When was Joseph Campbell born and where did he grow up?
Joseph Campbell was born on the 26th of March 1904 in White Plains, New York. He grew up in White Plains and later moved to New Rochelle where a fire in 1919 destroyed his family home.
Common questions about Joseph Campbell
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What major life event influenced Joseph Campbell's decision to study mythology?
A fire in 1919 that destroyed his family home and killed his maternal grandmother left a deep mark on the young Joseph Campbell. This early trauma became a pivotal moment that shaped his lifelong interest in mythology and human culture.
When did Joseph Campbell publish The Hero with a Thousand Faces?
Joseph Campbell published The Hero with a Thousand Faces in 1949. The book was originally titled How to Read a Myth and introduced the concept of the monomyth to popular thinking.
When was The Power of Myth series first broadcast?
The Power of Myth series was first broadcast in 1988. This PBS series aired the year following Joseph Campbell's death and featured his insights into mythological and psychological archetypes.
Who established the Joseph Campbell Foundation and when?
The Joseph Campbell Foundation was established in 1991 by Joseph Campbell's widow Jean Erdman and his longtime friend Robert Walter. The foundation promotes Campbell's ideas and supports the study of comparative mythology and culture.