Joseph John Campbell (March 26, 1904 - October 30, 1987) was an American writer and mythologist, lecturer and editor of many books on myth, best known for his works in comparative mythology and religion. “The way to what is human is found in re-acquaintance with the divine spark in all the transformations of the human face that does not exhaust.”
Joseph John Campbell was Professor of Literature at Sarah Lawrence College. His work covers many aspects of the human experience. Campbell's most famous work is The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949), in which he discusses his theory of the archetypal hero's journey shared by world myths.
Since the publication of The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Campbell's theories have been applied by a wide range of contemporary writers and artists. His philosophy is summed up in the phrase "Follow your bliss." He gained recognition in Hollywood when George Lucas credited Campbell's work to the Star Wars saga.
Campbell's approach to folklore topics such as myth and its impact on popular culture has been the subject of criticism, including from folklorists.