Heroines & the Heroic Journey  

I built this course as a critical examination of diversity and the much loved Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey. As I considered narratives as a whole, it became really clear really quickly that most of the main characters on a traditional hero’s journey were very much from a position of power. When I came across a character with a diverse ethnic, sexual, gender, geographical, economic background — guess what? — their story was more likely about getting to the starting line — not even about having their much deserved journey!

I am so thankful for authors who are writing today. It’s such an exciting time to be a reader and writer. There are many books and films that are working very hard to change hundreds of years of marginalization. This course (and the books I write) is my way to contribute to progress and guide students to examine beautiful narratives that center on a heroine and diverse characters in myth and legend, fairy and folk tales, and then finally (and my favorite) comic books.