Article Response: "5 Ways Mythic Structure Will Help Your Writing"

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    Creating imaginary worlds and powerful characters in films and literature comes from the use of specific themes called myths. These themes have been used for many years, entertaining audiences for ages. An example of this would be Homer's The Odyssey, as it includes both dramatic and adventurous themes that could never happen in real life, but are interesting to read about. This article, written by Karlanna Lewis, explains how mythic structure can improve your films. 

    One way to use this structure is by using patterns. Usually, the opening to a mythic film is a two minute introduction with different shots of the world they live in and the life they lead. This helps the audience better understand new situations, and gives us a clue about the hero's background.

    However, in any myth-based movie, adventure usually occurs early on, so it's crucial to involve the audience in a hero's journey. Based on the circumstances the hero is put into, they should be interesting enough for the audience to be curious as to how this character will deal with them and go throughout life with them. One famous movie trope is including another character who wants something that the hero has, or the hero wanting something in general - to live a better life, to have something valuable, to get out of a life of struggling, to defeat an enemy, or to find themselves. With the hero's search, it reminds the audience of something they too seek, and will feel a sense of empathy for that character.

    Other ways of making the hero's story more interesting is including the fact that we can't always win. Sometimes we fail, and heroes should too. Heroes should question themselves and have their lives often endangered. This makes a character seem more realistic, instead of always winning and always getting their way, like some kind of robot.

    Lastly, have you ever watched a movie, and afterwards you feel as if the message effected your own life and how you view things? That's the goal, to leave behind a memorable message that the audience really feels as they walk out of the movie theater. "Good movies change how we view our own lives. In this sense, we share the hero’s lesson. While the hero’s quest may be for a tangible reward, the real reward becomes the moral realisation." Using this myth structure in stories can easily improve any kind of artistic work, and I learned a lot about it from reading this article. I will definitely try to use these tips in future films and stories.