Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth with Bill Moyers
In this beloved 1988 PBS series, mythologist and storyteller Joseph Campbell joins Bill Moyers to explore what enduring myths can tell us about our lives. In each of six episodes –“The Hero’s Adventure,” “The Message of the Myth,” “The First Storytellers,” “Sacrifice and Bliss,” “Love and the Goddess,” and “Masks of Eternity” — Moyers and Campbell focus on a character or theme found in cultural and religious mythologies. Campbell argues that these timeless archetypes continue to have a powerful influence on the choices we make and the ways we live.
Released shortly after Campbell’s death on October 30, 1987, The Power of Myth was one of the most popular TV series in the history of public television, and continues to inspire new audiences.
Cast
- Joseph Campbell
- Bill Moyers
DVD Features
NEARLY 3 HOURS OF BONUS FEATURES:
- Bill Moyers’ Journal episodes: Joseph Campbell: Myths to Live By – Part 1 and Part 2
- The Mythology of Star Wars with Bill Moyers and George Lucas (55-minute featurette)
- 24-page companion booklet featuring an extremely rare essay by Joseph Campbell, plus additional reading materials from the Joseph Campbell Foundation
Discs: 3
Blu-ray Features
NEARLY 3 HOURS OF BONUS FEATURES:
- Bill Moyers’ Journal episodes: Joseph Campbell: Myths to Live By – Part 1 and Part 2
- The Mythology of Star Wars with Bill Moyers and George Lucas (55-minute featurette)
- 24-page companion booklet featuring an extremely rare essay by Joseph Campbell, plus additional reading materials from the Joseph Campbell Foundation
Discs: 2
- "Powerful, thought-provoking material, from a man who is responsible for the lion's share of our current understanding of world mythology. Highly recommended."
- "The Power of Myth is a powerful and riveting experience, and it’s all the more so for its seeming simplicity. "
- "With the deeply engaged Moyers egging him on, Campbell recounts old folktales and explains the metaphorical meanings of religious texts, always recalling the arc of his own life, which he knows is nearing its end. He notes his frailty, and talks openly about his past struggles with embracing his own “follow your bliss” philosophy. The Power Of Myth’s six hours of conversation are intended to stir the imagination and to get viewers to see art and faith in a whole new way. But the series works because it’s a riveting performance-piece, in which one man sums up—for the last time, really—his understanding of the world we all share, and the way we fumble to find meaning in it. "
- "Fascinating. Captured vividly are the historian's legendary talents as a storyteller. "