Archetypes The Models of Our Entertainment and Philosophies.

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!

The EndThe End