The mythic hero's journey as applied by selected Texas artists

Date

1991-08

Authors

Chandler, Debra Greenway

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the use of the archetypal mythic hero's journey by five Texas artists. These artists include: Forrest Bess, James Surls, James Drake, Harry Geffert, and Michael Tracy. A questionnaire was designed and submitted to twentyfive Texas artists who have indicated the use of mythical . elements in their art. Scholarly journals, books, exhibition catalogs, and the artists' files from the Dallas Museum of Art were researched. The number of artists was narrowed to five that seemed to utilize the idea of the archetypal hero's journey, either by obtaining their ideas through a creative shamanistic journey or as subject matter for their art. Joseph Campbell's description of the hero's journey was used to analyze art works and the creative processes utilized by these artists.

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Keywords

Forrest Bess, James Surls, James Drake, Harry Geffert, Michael Tracy, Mythology in art, Visionary art, Shamanistic art

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