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ARCHETYPESARCHETYPES
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Archetypes are instinctive patterns recur in art across cultures recur in art across time Today, archetype means original model or pattern Archetypes are instinctive patterns recur in art across cultures recur in art across time Today, archetype means original model or pattern
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ArchetypesArchetypes Figures or patterns that recur in works of art from generation to generation. Timeless and Universal! Figures or patterns that recur in works of art from generation to generation. Timeless and Universal!
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Stories / Plots / Situations Symbols Characters
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Don ’ t confuse archetypes with other signs or symbols.
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SIGN A word or physical sign which represents one object. initials: U.S.A., CIA, ECA traffic signs trademarks: “ Just do it, ” “ I ’ m lovin ’ it. ” A sign is meaningless in itself; it gains meaning through use. A word or physical sign which represents one object. initials: U.S.A., CIA, ECA traffic signs trademarks: “ Just do it, ” “ I ’ m lovin ’ it. ” A sign is meaningless in itself; it gains meaning through use.
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Symbol Symbol An object that stands for something else. 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.
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Take for instance a snake...
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TIME & SPACE MACHINE
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We can put the snake in a time and space machine and send it to ANYWHERE or ANYWHEN — ideally — and most people would agree on what that snake means or represents.
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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!
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Heracles with the snake - Greece
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The Rainbow Snake Aido-Hwedo QUETZLCOATL is in charge of the primal waters where all life was created.
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The Seven-Headed Serpent Lotan from Canaanite myths, which served as a symbol of the seven deadly sins.
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Shesha, the world serpent In Hindu mythology, Shesha spews fire to destroy all creation
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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.
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Medusa - Greek
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Jormungandr (Norse) will eventually bring about Ragnarok (the end of the world)
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Where can we find archetypes? Mythology Literature Art Religion Movies Comic Books Songs Mythology Literature Art Religion Movies Comic Books Songs
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Three types of archetypes are... archetypal plots archetypal characters archetypal symbols archetypal plots archetypal characters archetypal symbols
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PLOTS Cosmogony (Creation story) Tragedy (The hero dies) Comedy (The hero marries) Monomyth of Initiation (Hero ’ s Journey) PLOTS Cosmogony (Creation story) Tragedy (The hero dies) Comedy (The hero marries) Monomyth of Initiation (Hero ’ s Journey)
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ARCHETYPAL CHARACTERS Hero Shadow Trickster Herald Threshold Guardian Shape shifter Mentor
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SYMBOLS (metaphors/ similes) Water = BirthWater = Birth Night = DeathNight = Death Light = GoodLight = Good Dark = BadDark = Bad
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Can you see anything problematic about archetypes?
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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.
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Be careful when looking at art, literature, film... LIFE through an archetypal lens.
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HERO CYCLE HERO CYCLE Revolves around a character who leaves home Our hero is often of noble birth Is guided by a supernatural aid Is guided by a supernatural aid The hero suffers a number of trials The hero suffers a number of trials * Temptress * Temptress * Monsters / Villains * Monsters / Villains 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
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Notice that the hero is assumed to be male because one of his many “trials” is overcoming a temptress.
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TRAGEDY Revolves around a person ofRevolves around a person of importance, not a commoner importance, not a commoner Horrible things happen to the mainHorrible things happen to the main character and those he/she loves character and those he/she loves The hero (and others) die(s) in the endThe hero (and others) die(s) in the end
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COMEDY Revolves around normal or common people Includes some form of mistaken identity and a block The hero and his love get married in the end
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THE ARCHETYPAL MAN HERO Young, handsome, muscular, courageous Mysterious or divine birth Strong (sometimes beyond normal men) Neither a fool nor perfect Usually follows the hero cycle HERO Young, handsome, muscular, courageous Mysterious or divine birth Strong (sometimes beyond normal men) Neither a fool nor perfect Usually follows the hero cycle
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Archetype of the Hero Willing to sacrifice on behalf of others Flawed Types: Willing, unwilling, antihero, group oriented, loner, catalyst, and tragic Willing to sacrifice on behalf of others Flawed Types: Willing, unwilling, antihero, group oriented, loner, catalyst, and tragic
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LUKE SKYWALKER
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Aragon
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KING ARTHUR
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MENTOR/Wise Old Man Older than hero Spiritual and moral Intelligent Sometimes has special powers Guide or instructor for the hero Often a former hero
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MERLIN
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GANDALF
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OBI WAN KENOBI
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The Shadow -Represents energy of the dark side -The mask that can be worn by any character -Gives the hero a worthy struggle -Represents energy of the dark side -The mask that can be worn by any character -Gives the hero a worthy struggle
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One type of Shadow-- The Villain: Physical appearance varies Age varies Adversary for the hero and/or heroine
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Kevin Spacey as LEX LUTHOR
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DARTH VADER
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THE JOKER
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Lord Farquaad
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The ultimate Shadow:THE DEVIL Usually offers a trade or exchange Manipulative and deceptive Often physically attractive and well- dressed Usually offers a trade or exchange Manipulative and deceptive Often physically attractive and well- dressed
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Satan is... Al Pacino in The Devil’s Advocate
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THE TRICKSTER He is a god; yet he is not. 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 exists to question, to cause us to question, and not to accept things blindly.
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LOKI - Norse
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In Native American mythology, Coyote is a buffoon, a creator, a trickster, and a hero.
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WILE E. COYOTE
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A subset of the Trickster: The FOOL May have some physical defect--fat, cross-eyed, big nose Relieves tension Often a side-kick or ally Humorous and bumbling Speaks the truth that no one else will. May have some physical defect--fat, cross-eyed, big nose Relieves tension Often a side-kick or ally Humorous and bumbling Speaks the truth that no one else will.
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C3PO & R2D2
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MERRY AND PIPPIN
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The Herald Issues a challenge to the hero Can be positive or negative Issues a challenge to the hero Can be positive or negative
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The Mythological Herald: Hermes
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Threshold Guardian Guards the gate Guards the gate Keeps the unworthy out Keeps the unworthy out Can be good or evil--lieutenants or villains Can be good or evil--lieutenants or villains Are not always human Are not always human
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ARCHETYPAL FEMALE CHARACTERS The Mother Figure (Parents may be threshold guardians.) Birth, life, fertility Warmth, protection, security Nourishment The Mother Figure (Parents may be threshold guardians.) Birth, life, fertility Warmth, protection, security Nourishment
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Marge Simpson
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The Shape shifter FChanges physically or mentally FOften female FFemme fatale FThe reader cannot tell if this character is good or bad. FMay dazzle or confuse the hero. FChanges physically or mentally FOften female FFemme fatale FThe reader cannot tell if this character is good or bad. FMay dazzle or confuse the hero.
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A subset of the Shape shifter: The Crone or Witch Old, ugly Mysterious Intelligent Plotting or conniving Old, ugly Mysterious Intelligent Plotting or conniving
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Jadis from The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
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Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty
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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.
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Another Shape shifter Option:The Temptress Older than the maiden, younger than the mother Beautiful, usually dark- or red-haired Deceptive and underhanded Expert at seduction Older than the maiden, younger than the mother Beautiful, usually dark- or red-haired Deceptive and underhanded Expert at seduction
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Poison Ivy
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Megara from Hercules
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The Maiden or Virgin Young, beautiful Often helpless Innocent Saved by hero Young, beautiful Often helpless Innocent Saved by hero
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Cinderella
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COMMON ARCHETYPAL SYMBOLS WATER The mystery of creation Birth-death-resurrection Purification and redemption Fertility and growth WATER The mystery of creation Birth-death-resurrection Purification and redemption Fertility and growth
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Sun Creative energy Law in nature Consciousness (thinking, enlightenment, etc.) Passage of time and life Father principle Creative energy Law in nature Consciousness (thinking, enlightenment, etc.) Passage of time and life Father principle
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The Rising Sun
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Setting Sun=Death
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The Moon: the female principle
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COLORS RED Blood Sacrifice Violent passion Disorder RED Blood Sacrifice Violent passion Disorder
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GREENGREEN Growth Sensation Hope Fertility Growth Sensation Hope Fertility
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BLUE Usually positive Truth Religion Security Religious purity Usually positive Truth Religion Security Religious purity
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BLACK Chaos Mystery The unknown Death Primal wisdom The unconscious Evil Melancholy Chaos Mystery The unknown Death Primal wisdom The unconscious Evil Melancholy
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WHITEWHITE Light Purity Innocence Timelessness Light Purity Innocence Timelessness
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Also death, terror, the supernatural
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CIRCLE Wholeness and Unity
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EGGEGG Fertility and the Mystery of Life
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GARDEN Paradise Innocence Unspoiled Beauty Fertility Paradise Innocence Unspoiled Beauty Fertility
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TREE Growth Generation & regeneration Inexhaustible life Immortality Growth Generation & regeneration Inexhaustible life Immortality
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DESERT Death Hopelessness Death Hopelessness
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And we cannot forget the character who runs the show in most mythology...
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OMNIPOTENT, OMNISCIENT DEITY
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Sources: Edith Hamilton Carl Jung Joseph Campbell Toni McNaron Edith Hamilton Carl Jung Joseph Campbell Toni McNaron
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How do you apply archetypal criticism to a text?
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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.
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Look for subverted archetypes, places where the author created an archetypal setting, plot, symbol, or character only to turn it on its head.
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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?
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