[TFNA]

Joseph Campbell is not regarded within anthropology and paleontology as a serious scholar. He is a purely pop-sci phenomenon, boosted by his association with Star Wars and friendship with Bill Moyers. Maybe not exactly a crackpot Graham Hancock kind of figure, but more comparable to that instead of anyone authoritative.

[marc_io]

He is still an authority for many people, though, and not without reason. Just not within academia.

[IAmBroom]

That's for the best, but I usually hear him quoted in the context of storytelling. His popularity definitely makes him relevant there, but I think he also started with real insight about hero-quest stories.

Beowulf and Episode IV – A New Hope may not have much direct bearing on any given person's pubescent path, aside from media consumption, but within it: much.

[TFNA]

Joseph Campbell is not taken seriously within folkloristics, either. Again, purely pop-sci phenomenon.