Archetypal/Mythological Criticism

Universal Myths Native peoples, and indeed whole civilizations, have their own mythologies, but common images, themes and motives are present. These common images are what Jung called archetypes.

Carl Jung ( ) Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung ( ) believed all myths came from the same elementary ideas "archetypes.“ They are the building blocks not only of the unconscious mind, but of a collective unconscious.

Carl Jung In other words, Jung believed that everyone in the world is born with the same basic subconscious model of what a "hero" is, or a "mentor" or a "quest."

Joseph Campbell: Hero with a Thousand Faces In 1949, Joseph Campbell began a revolution in anthropology (the study of people and culture) with his book The Hero With a Thousand Faces.

Joseph Campbell ( ) This book built on the pioneering work of German anthropologist Adolph Bastian ( ), who first proposed the idea that myths from all over the world seem to be built from the same "elementary ideas."

Joseph Campbell and Heroes Campbell eloquently argues that all stories are fundamentally the same story, which he named the "Hero's Journey," or the "monomyth."

Practical Applications of Campbell’s Archetypes: Walt Disney Productions used Campbell’s archetypes of the hero, journey, obstacles, etc. and created a template for a Disney story line. All Disney stories feature a hero who is essentially good, a few obstacles to be surpassed, and a journey towards a certain goal (physical, emotional, or mental).

Archetype An original model or type after which similar things are patterned. Archetypes can be well-known story patterns, universal experiences or personality types. Myths, fairytales, fictional genres, and cultural heroes are generally archetypal in their use of symbols and metaphors. The basic cycles of life and nature are sources of archetypal images and symbols.

Archetypes from Nature Water: birth-death-resurrection; creation; purification and redemption; fertility and growth. Rivers: death and rebirth (baptism); the flowing of time into eternity; transitional phases of the life cycle.... Sun (fire and sky are closely related): creative energy; thinking, enlightenment, wisdom, spiritual vision. –Rising sun: birth, creation, enlightenment. –Setting sun: death.

Colour Archetypes  Red: blood, sacrifice, passion; disorder.  Green: growth, hope, fertility.  Blue: highly positive; secure; tranquil; spiritual purity.  Black: darkness, chaos, mystery, the unknown, death, wisdom, evil, melancholy.  White: light, purity, innocence, timelessness; [negative: death, terror, supernatural]  Yellow: enlightenment, wisdom.