ARCHETYPES

Carl Jung… Studied under Sigmund Freud Named the first “complex,” based on his idea that trauma might result in exaggerated reactions. Believed that modern humans rely too heavily on science and logic

Freud believed the brain was divided into three parts: ID – basic needs and drives; survival SUPEREGO – conscience; keeps the id in check EGO – the “self”; your personality; overall brain control

Jung didn’t agree with Freud; he divided the brain into two parts: * MEMORIES – past experiences from this life * FORGOTTEN CONSCIOUS— memories from past lives

Carl Jung… Called these forgotten memories the “collective unconscious” –is a knowledge base that all humans share »contains ideas, images, and emotional responses –is the basis of Jung’s theory on archetypes

Discovered (or identified) Archetypes –which are instinctive patterns –that recur in art across cultures –and recur in art across time

The collective unconscious is to humans like instinct is to animals. Salmon know how to spawn without being told. People don’t need to learn everything; some things we are just born knowing.

Archetypes: Instinctive patterns in the collective unconscious of humankind. Figures or patterns that recur in works of art from generation to generation. Instinctive patterns in the collective unconscious of humankind. Figures or patterns that recur in works of art from generation to generation.

Archetypes can come in the form of stories, characters, and symbols. These symbols must be shared by different cultures OVER TIME to be archetypes. They must be universal.

Don’t confuse archetypes with other signs or symbols.

SIGN A word or physical sign which represents one object. –initials: U.S.A., NASA, NHS –traffic signs –trademarks: “Just do it,” “I’m lovin’ it.” Meaningless in itself; gains meaning through usage.

Symbol An object that stands for something else. This can be a letter, a character, or a sign. –the American flag –a police badge –the Greek letter delta These objects are specific to a culture, a community, some times a specific novel.

Consider a snake...

TIME & SPACE MACHINE

Put the snake in a time and space machine and send it to ANY PLACE or ANY TIME and people would agree on what that snake means or represents.

This is a two-dimensional joke: Snakes have no legs to kick with, or opposable thumbs with which to attach a sign. Snakes are EVIL!

Heracles with the snake - Greece

The Rainbow Snake Aido-Hwedo QUETZLCOATL is in charge of the primal waters where all life was created.

The Seven-Headed Serpent Lotan from Canaanite myths, which served as a symbol of the seven deadly sins.

Shesha, the world serpent In Hindu Mythology, Shesha spews fire to destroy all creation

Apep, the chaos serpent At first, Apep was the Egyptian Sun god. When he was replaced by Ra, he became very angry. Apep became a symbol of evil.

Leviathan, the great sea monster

Dragons in Celtic and Chinese mythology

Medusa - Greek

Jormungandr (Norse) will eventually bring about ragnarok (the end of the world)

Where can we find archetypes? MythologyMythology LiteratureLiterature ArtArt ReligionReligion MoviesMovies Comic BooksComic Books SongsSongs

Archetype: a universal theme Universal theme: themes that transcend time and space (of course, this is a controversial notion!)

Three types of archetypes... archetypal plotsarchetypal plots archetypal charactersarchetypal characters archetypal symbolsarchetypal symbols

PLOTS Hero Cycle Cosmogony (creation story) Tragedy (everyone dies) Comedy (everyone marries) Monomyth or Initiation PLOTS Hero Cycle Cosmogony (creation story) Tragedy (everyone dies) Comedy (everyone marries) Monomyth or Initiation

ARCHETYPAL CHARACTERS Wise Man Witch(crone) Hero Temptress

SYMBOLS (metaphors/ similes) Water = BirthWater = Birth Night = DeathNight = Death Light = GoodLight = Good Dark = BadDark = Bad

Can you see anything problematic about archetypes?

dangerous Anything that suggests that dark is bad and light is good can be dangerous in the wrong hands, and it does not represent all cultures.

Any system of thought that limits males and females to certain types rather than allowing them autonomy to choose what kind of person to be can be dangerous.

Be careful when looking at art, literature, film... LIFE through an archetypal lens.

ARCHETYPAL STORY PATTERNS COSMOGONY COSMOGONY (creation story) Explains the origin of humans, the world, and/or the universe Life is brought into existence by some supernatural being(s) Often involves dirt, water, light, and language

HERO CYCLE HERO CYCLE Revolves around a character who leaves homeRevolves around a character who leaves home Is guided by a supernatural aidIs guided by a supernatural aid The hero suffers a number of trialsThe hero suffers a number of trials * Temptress * Temptress * Belly of the Whale * Belly of the Whale * Monster(s) * Monster(s) The hero triumphs in the endThe hero triumphs in the end Often returns home and shares knowledge or a giftOften returns home and shares knowledge or a gift

The hero is assumed to be male because one of his many “trials” is overcoming the wiles of a temptress.

TRAGEDY Revolves around a person ofRevolves around a person of importance, not a commoner Horrible things happen to the main character and those he/she lovesHorrible things happen to the main character and those he/she loves Everyone dies in the endEveryone dies in the end Justice, the “right world” is restoredJustice, the “right world” is restored

COMEDY Normal or ordinary people triumph over life’s adversity Includes some form of mistaken identity Blocking forces are not truly evil People celebrate or get married in the end

THE ARCHETYPAL MAN HERO Young, handsome, muscularYoung, handsome, muscular CourageousCourageous Strong (sometimes beyond normal men)Strong (sometimes beyond normal men) Rebel or maverickRebel or maverick Usually follows the hero cycleUsually follows the hero cycle

LUKE SKYWALKER

Aragorn

KING ARTHUR

WISE MAN Older than hero Spiritual and moral Intelligent Sometimes has special powers

MERLIN

GANDALF

DUMBLEDORE

OBI WAN KENOBI

FOOL Age varies Usually has some physical defect (crazy nose, disabled,cross-eyed, fat, ugly) Often a side-kick Humorous and bumbling Occasionally speaks the truth that no one else will

C3PO & R2D2

MERRY AND PIPPIN

THE DEVIL Usually offers a trade or exchange Manipulative and deceptive Often physically attractive and well-dressed

SATAN (Liz Hurley in bedazzled)

Satan is... Al Pacino in The Devil’s Advocate

Satan

The Villain: Physical appearance varies Age varies Adversary for the hero and/or heroine

Kevin Spacey as LEX LUTHOR

DARTH VADER

THE JOKER

Lord Farquaad

THE TRICKSTER He is a god, yet he is not.He is a god, yet he is not. He is the wise-fool.He is the wise-fool. He rebels against authority, pokes fun at the overly serious, creates convoluted schemes—that may or may not work—and is sometimes his own worst enemy.He rebels against authority, pokes fun at the overly serious, creates convoluted schemes—that may or may not work—and is sometimes his own worst enemy. He exists to question, to cause us to question, and not to accept things blindly.He exists to question, to cause us to question, and not to accept things blindly.

LOKI - Norse

ANANSI - AFRICAN

ODYSSEUS Greek

Coyote

In Native American mythology, Coyote is a buffoon, a creator, a trickster, and a hero.

WILE E. COYOTE

ARCHETYPAL FEMALE CHARACTERS The Mother Birth, life, fertility Warmth, protection, security Nourishment

Marge Simpson

Mrs. Brady

Mrs. Cunningham

The Crone or Witch Old, ugly Mysterious Intelligent Plotting or conniving

Jadis from The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty

Sadly, the witch is the equivalent of the wise man. Women don’t get to be smart—and certainly not smart and pretty—without also being evil. Guys don’t make passes at girls who wear glasses. (I’m using glasses as a symbol of wisdom, get it?)

The Maiden or Virgin Young, beautiful Often helpless Innocent Saved by hero

Buttercup from The Princess Bride

Cinderella

The Temptress or Whore Older than the maiden, younger than the mother Beautiful, usually dark- or red-haired Hyper-sexual Deceptive and underhanded

Poison Ivy

Megara from Hercules

The whore: The only female archetype who gets to have any fun. Hmmm...

COMMON ARCHETYPAL SYMBOLSWATER The mystery of creation Birth-death-resurrection Purification and redemption Fertility and growth

Sun Creative energy Law in nature Consciousness (thinking, enlightenment, etc.) Passage of time and life Father principle

The Rising Sun

Setting Sun=Death

THE MOON The Female Principle

COLORS RED Blood Sacrifice Violent passion Disorder

GREEN GrowthGrowth SensationSensation HopeHope FertilityFertility

BLUE Usually positive Truth Religion Security Religious purity

BLACK Chaos Mystery The unknown Death Primal wisdom The unconscious Evil Melancholy

WHITE Light Purity Innocence Timelessness

Also death, terror, the supernatural

CIRCLE Wholeness and Unity

EGG Fertility and the Mystery of Life

NUMBERS THREE: Spiritual Awareness and Unity Male Principle

FOUR

SEVEN Signifies the union ofSignifies the union of three and four three and four The completion of aThe completion of a cycle cycle Perfect orderPerfect order

Notice the bias here (yet again). * Black = evil is a racial bias. * Smart female = evil is a gender bias. * The combination of three and four = perfect unity is a heterosexist bias. Notice the bias here (yet again). * Black = evil is a racial bias. * Smart female = evil is a gender bias. * The combination of three and four = perfect unity is a heterosexist bias.

GARDEN Paradise Innocence Unspoiled Beauty Fertility

TREE Growth Generation & regeneration Inexhaustible life Immortality

DESERT Death Hopelessness

And we cannot forget the figure who runs the show in most of mythology...

OMNIPOTENT, OMNISCIENT DEITY

How do you apply archetypal criticism to a text?

Does the story seem to have echoes of something larger than just the piece itself? Does the story seem to have echoes of something larger than just the piece itself? It may contain archetypes.

Examine the text for plots, symbols, or characters that are archetypal and try to figure out WHY the author would use these universal elements. What effect does their use have on the story as a whole?

Look for subverted archetypes, places where the author created an archetypal setting, plot, symbol, or character only to turn it on its head.

My sources: Edith Hamilton Carl Jung Joseph Campbell Toni McNaron