Joseph Campbell and The Power of Myth Blu-ray Review

Bill Moyers’ iconic PBS series Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth, first broadcast in 1988, stands as a landmark exploration of mythology’s enduring role in human life. Comprising six hour-long episodes, the series captures intimate conversations between journalist Bill Moyers and mythologist Joseph Campbell, filmed shortly before Campbell’s death in 1987.

These dialogues delve into the universal patterns of myths across cultures, framing them not as relics of the past but as guides for navigating modern culture. The series was hailed for sparking a renewed interest in comparative mythology, influencing fields from literature to film, and also encouraged viewers to see their own lives through the lens of archetypal stories. Its companion book became a bestseller that further cemented its cultural impact.

Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth is a profound, if imperfect, invitation to rediscover myth’s vitality

What makes the series famous is its general accessibility into subjects that rarely ever escaped academia before or since. Campbell, a scholar known for works like The Hero with a Thousand Faces, distills complex ideas into conversational wisdom. While Moyers, a seasoned interviewer, grounds the discussions in contemporary relevance. Aired posthumously on PBS, it drew millions of viewers and remains one of the network’s most-watched programs.

Joseph Campbell (1904–1987) was a professor of literature and mythology whose work emphasized the hero’s journey, a narrative arc common to stories worldwide across different societies. Influenced by thinkers like Carl Jung and James Joyce, Campbell argued that myths serve psychological and social functions, helping individuals integrate personal experiences with collective human truths. Bill Moyers, a former White House press secretary turned broadcaster, brought a journalistic eye to their conversations, probing Campbell’s ideas with questions tied to issues like religion, politics, and personal fulfillment.

The interviews were conducted over two summers at George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch in California (for the first five episodes) and the American Museum of Natural History in New York (for the sixth). This setting underscores Campbell’s influence on the franchise, which Lucas has credited as a modern myth inspired by Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces.

The production style is simple and straightforward: man-to-man interviews interspersed with archival footage, relevant artwork, and natural imagery, allowing the ideas to take center stage. The series is structured thematically, with each episode building on the last to form a cohesive exploration of myth’s power.

1. The Hero’s Adventure (58:31): Campbell introduces the hero’s journey, drawing parallels between figures like Buddha, Jesus, and Luke Skywalker.

2. The Message of the Myth (56:26): Focusing on creation stories, this episode critiques literal interpretations of religion, viewing myths as “software” for the human mind.

3. The First Storytellers (57:41): Exploring primal myths, Campbell connects animal lore, hunting rituals, and shamanism to human harmony with nature.

4. Sacrifice and Bliss (56:34): This delves into renewal through sacrifice, contrasting societal obligations with personal bliss.

5. Love and the Goddess (58:08): Campbell examines romantic love, the sacred feminine, and myths like Isis and Osiris.

6. Masks of Eternity (58:05): The finale contemplates the infinite, using symbols like the circle and Shiva’s dance to discuss epiphanies.

The series’ strength lies in its ability taking ideas plucked from Campbell’s work and relating them in an easy to understand manner… most of the time. Campbell’s charisma and storytelling often makes abstract concepts vivid, while Moyers’ questions bridge scholarly depth with practical application. Its impact was profound, having launched a resurgence in mythology studies, inspired creators like George Lucas, and influenced films such as Zack Snyder’s Justice League, where Campbell’s motifs are often used.

Despite its acclaim, the series faced some scholarly pushback. Campbell’s monomyth was criticized as overly reductionist, forcing cultural stories into a narrow Western framework and ignoring contextual nuances. However, the series’ legacy endures to this day. They don’t make serious and thoughtful discussions like this for television anymore.

Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth is a profound, if imperfect, invitation to rediscover myth’s vitality. Offering accessible nuggets of wisdom, universal insights, and surprising depth, the dialogues are rich with knowledge. Its strengths outweigh its flaws for many, making it essential viewing for anyone pondering Campbell’s mythic framework for interpreting narratives. While scholars may critique its generalizations, its ability to ignite personal exploration ensures its lasting status. It’s a reminder that myths aren’t just stories. The series offers a heroic journey worth exploring if college-level lectures on anthropology and literature are your thing.

Joseph Campbell and The Power of Myth makes its debut on Blu-ray as an upscaled 1080i presentation courtesy of Film Movement in its original 4:3 aspect ratio. They split the six episodes between two BD-50s, encoded in ordinary AVC. A newer introduction filmed by Moyers demonstrates better picture quality but the interviews themselves are shot in pedestrian SD likely from videotape sources.

The archival clips and occasional stock footage suffer the worst in the upscaled presentation. Generally the upscaled video isn’t awful but you’ll never mistake it for actual HD. If you’ve caught the series in PBS re-runs this video looks no better. If you happen to already own The Power of Myth on DVD, there isn’t a visible bump up in video quality.

The 2.0 PCM soundtrack is perfectly adequate, cleanly reproducing the quiet academic conversations between Moyers and Campbell. A few clips and stock footage offer slightly more adventurous sonic fare for the monaural recording. Film Movement claims it’s a stereo mix but I didn’t hear anything in the audio which would mark it as stereo.

Optional English SDH subtitles play in a white font.

Film Movement issues the PBS series in a two-disc BD set with a few extras as the program makes its Blu-ray debut. There’s nothing particularly unique here except an excellent 24-page companion booklet that features an essay from the Joseph Campbell archives and pieces by Stephen Gerringer. The discs are coded for all regions.

Bill Moyers’ Journal “Joseph Campbell: Myths to Live By” Part 1 (59:04 in upscaled HD) – The original PBS program which served as a forerunner to the 1988 series.

Bill Moyers’ Journal “Joseph Campbell: Myths to Live By” Part 2 (47:07 in upscaled HD)

The Mythology of Star Wars with George Lucas & Bill Moyers (56:15 in upscaled HD) – A 1999 follow-up extended the show’s legacy, highlighting Campbell’s impact on popular culture as Lucas was preparing The Phantom Menace.

Full disclosure: This Blu-ray was provided by the label for review. This has not materially affected DoBlu’s editorial process. For information on how we handle all review material, please visit DoBlu’s about us page.

The following six screen shots serve as samples for our subscription-exclusive set of 26 full resolution, uncompressed HD screen shots ripped directly from the Blu-ray: