A Hero's Journey Through the Stargate

I have decided to divide this assignment into 2 sections as I have developed 2 separate ideas. Section 1, Stargate SG-1, is intended to fulfill the parameters of our personal project assignment. I am exploring the specific components including social, political, economic, and religious. The required question is at the end of this section. The second section is really based on my personal research and interest. It examines the link between Joseph Campbell's The Hero’s Journey and Daniel Jackson, a character from the television series, SG-1.

Section 1:


L-R: Christopher Judge, Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping, Richard Dean Anderson
From Stargate SG-1


STARGATE SG ∙ 1

Stargate is the story of a military based exploration of other worlds through wormholes. The wormholes are accessible by means of a Stargate, a ring that “dials” the other worlds to make a direct connection. These journeys lead Stargate teams on a variety of adventures. The original team, which the television series follows, is coined Stargate 1 or SG-1. Here is a rather good synopsis from tv.com:

“This sequel to the 1994 movie Stargate chronicles the further adventures of SGC (Stargate Command). It turned out that the Goa'uld Ra was only one of many alien System Lords who used the Stargates to conquer much of the universe. When Earth uncovers a working cartouche to decipher the coding system of Earth's stargate, they can now travel anywhere. Earth's military sends out SG teams to explore new planets, find technology, and oppose the Goa'uld. Jack O'Neill and Daniel Jackson from the movie are part of SG-1. They are joined by Sam Carter, a scientist, and Teal'c, a Jaffa who is convinced the Goa'uld are not gods. After Daniel Jackson was temporarily killed off in Season 6 (when actor Michael Shanks left the show for a year) they brought in Jonas Quinn, a scientist from another planet, to take Jackson's place. In Season 9, Jack O'Neill left the team and was replaced by Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell as team leader.”

The TV series began in 1997 and ran for 214 episodes, ending in 2007. Here is a trailer for the series:

The Social Aspects of Stargate

Fans at a Stargate Convention

One common theme during most of the television series is a direct link to Egyptian Mythology. Egyptian Gods serve as characters who were truly “Ancient Aliens.” The original stargate was actually found in Egypt. Most of the cultures found on other worlds are recognizable. They vary between historic periods including 4th millennium B.C., the Elizabethan Era, the Cold War Era, and imagined future cultures that build off of previously offered sci-fi, including Star Trek.

The real world social impact of Stargate can be seen through the numerous websites dedicated to the shows including Gateworld, an omnipedia, fan sites, myspace groups (pictured above), and an official website. There is even one called Stargate Social, an online forum dedicated to “all things Stargate.” A Google search of “Stargate” returned 58,800,000 results. That’s around half of “Star Trek,” (125,000,000), but about the same as “Mickey Mouse,“ (60,900,000).

The Economic Impact of Stargate

Stargate Currency

The amount of money that went into all of the movies and series is staggering. Not a “bank bail-out” mind blowing number, but still huge. During a recent interview, co-creator Brad Wright tallied the bill:

“All that science fiction work has played a leading role in Vancouver’s development as a production centre. Wright says Stargate alone (in its various forms) spent close to a billion dollars, employing thousands of people over the years.”

We’re not talking revenue, that is cost. When you begin to factor in the video games and merchandising, the number balloons. The franchise value is in question now that the series has been officially cancelled.

Stargate Action Figures

The Political Importance of Stargate
Senator Robert Kinsey played by Ronny Cox

Stargate dealt with interaction between rivalry worlds and peoples. This also included a working relationship between the United States and Russia. There is a lot of political maneuvering, but it’s difficult to cull out a consistent political theme. There are some who believe that several episodes were anti-Bush.

Another person equates making a change in our political system similar to going through the Stargate:

By design, our constitutional system of checks and balances puts up hurdles against change. The hurdles facing major changes are even higher. In the journey from idea to results, there is a moment at which the democratic process commits to an action, transforming the possible into the real. We call this moment of democratic commitment the “Stargate.”

While this analogy is digestible, there are also conspiracy theories surrounding Stargate. Here is an example of a confirmatory bias involving a “Stargate:”

How Does the Historic ET presence relate to US policy in Iraq?

An independent archaeologist that discusses a direct link between the ancient ET presence in Sumer (southern Iraq) and current US focus on the regime of Saddam Hussein, is William Henry. Henry's main thesis is that there existed in Sumerian times a technological device which he describes as a 'Stargate', that the Anunnaki/Nephilim used to travel back and forth from their homeworld and the Earth, and also how they travel around the galaxy.

The Religious Element
With the obvious connection between mythology and the Stargate series, there were also elements of spirituality. The idea of ascension is heavily explored. The ideas of good and evil are consistent themes. In the later part of the series, the Ori religion appears to be an anology of Christianity, based on the “Priors’ who appear like Jesuit priests, carrying priest staffs, as well as the architecture.

An Ori Prior

Another theme seems to be the demonizing of gods. The Goa'uld and the Ori were both false gods and forcing people to believe in them through torture and enslavement. Blind faith was really the best means of survival on some worlds. To doubt your god or think independently was blaspheme and punishable by ostracization or death.

Oddly enough, I couldn’t find anyone actually practicing one of these religions. I bet they’re out there.

The Future of Stargate
Now that the show is cancelled and there are no plans to revive it or follow up with a film, as was hoped, the future of Stargate is questionable. Co-creator Brad Wright had this to say:

“My feeling is that … the concept of Stargate is too big to just let go. Somebody at MGM is going to say ‘hey we’ve got this show; let’s do something with it,’” he says. “I don’t think it’ll happen really quickly, but I think somebody is going to bring the show back.”

Further discussion on the future of Stargate is included below in Section 2.

The Big Question:
If you had the opportunity would you travel to an unknown world, knowing you might face some of the risks encountered on the show?



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Section 2:

A Hero’s Journey Through the Stargate

One of the main themes I have been personally returning to has been Joseph Campbell’s explanation of “The Hero’s Journey.” In part, because I reread The Power of Myth at the beginning of this class, but also because I have been able to thread so much of it into the discussions we’ve had. I believe this could even be tied into, Hooked, by Matt Richtel. It is vital in so many aspects of understanding ourselves, our fears and inhibitions, and our triumphs. It really comes alive in our storytelling. There is an underlying theme that runs through them all. It is a mono-myth that transcends cultures and time. It neatly ties into our spiritual views. Joseph Campbell’s examination has been so extensive that I noticed several websites referring to The Hero’s Journey as “Campbellian.”



Joseph Campbell on Bill Moyer’s The Power of Myth

So, what is The Hero’s Journey? Well, it’s the specific stages the hero must pass in order to become enlightened, if you will. Here is a simple chart that shows the path:




Christopher Vogler is has done an excellent job of breaking down The Hero’s Journey in the chart above, but he has gone much further in researching the impact of this journey in film. Here is a brief video of Vogel explaining the development:



I have selected the character of Daniel Jackson, as I believe he best embodies The Hero’s Journey.


James Spader as Daniel Jackson in the Original Movie

Originally, Daniel Jackson was the main character and was played by James Spader in the 1994 film, Stargate:



When the movie was adapted for television, Jackson was played by Micheal Shanks.

Micheal Shanks as Daniel Jackson in the TV Series

Meet Daniel Jackson:



Here is Daniel Jackson’s explanation of the Stargate:




Daniel Jackson’s Journey
It wasn’t too hard to find other peoples interpretations of the Hero’s Journey in Science Fiction. Borrowing a form from the Star Wars Fan-site, Moongadget, I have applied Campbell’s Hero Journey against the outline of Christopher Vogler. I have essentially tested the story of my subject, Daniel Jackson, to see how it compares. I am focusing on the television series for the purpose of this essay. Below is a view of what I believe are the major or primary elements in Jackson journey. It’s worth noting these themes get repeated and there are several variations.

Campbell	Stargate
I: Departure
The call to adventure	Begins when the SG-1 team returns to the planet where Jackson had decided to live. (Season 1, Episode 1)
Refusal of the call	He wants to stay with at his new home but is forced to leave when his wife is abducted. (Season 1, Episode 1)
Supernatural aid	The Tokra are essentially good renegade Goa'uld who hep Jackson and SG-1. (Season 2, Episodes 11 & 12). More importantly, the team is helped by the Alterrans who have ascended from their physical beings. (Season 5, Episode 3)
Crossing the first threshold	This would probably be when Daniel becomes a team member of SG-1
The belly of the whale	Going into the Stargate for the sole purpose of exploration.
II: Initiation
The road of trials	Jackson must study the cultures and languages of the differnt worlds to help the team accomplish their missions.
The meeting with the goddess	It could be the ascended being, Oma Desala.
Temptation away from the true path1	This could be when Hathor seduces all of the men of Stargate command. She carris the baby of Daniel Jackson. (Season 1, Episode 13)
Atonement with the Father	This could be when Jackson tries to stop Anubis while he is ascended. It could also be when Jackson confronts Morgan Le Fay about not helping save the human race and themselves. (Season 10, Episode 3).
Apotheosis (becoming god-like)	Ascension. Daniel ascends after dying from radiation poisoning. (Season 5, Episode 21)
The ultimate boon	This would be when SG-1 defeats the Goa'uld and the Ori.

Again, these themes takes on different shapes, has different conclusions, and is reborn in new storylines within the television series. This is due to the constraints of television and the limited time frame they must work within. Some stories continue intermittently throughout the show and others are captured in the 44 minutes allotted. I have selected the highlights which best illustrate my thesis.

The Hero’s Journey is deeply embedded in many science fiction stories. George Lucas discusses the importance of Joseph Campbell’s work in the evolution and writing of Star Wars:



(If you’re interested in the mytholgy of Star Wars, there is a Bill Moyer interview with George Lucas).

This formula will be repeated over and over as long as stories are told. The importance of Campbell’s work continues to be recognized. Here is a trailer from an upcoming film based on Campbell’s mono-myth of the The Hero’s Journey:

Finding Joe - Trailer V.7 from pat solomon on Vimeo.

The Hero’s Journey is never really over.

Hooked Letter

Nat Idle is a medical school graduate who has decided to pursue a career as a journalist. As the story opens, he is handed a note in a cafe telling him to leave. As he follow the mysterious girl who left the note out of the cafe, it explodes. He looks at the note which reads “Get Out - Now!” He thinks the person who left the note may be Annie, his old girlfriend, based on the handwriting, who was presumed dead in a boating accident. Nat’s love for Annie is still very strong and it drives his desire to uncover the truth.

He begins to investigate the explosion at the cafe with the help of Erin, who was a waitress there. Together they search for possible motives behind the bombing. They eventually track down a computer belonging to Andy, a friend of Erin’s, who has recently committed suicide by leaping from the Golden Gate bridge. Andy was, in turn, friends with Simon Anderson, one of the possible targets in the cafe bombing. Nat and Erin discover that Andy’s computer is running a secret program in the background. This becomes the backdrop of this technological mystery.

I personally thought the book was a little choppy in it’s delivery and the narrative isn’t overly detailed or descriptive, moving quickly from one idea to the next. I suppose this adds to the tension, but it leaves me mildly unsatisfied. This is not to say I didn’t enjoy reading it. My personal tastes run closer to Cormac McCarthy and Charles Frazier, where character development takes considerably longer, but the reward is more fulfilling. This book does remind me of Daemon by Daniel Suarez, in terms of the technological thriller aspect and is done in a very similar style and similar time frame. I finished that book earlier in the year so it was easy to make the comparison.

In my mind, Nat and Erin lacked real appeal as a main characters. They don’t come to life as clearly as they might. This is in part due to the development issues I mentioned, but it is also the fact that these are not people that I recognize from my daily life. Nat moves from engaging to aloof and from sensitive to insincere. Sure, we all have these qualities, but there is an insubstantial element. While he pace of the book leaves them somewhat shallow, there are also implausible connections that are never really clear. The connections that are exposed between all of the cafe patrons, Nat, and Erin, feel conveniently deus ex machina. I am generally able to suspend belief while I am engaged in a book or film, but from a critical analysis, these things are more bothersome. I did find that other reviewers had some of the same conflicts I had.

In his article "Orwell That Ends Well," Randall Amster discusses our immersion in technology and the basis of our technology addiction. The constant invasion of our privacy has been addressed in Joel Stein’s Time article, "Your Data for Sale." Then, in "This is Your Brain on Facebook," by Rob Mitchum, we explored the possible neurological consequences of technology on our minds. Together, these provide some tenable explanations for the loose connections made in the book.

In another Time article, “Technology and Culture,” Richard Stengel states:

“Historically, the most powerful new mediums have changed the way we perceive the world--and how we relate to one another. The telephone, television and Internet have done that in ways we are still processing. But technology itself is neutral. It's a tool, neither good nor evil. It's all in how we use it.”

Warning about the overuse of technology are everywhere.

Dangers of technology addiction: foxprovidence.com

In Matt Richtell’s Authors@Google presentation, he shares some of his insights that underscore the novel, which helped me appreciate the novel a little more. One of the questions he posed to himself when writing the book was, “What is happening to our brains by virtue of our constant interaction with technology?” He surmises that we must be adapting due to this interaction. He also addresses some of my concerns regarding the snippet style of writing:

“...(There is a) recognition that readers and writers have pretty short attention spans these days. And you have to write to keep peoples attention...I have to really be writing very precisely.”

The New York Times ran a series of articles in 2010 titled “Your Brain on Computers.” They explored several ideas, including a poll where they argue that technology has increased our level of stress. The main attraction of “Hooked” for me is it’s plausibility, the underlying story which is based on reality. I understand the feeling of constantly being “plugged in” and the sense of being held hostage by technology. The benefits are enormous, but the downside is really unexplored for me. I get that almost uncontrollable urge to check my email on my cell phone when I hear the little viola alert. There is a satisfying tactile interface with the touchscreen. It offers unlimited entertainment. I can pick it up and watch a Netflix movie anywhere and any time I like. So, I see where we make ourselves vulnerable to a nefarious plot of some tech giant to gain more control of our interaction.

Albert Einstein said, “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” I believe this is the challenge we face in the rise of consumer based technology - to remember our humanity. Emily Yellin, a keynote speaker at a recent customer service conference was quoted as saying “Your challenge, in a lot of ways, is to infuse what you do with humanity.” Let’s just hope that a real life Glenn Kindle doesn't end up at Microsoft or Google.