'The Power of Myth' and its Jedi Moment
Twenty-five years ago, Bill Moyers sat down with scholar Joseph Campbell for a series of captivating interviews about the world's cultures, their shared mythologies, and how these crucial stories influenced a range of civilizations and religions. The collective chats became The Power of Myth, a six-hour discussion that still ranks as one of PBS's most popular telecasts. In one segment, Campbell famously focused on the mythological themes of heroism in the original Star Wars. With this week's announcement of the forthcoming Star Wars: Episode VII (and two subsequent sequels) as well as a series of spin-off films focusing on the franchise's most memorable characters, and the release of the 25th anniversary edition of The Power of Myth — which includes an interview with George Lucas, who talks about how Campbell influenced his work on Star Wars — it's a wonderful time to revisit one of Campbell's most memorable Jedi moments. -CS