archetypes
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Archetypes. The Models of Our Entertainment and Philosophies. What is an Archetype?. An original model which other things are similarly patterned after An image, story pattern, character type, representation, or recurring idea Evokes strong associations to the reader or observer. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
ArchetypesArchetypesThe Models of Our Entertainment The Models of Our Entertainment
and Philosophiesand Philosophies
What is an Archetype?What is an Archetype?
An original model which other things are An original model which other things are similarly patterned aftersimilarly patterned after
An image, story pattern, character type, An image, story pattern, character type, representation, or recurring idearepresentation, or recurring idea
Evokes strong associations to the reader Evokes strong associations to the reader or observeror observer
What should I look for to What should I look for to identify archetypes?identify archetypes?
A shared idea with all humanityA shared idea with all humanity
An inherited part of the human being that An inherited part of the human being that connects us allconnects us all
A constant and universal ideaA constant and universal idea
Though it may differ from place to place, the Though it may differ from place to place, the concept is worldwideconcept is worldwide
What kinds of Archetypes are What kinds of Archetypes are there?there?
There are three main archetypes:There are three main archetypes:SymbolicSymbolicCharacter Character SituationalSituational
……But we will be focusing on But we will be focusing on Symbolic and Character Symbolic and Character ArchetypesArchetypes
Symbolic ArchetypesSymbolic Archetypes
Serve as a representation Serve as a representation of a specific person, act, of a specific person, act, deed, place or conflict. deed, place or conflict.
They are easily They are easily recognizable but not as recognizable but not as common as situational common as situational
archetypes.archetypes.
The Archetypes The Archetypes Include: Include:
Light vs. DarknessLight vs. Darkness Water vs. DesertWater vs. Desert Heaven vs. HellHeaven vs. Hell The Magic WeaponThe Magic Weapon Innate Wisdom vs. Innate Wisdom vs.
Educated StupidityEducated Stupidity Haven vs. WildernessHaven vs. Wilderness Supernatural Supernatural
InterventionIntervention Fire vs. IceFire vs. Ice
Symbolic Archetypes:Symbolic Archetypes:Light vs. DarknessLight vs. Darkness
Light suggests hope, renewal, or Light suggests hope, renewal, or enlightenmentenlightenment
Darkness implies mystery, ignorance, or Darkness implies mystery, ignorance, or despair despair
Light vs. Darkness Light vs. Darkness Example:Example:
The battle of light and
darkness will stretch beyond actual light and dark. The good (light) and bad (dark) can be
seen through a story’s
characters and their actions.
Symbolic Archetypes:Symbolic Archetypes: Water vs. DesertWater vs. Desert
Water appears as a symbol of fertility and Water appears as a symbol of fertility and birthbirth
Water may symbolize a spiritual birth or Water may symbolize a spiritual birth or the beginning of something. Can also be the beginning of something. Can also be a cleansing/purging of evil.a cleansing/purging of evil.
A Desert typically represents a loss of life, A Desert typically represents a loss of life, hope, or faithhope, or faith
Water vs. Desert Water vs. Desert Example:Example:
Water brings about hope for new life and spirituality.
A desert might bring about loss of life, faith, or hope.
Symbolic Archetypes:Symbolic Archetypes:Heaven vs. HellHeaven vs. Hell
Places not easily accessible by man Places not easily accessible by man are regarded as the dwelling places of are regarded as the dwelling places of either the gods or demonseither the gods or demons
The skies, clouds, or mountains house The skies, clouds, or mountains house the godsthe gods
Canyons, caves, and the inner earth Canyons, caves, and the inner earth play home to the evil forces of the play home to the evil forces of the world.world.
Heaven vs. Hell Heaven vs. Hell Example:Example:
“…and she’s buying the stairway…to heaven!”
Typically Heaven is also associated with light and
nature.
“Hell’s Bells!" Hell is often associated with fire,
demons, evil, and the unknown places of earth.
Symbolic Archetypes:Symbolic Archetypes:Supernatural InterventionSupernatural Intervention
God or gods intervene in a given situationGod or gods intervene in a given situation
The gods will often favor the hero but The gods will often favor the hero but occasionally they do not. occasionally they do not. (Poor Odysseus!)(Poor Odysseus!)
This is seen throughout Greek Mythology This is seen throughout Greek Mythology as well as most practiced religionsas well as most practiced religions
Supernatural InterventionSupernatural InterventionExamples:Examples:
Jesus Christ is woken from sleep and asked to intervene by calming the waters.
In the movie 300, the gods intervened when “Zeus hurled thunderbolts and rain storms as the enemy ships crashed against the rock.”
Symbolic ArchetypesSymbolic Archetypes
Let’s Review…Let’s Review…
Symbolic Archetypes Symbolic Archetypes represent a specific represent a specific person, act, deed, person, act, deed, place or conflict. place or conflict.
Symbolic Symbolic Archetypes Archetypes
Include: Include:
Light vs. DarknessLight vs. Darkness Water vs. DesertWater vs. Desert Heaven vs. HellHeaven vs. Hell Innate Wisdom vs. Innate Wisdom vs.
Educated StupidityEducated Stupidity Supernatural Supernatural
InterventionIntervention
Character Character ArchetypesArchetypes
A person or being that serves as a A person or being that serves as a representative of a greater idealrepresentative of a greater ideal
Characteristics, actions, abilities, or Characteristics, actions, abilities, or powers contribute to the archetype powers contribute to the archetype characterizationcharacterization
Character ArchetypesCharacter Archetypes
Character Archetypes include Character Archetypes include the following:the following:
Unfaithful WifeUnfaithful Wife TemptressTemptress Star-Crossed LoversStar-Crossed Lovers Damsel In DistressDamsel In Distress The Scapegoat The Scapegoat The Devil FigureThe Devil Figure The Creature of The Creature of
NightmaresNightmares Friendly BeastFriendly Beast
The HeroThe Hero MentorMentor Young man from the ProvincesYoung man from the Provinces The InitiatesThe Initiates Hunting Group of CompanionsHunting Group of Companions Loyal RetainersLoyal Retainers The OutcastThe Outcast The Evil Figure with the The Evil Figure with the
Ultimately Good HeartUltimately Good Heart EarthmotherEarthmother
Character ArchetypesCharacter Archetypes:: The HeroThe Hero Traditionally the Traditionally the
protagonist of a protagonist of a storystory
Often his past is a Often his past is a mysterymystery
He is the champion, He is the champion, king, leader, or king, leader, or savior of manysavior of many
Endures pain and Endures pain and sorrow that all lead sorrow that all lead to a greater goodto a greater good
Character Archetypes:Character Archetypes: MentorMentor
Serve as a teacher or Serve as a teacher or counselor to the counselor to the initiate or future heroinitiate or future hero
Role ModelRole Model
Sometimes a Father Sometimes a Father or Mother figureor Mother figure
The Karate Kid’s Mr. Miyagi
Character Archetypes:Character Archetypes: The InitiatesThe Initiates
Young heroes who Young heroes who are called out of a are called out of a “normal” life and must “normal” life and must endure trainingendure training
Must complete some Must complete some type of quest type of quest
They are innocent They are innocent and often wear whiteand often wear white
In order to become a Jedi Knight, Luke Skywalker must complete his training (quest).
Character Archetypes:Character Archetypes:
Hunting group of companionsHunting group of companions
Loyal to the heroLoyal to the hero
Group willing to Group willing to face dangers in face dangers in order to be order to be together together
Robin Hood’s Merry Men never abandoned him despite the danger.
Character Archetypes:Character Archetypes: EarthmotherEarthmother
Symbolic of Symbolic of abundance, abundance, fertility, and fertility, and knowledgeknowledge
Offers spiritual and Offers spiritual and emotional advice emotional advice or nourishment to or nourishment to those she meetsthose she meets
In the film The Matrix, the Oracle gives spiritual advice to Neo in his quest for the truth.
Character Archetypes:Character Archetypes: TemptressTemptress
Sensuous with beautySensuous with beauty The hero is physically attracted to her but she will The hero is physically attracted to her but she will
ultimately bring about his downfallultimately bring about his downfall
From the X-men comics and movies, Jean Grey and Cyclopes fall in love but she ultimately brings his downfall by turning into the Phoenix and killing him.
Character Archetypes:Character Archetypes: Damsel in DistressDamsel in Distress
Vulnerable woman Vulnerable woman who must be rescued who must be rescued by the heroby the hero
She is often used as She is often used as bait to trap the herobait to trap the hero
Mary Jane Watson is often being tossed around by villains. Lucky for her Spider-man is her boy-toy!
The DiplomatThe Diplomat
Able to mediate between different groups Able to mediate between different groups and quickly assess the situation and quickly assess the situation
Understands both points of viewUnderstands both points of viewWorks to help find the middle groundWorks to help find the middle groundSymbol of JusticeSymbol of Justice
Character Archetypes:Character Archetypes: Star-Crossed LoversStar-Crossed Lovers
These two characters These two characters are engaged in a love are engaged in a love affairaffair
Fated to end tragicallyFated to end tragically
Society, family, or Society, family, or friends do not approve friends do not approve of the relationshipof the relationship Romeo and Juliet ultimately pay the price
for their love through their tragic death.
Poor Leo! Destiny seems to have it in for him –
sinking ship ring a bell???
Character Archetypes:Character Archetypes: Loyal RetainersLoyal Retainers
Heroic qualities but Heroic qualities but of a lesser degreeof a lesser degree
Similar to a servant Similar to a servant but indispensible to but indispensible to the herothe hero
Duty: Protect the Duty: Protect the Hero – no matter Hero – no matter what!what!
Sam from the Lord of The Rings trilogy is the loyal retainer of Frodo.
Character Archetypes:Character Archetypes: Creature of a NightmareCreature of a Nightmare
Monster usually Monster usually summoned from the summoned from the deepest, darkest parts of deepest, darkest parts of the mindthe mind
Threatens the life of the Threatens the life of the herohero
Often a perverse or Often a perverse or desecrate form of humandesecrate form of human
Summoned from nightmares, Freddy Krueger terrorized teens in the 80’s and 90’s in the Nightmare on Elm Street films!
Character Archetypes:Character Archetypes: Devil FigureDevil Figure
Evil IncarnateEvil Incarnate
Offers Worldly GoodsOffers Worldly Goods
Will tempt, cheat, Will tempt, cheat, steal, lie, and destroy steal, lie, and destroy anyone or anything anyone or anything he comes into contact he comes into contact with! Why? Power!with! Why? Power!
Let’s Review! Let’s Review! Character Archetypes include the following…Character Archetypes include the following…
TemptressTemptressStar-Crossed Star-Crossed
LoversLoversDamsel In DistressDamsel In DistressThe Scapegoat The Scapegoat The Devil FigureThe Devil FigureThe Creature of The Creature of
NightmaresNightmares
The HeroThe Hero MentorMentor The InitiatesThe Initiates Hunting Group of Hunting Group of
CompanionsCompanions Loyal RetainersLoyal Retainers The OutcastThe Outcast EarthmotherEarthmother
In Conclusion…In Conclusion…
Archetypes are everywhere, but we Archetypes are everywhere, but we often just overlook them.often just overlook them.
They can be found in every book, short They can be found in every book, short story, TV show, or movie. Remember, story, TV show, or movie. Remember, EVERY story is the SAME story!EVERY story is the SAME story!
Archetypes represent ideas larger than Archetypes represent ideas larger than themselves!themselves!