Archetypes

What is an archetype? “The similarities in motifs in stories across cultures and time periods resulted from the human psyche that knows no boundaries of culture or history.” “The similarities in motifs in stories across cultures and time periods resulted from the human psyche that knows no boundaries of culture or history.” Things that mean the same to people no matter where, when or how they live/d Things that mean the same to people no matter where, when or how they live/d Carl Jung: 20 th Century psychoanalyst (cool guy) Carl Jung: 20 th Century psychoanalyst (cool guy)

How is this possible? Jung termed this the “collective unconscious” Jung termed this the “collective unconscious” – common to all humans – represent these thoughts: an attempt to put those unconscious thoughts into concrete ideas – Manifest themselves in art, literature and community

Archetypes are characterized by 3 features: – Primordial: preconscious, ancient expressions of the human psyche – Universal: occur across cultures, history, and geography; people that have no contact choose images to represent the same qualities (archeologists have concluded that the similarities originate from experiences and emotions that are universally human) – Recurrent: regular, repeated, essentially changeless

To get started… Think of a Disney movie you are familiar with Think of a Disney movie you are familiar with I pick The Little Mermaid I pick The Little Mermaid

Symbolic Archetypes Representations that are understood across cultures (ideas represented in physical form) Representations that are understood across cultures (ideas represented in physical form) Light vs. Darkness Light vs. Darkness Water vs. Desert Water vs. Desert Heaven vs. Hell Heaven vs. Hell Good vs. Evil Good vs. Evil

Situation Archetypes Common elements to almost every story (even when cultures hadn’t met yet) Common elements to almost every story (even when cultures hadn’t met yet) Quest: must bring something back or restore the land (assigned) Quest: must bring something back or restore the land (assigned) Task: must perform a superhuman deed Task: must perform a superhuman deed Initiation: into adult life Initiation: into adult life Journey: search of truth, restore kingdom (self assigned) Journey: search of truth, restore kingdom (self assigned)

Character Archetypes Hero: little known about childhood, marries a princess, becomes king (think Jesus Christ, Arthur, Robin Hood, Frodo) Hero: little known about childhood, marries a princess, becomes king (think Jesus Christ, Arthur, Robin Hood, Frodo) Mentors: teachers or counselors (think Merlin, Gandalf, any fairy godmother) Mentors: teachers or counselors (think Merlin, Gandalf, any fairy godmother) Friendly Beast: helps the hero, shows that nature is on hero’s side (Lassie) Friendly Beast: helps the hero, shows that nature is on hero’s side (Lassie) Devil Figure: Evil incarnate, offers character worldly fame or fortune for the soul Devil Figure: Evil incarnate, offers character worldly fame or fortune for the soul

More characters Outcast: figure who is banished for some crime (real or imagined) and must wonder from place to place (cowboys) Outcast: figure who is banished for some crime (real or imagined) and must wonder from place to place (cowboys) Woman: Woman: – Earth Mother: offers spiritual and emotional nourishment – Temptress: sensuous beauty, tries to ruin or distract the hero – Muse: inspiration and spiritual ideal for whom the protagonist has a physical and intellectual desire – Unfaithful wife – Damsel in distress – Star-crossed Lovers

Characteristics Common to Fairy Tales: 1.Fantastic elements 2.Ambiguous setting (once upon a time…) 3.Woman figure 4.Central protagonist 5.Protagonist is tested 6.Confronting and resolving a problem, usually a quest

More characteristics 7. Encounter with a villain 8. Use of the number 3 or 4 (3 battles, 3 impossible tasks, 3 magic spells) 9. Villain is punished or banished 10. Potential for a happy ending 11. The success of the protagonist leads to marriage, money, wisdom, power

“Faeries” the film Oisin (O’Sheen): A Scottish/Irish hero, name means “young deer” Oisin (O’Sheen): A Scottish/Irish hero, name means “young deer” Ne’om Ne’om Puck Puck The Shadow The Shadow