Final Proposal

Title

• MONOMYTH.exe

One sentence description

• An interactive system that uses LLM apis and gesture recognition to generate a personalized “hero’s journey” myth based on a single word or question provided by the user.

Project Abstract

• MONOMYTH.exe is a web-based, AI-driven interactive system designed to function as a personal myth generator. Inspired by Joseph Campbell’s concept of the monomyth and the structure of universal heroic narratives, the project invites users to begin with a single word, theme, or question—something they consider personally significant. This initial input acts as the “Call to Adventure,” triggering an AI-generated narrative that unfolds as a unique, individualized hero’s journey.
• The experience uses real-time gesture or motion recognition via the webcam to allow the user to “choose their path” instead of keyboard inputs, to add a sense of really making a self-myth with AI. Simple movements function as ritual-like responses to narrative choices. The result is an experience that feels less like playing a game and more like interacting with a digital oracle or executing a symbolic program.
• The system combines LLM-generated text with AI-generated images to create a multi-ending narrative that adapts to user choices. And potentially some prebuilt model for hand or face recognition. While the interaction remains minimal, the emphasis is on atmosphere, symbolism, and the emotional resonance of “running” one’s personal myth as if it were a piece of software.
• MONOMYTH.exe explores how ancient mythological structures can be reimagined through contemporary computation, and how technology can create intimate, introspective narrative rituals for individuals. The project bridges mythology, interaction design, gesture-based interfaces, and AI authorship to invite users into a personalized journey of internal reflection.

Inspiration / Visual References

• The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
  • Published in 1949
  • Monomyth as the core idea
• My own past project — Before the trial
  • https://wp.nyu.edu/nyushanghai-sihongshen/2025/05/21/before-the-trial-documentation/
• 1001 Nights
• All kinds of personality tests.
• Cyberpunk style

Audiences

• Everyone（who r interested in myths, stories, …）