Barack Obama Photo mythical hero: an evaluation

A brief summary of the major newspapers, news sites and television programs, despite the fact that he has been a month since the American elections "Obamania" is booming. Obama has become a popular culture icon, in the face Madonna, Batman and rock. Then it struck me that Obama's image and history can compare the myth of the hero of Joseph Campbell, which Campbell called monomyth "(1). Whether consciously or unconsciously, people – and sometimes Obama himself – tend to project this image on it. Since 2006, he was called stars and the legend (2), and recently I even read a blog where the writer called the "savior"! (3) Remember, I am not filing a claim deep originality on this point – I have discovered while George Lucas has already taken note of Barack Obama, after Hero's Journey (4) and two bloggers who have talked about it, though brief (June 5). However, I would like a closer look at what I've read others – and this article will be longer than most others!

Leave the beginning. For those I do not know, Joseph Campbell (1904-1987) was one of the mythologists mostly old (7). He is best known for his revolutionary book, the hero of a thousand faces. Is it articulates the myth of the hero's journey, which directly influenced George Lucas Star Wars, Disney's The Lion King, and countless movies and books from (8). The book deconstructs the hero's journey in three parts. My intention is to compare them with the story of Obama's rise to power and the presidency.

Preliminary

Since the analysis of Campbell, the hero is a special natural person, marked in some way by their peers. Born of a African mother and black father, Obama's mixed heritage has been marked as a "special right person" from the beginning. Moreover, an campbelli hero is that he is often rejected by his family and the story of Moses. It is an archetype of Obama doing very well: it was abandoned, only two years in Kenya by his father Barack Obama Sr., who met once in his life. This had a great impact on him, in accordance with his bestselling autobiography Dreams from My Father (9).

Part I: Departure

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

2. The refusal of the call – Sometimes the hero refuses the call to action principle.
This is an optional element in the book of Campbell does not apply to Obama, who appears as a positive and ambitious person.

3. Supernatural Aid – the hero is assisted by a figure of protection that sustains
In youth, the main support Obama 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 Senator Illinois, Emil Jones, Democratic leader. His wife, whom Obama called his "rock" also had an important influence on his political career.

4. Crossing the first line – the hero must pass an initial test to enter the new world of heroic action
There were key moments in the determination of Obama's life that has shaped his career as a politician. One of them was his decision after two years of participation at Occidental College in California for transfer to Columbia University, where he graduated in political science. Another, seeking low-wage job as an organizer Chicago Community. Thirdly, his decision after two years working in Chicago to Harvard Law School.

5. The belly of the whale – the hero must go through an initiation test that consists of a descent into a dark and dangerous realm
In Dreams from My Father, Obama introduced your darkest moments that high consumption of drugs and alcohol for both Punahou High School and Occidental College. Obama admitted to being a pothead "to" push questions who I was out of my mind "(12). Finally, however, he got his life together, moving toward the west College of Columbia University.

Part II: Introduction

1. Road Test – succession of obstacles
Barack Obama has met a number of obstacles which has overcome the political rise. The first was a candidate for the Illinois Senate in 1996, when he had to eliminate the best candidates title. He succeeded, but using this as some critics argue unfair tactics – who successfully challenged the campaign to vote for two candidates, therefore suspended from competition law (13).
The second obstacle has been its application failed in the House of Representatives in 2000, when he was beaten by Bobby Rush in place by two to one. It was a painful defeat, the only time he considered resigning comprehensive policy (14). He did not, and Obama has learned many useful aspects campaign for this attempt.
In 2004, he succeeded in launching his candidacy for U.S. Senate. Finally, in 2007, was supported by the Democrats for president against Hillary Clinton said the better.

2. The encounter with the goddess s – the marriage between the hero and Queen or mother-like figure
In 1988, Obama met Michelle Robinson, a man graduated from Harvard Law while he was a summer intern in the law firm Sidley Austin. He married in 1992. Obama deeply grateful for his wife, whom he called his "rock." He speaks of it: "There's something him that the honesty of these projects and strength. This makes it an incredible race, and his partner, and mother and wife "(15).

3. Women as seductive – Rejection of a powerful woman figure
Read Obama's life shows that seems to respect and even admire female figures. The first was his mother, Stanley Ann, and then there was Michelle Obama. Finally, there were other political mentors as Alice Palmer (16). If Obama was a woman who had to "reject" was Hillary Clinton, the Democrat presidential candidate-cons. But Obama does not seem to harbor bad feelings for Hillary, or act of corruption "Obama kind of way.

4. Atonement with the Father – the reconciliation with the tyrant and merciful aspects of a paternal authority figure
As shown dreams of my father, Obama was affected by the absence of his father, Barack Obama Sr. (17). An important part of the lives of young Obama was taken by his efforts to reconcile the absence of his father with his racial heritage is always present.

5. Apotheosis – The expansion hero self-alteration, or deep perception of reality
Barack Obama apotheosis first was his famous 2004 speech at the Democratic National Convention, which put in the center of attention and change the course of his career. Obama's final was a candidate and the success of the bid for the Democratic nomination in 2007.

6. Last Boon – the hero receives a key to victory or
His first major victory was his overwhelming victory in the U.S. Senate in 2004, then the Democratic nomination in 2007 and, finally, his election as President 2008.

Part III: Back

1. The refusal of the declaration – Having achieved enlightenment, or happiness, the hero refuses to return to the ordinary world
This is not the case for Obama, since his victory has been achieved by "ordinary" world, and not the land of another world or mythical. In addition, it has always been an ambitious person, who did not settle in one place but the main objective high (18) (19).

2. Magic Flight – the hero can defeat the "gift
Obama has had to withdraw all the Case of the Democratic presidential nomination in 2007, to be debated best-titled Hillary Clinton.

3. Without bailout – The hero may need support for supernatural blessings in the ordinary world
There were several times when Obama "has played streak of good luck is no accident in. The Washington Post on August 1, 2007, called his ascension to the U.S. Senate as "a series of fortunate events" (20). In 2004 showed how his U.S. Senate victory has been helped by the decision of Peter Fitzgerald, the senator in office, not run their own seat again, on charges of violence charges domestic violence against the Democratic candidate against Blair Hull, who was the favorite for the job just a month before the election and the scandal against Republican candidate Jack Ryan sex workers. Obama ended up winning the Senate seat by a landslide: 70% (21).

4. Crossing breakeven – the return of heroes for the ordinary world
The "break-even point is undoubtedly a victory for the U.S. presidency was a challenge and a given – following his victory over Hillary Clinton Democratic nomination.

5. Master Two worlds – the hero relates both to the divine and the human
After his career and political experience, Obama is now considered able to carry the United States and to share their vision for the American people.

6. Freedom of living – the hero has the advantage of others.
A After winning the presidency, Obama is now able to contribute to the improvement of American life and improve the tarnished image of America abroad.

Conclusions: The Story of Barack Obama and the picture is quite consistent with the "Campbell's Journey" Hero model, even if not follows a linear fashion, as Campbell has designed. It is, after all, natural histories: Campbell was Disecting fairy plants and books, but Obama is the face of life real life is beyond imagination.

Furthermore, an interesting aspect Campbell noted that the model goes beyond the point 6 where the hero is in the position to give an advantage "for others. Obama should go beyond campbelli Travel heroic work on the actual distribution of provision. Currently, Obama is a hero because of his past, and the symbol for change, Youth and racial unity he represents. However, long-term work that define it 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 at: . Retrieved on November 11, 2008.
(3) Edinger, R. (2008). Rock Obama: America and the world. Online. Available at: . Accessed November 9, 2008.
(2) Graff, G. (2006). The Legend of Barack Obama. The Washingtonian, November 01 Available at: http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/1836.html. Retrieved on November 9, 2008.
(11) Jones, T. (2004). Barack Obama: his mother is not just a girl from Kansas. Chicago Herald Tribune, March 27, available online at: , 0.2623808. History? Page = 1. Retrieved on November 9, 2008.
(9), (10), (12) (17), Obama, B. (2004). Dreams from My Father. New York: Three Rivers Press.
(5) Snapp, M. (2008). Obama Walking Tour hero … Contra Costa Times. Online. Available at: http://obamamessiah.blogspot.com/2008/03/obama-walks-heros-journey.html. Retrieved on November 9, 2008. ]
(4) The Huffington Post. (2008). George Lucas on Obama: a hero in the making. Online. Available at: Retrieved on 09 November http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/04/george-lucas-on-obama-a-h_n_105102.html/ 2008.
(7) (8), free. (2008). Joseph Campbell. Online. Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Campbell. Retrieved on November 10, 2008.
(13), (16) Jackson, D. and Long, R. (2007). Barack Obama: Showing his bare hands. Chicago Herald Tribune, April 4 Available online at: www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-0704030881apr04-archive, 0.5507395. History. Retrieved on November 9, 2008.
(14), (20) (21), Mundy, L. (2007). A series of fortunate events. The Washington Post, 12 Available online in August: … Retrieved on November 10, 2008.
(15) Parsons, C. Japs, B. Sectes & B. Rock for Barack: Michelle Obama. (2007). Chicago Herald Tribune, April 22 Available online at: , 0.56722. History? Page = 1. Retrieved on November 9, 2008.
(18) Pearson, R. And Long, R. (2007) Barack Obama: not careful, Looking to the future. Chicago Herald Tribune, May 03, Available at: www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0705030101may03-archive, 0.2521558. History. Retrieved on November 10, 2008.
(19) Dorning, M. & Parsons, C. (2007). Carefully mark Barack Obama. Chicago Herald Tribune, June 12 Available online at: www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-obama_senate_recordjun12-archive, 0.3195588. History. Retrieved on 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

Alex Jones – Rev. James David Manning Pt7