Archetypes

Using archetypes for a narrative art lesson

1. Archetypes Tools for developing personal narratives and myth making

2. What is an ARCHETYPE? A n archetype is a typical character, an action or a situation that seems to represent such universal patterns of human nature. An archetype, also known as universal symbol, may be a character, a theme, a symbol or even a setting. Many works of art are shaped by the archetypes. R esearchers have been able to collect & compare the myths, legends, and religions of cultures from around the world. They have been fascinated to discover that for centuries, people who had no contact with each other at all had passed down stories whose characters and events were strikingly similar. Many great thinkers have tried to explain this phenomenon. Noted psychoanalyst Carl Jung introduced a theory that humans have a collective unconscious, which means that there is a store of information that we, as humans, somehow hold. This collection of information includes archetypes, or symbolic figures. Archetypes influence the way we think and behave, as people follow the same patterns throughout time and around the world.

3. Let’s look at some examples of archetypes… THE HERO: He or she is a character who predominantly exhibits goodness struggles against evil in order to restore harmony and justice to the society. Name some other heros ….

4. The protector and leader that keeps order and often sets laws or rules. Many times the hero has to break the rules to complete their call to adventure/quest. The Father Figure:

5. The Mother Figure: The mother archetype shows itself in lots of ways. The Great Mother is an archetype of feminine mystery & power who appears in forms as diverse as Mother Earth and The Wiked Witch. Such character may be represented as Fairy Mother who guides and directs a child, Mother Earth who contacts people and offers spiritual and emotional nourishment, and Step Mother who treats their step children roughly. Name some Mother archetypes…

6. The Monster/ Villian : The antagonist, especially in opposition to the hero. (The anti-hero)

7. The Innocent Youth: He or she is inexperienced with many weaknesses and seeks safety of others but is liked by others because of the trust he or she shows on other people. Sometimes they are known as The Divine Child, the child represents the potential. The Divine Child is the archetype of the regenerative force that leads us toward wholeness.

8. Doppelganger/ The Shadow: It is everything in us that is unconscious, repressed, undeveloped and denied. It is everything in us that is unconscious, repressed, undeveloped and denied. A common theme involves the Self accepting their Shadow, metaphorically coming to terms with their flaw. That is, The Hero refuses to kill the Shadow, given the opportunity, or outright refuses to fight it. In the Vampire Diaries, Elena and Katherine are doppelgangers. Stephen and Silas are also doppelgangers. They appear similarly but have different intentions.

9. The Wise Old Man/Mentor: His or her task is to protect the main character. It is through the wise advice and training of a mentor that the main character achieves success in the world They can lead us to higher levels of awareness, or away from them.

10. Trickster: Trickster plays tricks or otherwise disobeys normal rules & conventional behavior. Trickster openly questions & mocks authority, seeks out new ideas & experiences, destroys convention & complacency, & promotes chaos & unrest. At the same time, ttrickster brings new knowledge &wisdom. Even when punished horribly for his actions, his indomitable spirit (or plain sheer foolishness) keeps him coming back for more.

11. The Underdog : Characters who are always in the wrong place at the wrong time, but who usually win something of value in the end.    

12. The Outcast : A Figure banished from a social group for some crime against his fellow man (could be falsely accused of a crime or could choose to banish himself from guilt).

13. The Sidekick : Sometimes like servants to the hero who are heroic themselves; their duty is to protect the hero and reflect the nobility of the hero. In recent times they have become friends of the hero

14. What role do you see yourself in? What about your friends and family? Which characters do they play in your life? As you develop your personal narrative work, how can the archetypes help you? You will need to be able to tell me about the archetypes you use in your artwork.