Joseph John Campbell (March 26, 1904 – October 30, 1987) was an accomplished American writer and professor of literature at Sarah Lawrence College, renowned for his expertise in comparative mythology and comparative religion. His extensive work delves into the myriad facets of human existence. Campbell's most celebrated piece is his 1949 book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, where he elaborates on his theory concerning the journey of the archetypal hero shared across global mythologies, dubbed the monomyth.

Campbell's theories have significantly influenced a broad spectrum of modern writers and artists since the publication of The Hero with a Thousand Faces. His philosophy is encapsulated in his widely quoted maxim: "Follow your bliss." He earned acclaim in Hollywood when George Lucas acknowledged Campbell's theories as an inspiration for his Star Wars saga. Despite his impact on popular culture and his approach to folklore topics such as myth, Campbell’s contributions have not been without criticism, particularly from academic folklorists.

From his early years in New York City, Campbell developed a profound interest in mythology. His childhood was marked by avid reading about American Indian cultures and regular visits to the American Museum of Natural History in New York, where he was captivated by the museum's collection of totem poles. Campbell pursued his education at Columbia University, majoring in medieval literature, and furthered his studies in Paris and Munich. His experiences abroad were influenced by the art of Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, novels by James Joyce and Thomas Mann, and the psychological theories of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung.