same zone as dream... from the great biological ground, whatever it may be. They are energies and they are matters of consciousness." -- Joseph Campbell

DURING THE FINAL YEARS OF HIS LIFE, Joseph Campbell embarked on a speaking tour in which he drew together all that he had learned about what he called the "one great story" of humanity. These remarkable talks were filmed and are presented here in the order and manner in which Campbell himself intended, with enhanced images and in minimally edited form. As seen on PBS.

The Programs
1. The Inward Path—The core myths of the great Asian religions.
2. Enlightened One—The Buddha and enlightenment, East and West.
3. Our Eternal Selves—Yoga and transcendence.
4. The Way to Illumination—Kundalini yoga and the seven chakras.
5. The Experience of God—Tibetan Buddhism and the spiritual journey that is death. Presented and Hosted by Academy Award®-Winner SUSAN SARANDON

Joseph Campbell: Mythos I

"The material of myth is the material of our life, the material of our body, and the material of our environment. A living, vital mythology deals with these." -- Joseph Campbell

During the final years of his life, Joseph Campbell embarked on a lecture tour in which he drew together all that he had learned about what he called the "one great story" of humanity. These remarkable lectures were filmed and are presented here in the order and manner in which Campbell himself intended, with enhanced images and in minimally-edited form. As seen on PBS.

The Programs
1. Psyche and Symbol -- The psychological impulse for and response to myth.
2. The Spirit Land -- How myths awakened American Indians to the mystery of life.
3. On Being Human -- The emergence of myth in early hunter-gatherer societies.
4. From Goddess to God -- The gradual shift from the Goddess to male, warlike deities.
5. The Mystical Life -- Non-biblical mythic strains hat helped shape the Western spirit.

Special Features: never-released Q&A footage and biographical material

Presented and Hosted by Academy Award® - Winner SUSAN SARANDON

Joseph Campbell - The Hero's Journey

Joseph Campbell, author of The Hero with a Thousand Faces, a scholar who achieved legendary status as an explicator of myths, is reverently profiled in this documentary that encompasses his long life and career. During his childhood in New York City, Campbell was taken to see "Buffalo Bill" Cody's Wild West Show at Madison Square Garden. Young Campbell was fascinated by the Native Americans in Cody's performing troupe and eventually became obsessed with mythology. As he came to realize that myths worldwide had the same underpinnings, he also discovered his life's work. This documentary mentions Campbell's affinity for the writings of James Joyce and Carl Jung, and there is ample footage of Campbell, casual in flannel shirts, giving lectures salted with references to Buddhism, Christianity, classical mythology, St. Augustine, and the rituals of plains Indians. In later life, Campbell is seen being honored at a banquet at which George Lucas rises to give him credit for helping to inspire the writing of Star Wars. After Campbell's death in 1987, heated controversies arose about his work, but this documentary is an overwhelmingly positive look at his writings, lectures, and personality. --Robert J. McNamara

"And so Galahad decided that it would be a disgrace to set off on a quest with the other knights. Alone he would enter the dark forest where there was no path. This is the myth of the Hero's Journey." —Joseph Campbell

One of the greatest storytellers of our time, and arguably the greatest mythologist, Joseph Campbell spent most of his long, rich career explaining how ancient myths like the Hero's Journey are relevant to modern life. In understanding the importance of myth as a vital, vibrant source of "mankind's one great story," Campbell inspired others to embark on a quest for the meaning of myth in their own lives. This biographical portrait, filmed shortly before his death in 1987, follows Campbell's personal quest—a pathless journey of questioning, discovery, and ultimately of delight and joy in a life to which he said, "Yes."

Joseph Campbell - Sukhavati

Sukhavati is like an extra-credit master class for anyone who was captivated by Bill Moyers' landmark series Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth. Produced, directed, and edited by Maxine Harris with the support of the Joseph Campbell Foundation (as part of a "Collected Works" series of DVDs), this simple, 78-minute program combines soothing imagery and music from around the world with relevant excerpts from some of Campbell's seminal lectures on mythology. The title refers to Campbell's "place of bliss," or his life's calling: To fully grasp and teach mythology as a common trait of humanity--a way of interpreting life experience and philosophy through universal narratives that transcend ethnic and cultural differences. Specifically, these Campbell excerpts emphasize "Sukhavati" as a voluntary shifting of perspective that allows "joyful participation in the sorrows of the world." As Campbell observes, with illustrative examples taken from various mythologies from around the world, "we are in a free fall into the future," and our anxieties about the unknown can be eliminated if we embrace uncertainty and "transform hell into a paradise." This acceptance of life's miseries is enhanced through Campbell's peerless ability to comparatively interpret mythologies related to cycles of life, death, and rebirth. While Campbell himself is shown only briefly in lecture clips, his words serve as voice-over narration to Harris's well-chosen images. The combination is awkward at times (it's not easy to follow Campbell's lecture when you're being lulled into a state of new-age relaxation), but the program succeeds in presenting the essence of Campbell's philosophical worldview. --Jeff Shannon

"We're in a free fall into future. We don't know where we're going. Things are changing so fast. And always when you're going through a long tunnel, anxiety comes along. But all you have to do to transform your hell into a paradise is to turn your fall into a voluntary act. It's a very interesting shift of perspective . . . Joyfully participate in the sorrows of the world and everything changes." —Joseph Campbell

Through archival excerpts from his finest filmed lectures interwoven with exquisite images and evocative music from around the world, renowned mythologist Joseph Campbell takes us on a journey of transcendence and illumination, a trip through the mythological symbols and sagas left by our ancient forebears. What is revealed en route is "mankind's one great story," the grand drama played out by all cultures on all continents since time immemorial. This saga "projected" on the screen of the universe is the mythic adventure that became Campbell's "Sukhavati," what he passionately embraced as his life's work, his place of bliss.

Created by Maxine Harris and Sheldon Rocklin, with the enthusiastic support of the Joseph Campbell Foundation, this hypnotic and mesmerizing film is a deeply personal, almost spiritual, portrait of Campbell, told in his own words, in his twilight years, at the summit of his career and the apex of his intellectual powers. Through it, this great American thinker is still "joyfully participating in the sorrows of the world."

As seen on public television.

Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth

Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth is essential viewing for anyone old enough to appreciate its vital teachings. One of the greatest interviews ever recorded, this six-part, six-hour encounter between teacher- mythologist Campbell and student-journalist Bill Moyers (recorded in the two years preceding Campbell's death in 1988) covers a galaxy of topics related to Campbell's central themes: Mythology is humanity's universal method of seeking the transcendental, and "follow your bliss" is the timeless formula for spiritual satisfaction. Campbell himself is the embodiment of these themes, an erudite scholar and quintessential storyteller, recalling a wide spectrum of myths from throughout history (Japanese, Native American, Egyptian, Mayan, and many more) to illustrate humankind's eternal quest to grasp the mysteries of creation. Historical artifacts and illustrations bring these timeless stories to life.

An astute interviewer, Moyers is an acolyte in perfect harmony with Campbell-as- mentor, wording questions with penetrating perfection as their intellectual dance reaches exhilarating heights of meaning and fascination. Moyers also finds the perfect hook for a global audience, examining Campbell's admiration of George Lucas's Star Wars saga as a popular tapestry of ancient myths, and Lucas himself is interviewed in a DVD bonus segment ("I'm not creating a new myth," he says, "but telling old myths in a new way"). Campbell's seemingly endless well of knowledge reaches a simple conclusion: we need myths to survive like we need oxygen to breathe, as a life force with which to understand our existence--past, present, and future. --Jeff Shannon

An exhilarating journey into the mind and spirit of a remarkable man, a legendary teacher, and a masterful storyteller, conducted by TV journalist Bill Moyers in the acclaimed PBS series. Includes The Hero's Adventure, The Message of the Myth, The First Storytellers, Sacrifice and Bliss, Love and the Goddess, Masks of Eternity. 360 minutes.

Imelda - Power, Myth, Illusion

Few contemporary political figures of this century have been as controversial and outspoken, and even misunderstood, as Imelda Marcos, the former Philippine First Lady and widow of the late Ferdinand Marcos, who was the president of the Philippines for 21 years. "Imelda" marks the first time that Mrs. Marcos agreed to tell her story in this feature documentary that details her rise from humble provincial origins to become one of the richest and most powerful women in contemporary history. This documentary, told in English in rare original interviews features scenes from her daily life and archival footage. Where some Filippino language is spoken there are English subtitles.

Joseph Campbell - Mythos

Clocking in at 10 hours, Mythos presents the great educator Joseph Campbell's vision of humankind's "One Great Story." Since time immemorial, humans have been passing "life's lessons" from generation to generation through their particular society's theology and folklore, or mythologies. According to Campbell, by examining the world's diverse mythologies you will find therein universal themes that are applicable and speak directly to all humankind. In Mythos, Campbell dissects a wide range of the world's mythologies, particularly Hinduism and Buddhism. Rather than pointing out their superficial differences, he accentuates and embraces their similarities. It doesn't matter whether the myths are Greek, Indian, Egyptian, Native American, Judeo-Christian, or Arthurian in origin. Campbell explains it is their intrinsic themes that share a commonality: the trials of the hero, the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, the path to enlightenment, love, struggle, sacrifice, etc.

Narrated by Susan Sarandon, Mythos is Campbell's final work captured on tape while on an academic lecture circuit in the last years of his life. Campbell looks lively and wonderfully at ease in the familiar classroom setting discussing his life's passion. Those enchanted by what The Power of Myth introduced will be deeply satisfied with the epic, academic content of Mythos. --Rob Bracco

Journey with the remarkable Joseph Campbell as he explores how myths evolve to reflect changing beliefs about nature, God, and life to his explanation of the shaping of Eastern tradition by examining spirituality through the mythic images of Hinduism and Buddhism. 560 minutes.

Who¿s Who in Greek and Roman Mythology DVD

Learn about the gods, heroes, and weird creatures that  provided Greek and Roman mythology with a bizarre but interesting cast of characters.  Hear about their rather complicated interactions and understand why myths were important to ancient people. Award Winner: The Communicator Awards "Award of Distinction"

Earth Under Fire: Understanding Mythology As The Science Of The Past

Ancient myth and esoteric lore from around the world tell frightening tales of humanity's suffering through destructions by fire and flood legends of catastrophe so extreme and so pervasive that now we tend to discount them as imaginative exaggerations. Dr. Paul LaViolette thought so too until he discovered an ancient "time-capsule cryptogram" written in the stars that relates a galactic cause of these events.Based on 14 years of doctoral and postdoctoral research Dr Paul LaViolette explains how this scientifically advanced message combined with ancient esoteric lore alerts us to a cyclical cosmic disaster one that could reoccur today virtually without warning.This program weaves shocking accounts from ancient legends together with stunning scientific data to reconstruct the details of a horrifying tragedy that plagued mankind for endless generations with periods of persistent darkness frigid cold searing heat and mountainous floods from which only a few survived.The story related in Earth Under Fire will be something you will teach your children and your children's children for generations to come.System Requirements:Running Time 60 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/MISC. UPC: 709629903777 Manufacturer No: K377

Joseph Campbell - The Hero's Journey

Joseph Campbell, author of The Hero with a Thousand Faces, a scholar who achieved legendary status as an explicator of myths, is reverently profiled in this documentary that encompasses his long life and career. During his childhood in New York City, Campbell was taken to see "Buffalo Bill" Cody's Wild West Show at Madison Square Garden. Young Campbell was fascinated by the Native Americans in Cody's performing troupe and eventually became obsessed with mythology. As he came to realize that myths worldwide had the same underpinnings, he also discovered his life's work. This documentary mentions Campbell's affinity for the writings of James Joyce and Carl Jung, and there is ample footage of Campbell, casual in flannel shirts, giving lectures salted with references to Buddhism, Christianity, classical mythology, St. Augustine, and the rituals of plains Indians. In later life, Campbell is seen being honored at a banquet at which George Lucas rises to give him credit for helping to inspire the writing of Star Wars. After Campbell's death in 1987, heated controversies arose about his work, but this documentary is an overwhelmingly positive look at his writings, lectures, and personality. --Robert J. McNamara