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It is the most watched series in the history of Public Television!
Bill Moyers interview with Joseph Campbell called - The Power
of Myth: Campbell's fascinating analysis of ancient cultures
and mythology, and their relevance to modern day.
But this world renowned mythologist - to whom psychologists
turn for understanding, and whom George Lucas used as a fundamental
source for his Star Wars motion pictures, is not nearly
as well known as two of his friends from California's Monterey
Bay area - and a now famous party.
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By the early 1930's, the young scholar (and athlete)
with an interest in marine biology had already formed some fundamental
ideas about the nature of things. Not yet 30 years old, Campbell
had already traveled widely and was a recognized scholar as well
as college and AAU track star. He set the Columbia University
school record in the half mile, earned Bachelor and Masters degrees;
and dropped out of the PHD program about the same time his well
off family lost much of their money in the 1929 stock market
crash.
During the ensuing depression, the young scholar in search
of himself, made his way across America and settled for awhile
in Carmel. A friend had introduced him to a young writer and
his wife. They found him a cheaper place, known as "The
Canary Cottage," in Pacific Grove. Next door lived another
friend; a marine biologist who ran a laboratory down on Ocean
View Blvd in Monterey. The writer and his wife were John and
Carol Steinbeck. The biologist was Edward Flanders Robb Ricketts.
The world had not yet heard of any of them.
John's first commercially successful novel (Tortilla Flat)
was still a few years away. And, it would be well over a decade
before the world would come to know Ed as "Doc" Ricketts;
and his little Lab, in the midst an industrial sardine fishing
slum, would become a world famous tourist attraction.
Right now, John Steinbeck was working on a book called To
a God Unknown (See Harvest - The Valley of Our Lady) Campbell, who fancied himself a
fiction writer too, offered some help.
Both were fascinated with ideas, nature, and what they saw
as a great connection between all things. Both had become caught
up in the legends of King Arthur at an early age. Both saw the
relevance of myth and philosophy to the fundamental human psyche
and the modern world.
One day, according to Joseph Campbell, he and John were in
the Carmel library. Campbell was reading one of his favorite
philosophers - Oswald Spengler.
"Suddenly," said Campbell, "something jumped
off the page and hit me like a ton of bricks!" The words
were: "Young man! If you want to be in the wind of things
to come - put down the poet's pen and the paint brush. Pick up
the monkey wrench and the law book." In other words, get
involved. Go to work!
And how did the nearly 30 year old "professional scholar/athelete"
take these words? He had, in fact, never "worked" a
real day of work in his life. He had, in effect, led a "sheltered"
existence. And now, here was this philosopher whom he so highly
admired - in effect telling him he was out of touch with the
world.
It was a dismayed and disillusioned young Joseph Campbell
who went to Ed Ricketts and announced that he had "missed
life." "All my life," said Campbell, "I've
been in training for athletics or scholastics. Always training.
And now," said the sad, young scholar, "I've missed
out on life!"
The mentor listened intently and said: "Well Joe, if
you want to start experiencing life, the first thing you've got
to do is - Get Drunk!" Campbell said, "This was real
Ed talking!" And then Joseph Campbell described in detail
the "exquisite" party that followed. The home brewed
liquor, visit by the police, midnight sojourn to the department
store sales promotion in Pacific Grove... All elements surrounding
Joe's Party - that was to become world famous.
In the book, "Mac and the Boys" arranged the party
for "Doc." In real life, said Joseph Campbell, "That
was My Party - to start me out on life!"
You may have read about the party. Millions have. And each
year, they come from around the world to see where The Party
took place. "Doc's Lab" is still there; but the street
has been renamed - after John Steinbeck's best seller that became
a movie and then spawned a sequel that became a Broadway musical.
It all started with Joe's Party at "Doc's Lab" on
- Cannery Row.
© Copyright 2000 Roger Powers. All
Rights Reserved.
Source material: Pauline Pearson interview with Joseph Campbell
Steinbeck Archives - National Steinbeck Center - Salinas CA
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