Kontroll

Today's discussion in class really got me thinking. To start off, I found the whole idea of monomyth to be quite interesting. I actually find a lot of comfort behind it. Often times we feel like we're alone, but that really isn't the case. It seems that our issues can be structured similarly. According to Joseph Campbell, there are 17 stages. 

• The Call to Adventure (some information is received)

• Refusal of the Call (often refuse to heed the call) 

• Supernatural Aid (a guide becomes known)

• The Crossing of the First Threshold (leaving the known limits of your world)

• Belly of The Whale (the final separation from your known world and self)

• The Road of Trials (a series of tests, tasks, or ordeals that you must undergo to begin the transformation)

• The Meeting With the Goddess (experience a love that has the power and significance of the love of an infant and mother) 

• Woman as Temptress (temptations that may want you to abandon or stray from your quest)

• Atonement with the Father (you must confront and be initiated by whatever holds the ultimate power in your life) 

• Apotheosis (you must move beyond the pairs of opposites to a state of divine knowledge, love, compassion and bliss)

• The Ultimate Boon (achievement of the goal of the quest)

• Refusal of the Return (you may not want to return to the ordinary world once you have been enlightened in the other world) 

• The Magic Flight (sometimes you have to escape with the boon)

• Rescue from Without (you must have powerful guides and rescuers to bring you back to everyday life)

• The Crossing of the Return Threshold (retain the wisdom gained on the quest, integrate that wisdom into a human life, and share the wisdom with the rest of the world)

• Master of Two Worlds (achieving a balance between the material and spiritual; becoming comfortable and competent in both the inner and outer worlds)

• Freedom to Live (mastery leads to freedom from the fear of death, which is the freedom to live)

Kontroll is a great example of a monomyth. Throughout the film, Bulcsu attempts to catch the killer in the subway system. I believe that this killer is just a metaphor of Bulcsu's evil side. The 17 stages can we found in Bulcsu's journey to overcome his evil. There are some elements that are really clear, such as the woman as temptress. Although the Bela's daughter was a temptation, I also think that while she was a temptation, she was his rescue from without. The last scene as the go up the elevator is one that shows Bulcsu becoming the master of two worlds and acquiring the freedom to live. I wish I could go more in depth with it, but I think I need to re-watch the move now that I have knowledge of monomyths (now that is possible with the Youtube link)! 

I was recently in this messy and weird friendship/relationship with some guy. I was able to get over it and I think I'm currently experiencing the freedom to live. I'm looking forward to beginning the cycle all over again and seeing how well it fits into the monomyth. 

I think if you analyze the challenges in your life, you can find yourself stumbling upon a structure similar to the one above. This whole concept is universal and timeless. It has been around for thousands of years in many different civilizations. So whether you think you're alone in this world or not, and whether you choose to accept it or not, struggle and pain are universal. And that is fact.