In a few weeks, we will be discussing magical realism. Before we do this, we need to identify examples of characters that have something atypical about their structure on the page and in films.
Spiderman is, in point of fact, the most copied archetype since Superman appeared almost a century ago. In your journals today, I want you think of some examples of archetypes (male and female) and what you think makes them an archetype/iconic character in fiction (film or fiction).
However, that has not kept Spiderman from changing. In fact, the 2011 version of Spiderman is not the same one we grew up watching on the screen.
Now, we are going to do something interesting with what is considered the traditional characters in fiction. We are going to talk about a specific type of character that populates most movies and works of print fiction.
THE ARCHETYPE.
Specifically, we are going to talk about how archetypes relate to "tropes".
To do this, we must first define what each of these things actually are.
An archetype is an original model of a person, ideal example, or a prototype upon which others are copied, patterned, or emulated; a symbol universally recognized by all. In psychology, an archetype is a model of a person, personality, or behavior.
In philosophy, archetypes since Plato at least, refer to ideal forms of the perceived or sensible things or types. Archetypes can be found in nearly all forms of literature, with their motifs being predominantly rooted in folklore.
A trope, then, is something that television writers relied on as being present in the audience members' minds and expectations.
In short, when you put these two things together, you have what is commonly referred to as the "stock-character". Before we get confused, a stock-character is not necessarily a cliche. In fact, most of these characters transcend the media they were created for because they exist in real life. They are just characters whose defining traits are inflated to make them worthy of the small/big screen.
Some examples?
Walter Hartwell White (also known by his clandestine alias, Heisenberg) is the lead character on the American television drama series Breaking Bad on AMC. He is portrayed by Bryan Cranston and was created by series creator Vince Gilligan. Once a promising chemist who was one of the founding members of the multi-billion dollar company "Gray Matter Technologies", Walter left the company for personal reasons and became an unhappy and disillusioned high school chemistry teacher. After being diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer, he resorts to manufacturing methamphetamine to ensure his family's financial security when he dies. As the series progresses, Walter gradually becomes darker and takes on a more villainous role.
Well, in many ways Indiana Jones is an archetype. He is what is commonly referred to as "The Loner Hero".
David Duchovny plays Hank Moody in "Californication". This is "The Cultured Badass". A man with brains who is not considered an academic. His defining characteristics are his fractured relationships with every woman...and they all want him. His incessant drinking and self-destructive nature make him a man that women want to rescue. The more he shirks away from commitment, the more irresistible he becomes. He is a cad.
Dexter Morgan (born Dexter Moser)
In both the novels and the TV series, Dexter is a forensic blood spatter analyst who works for the fictitious Miami-Metro Police Department. In his spare time, he is a vigilante who channels his urge to kill onto other murderers. He follows a code of ethics taught to him in childhood by his adoptive father, Harry Morgan (which he refers to as "The Code" or "The Code of Harry"), which hinges on two principles: Dexter can only kill people after finding conclusive evidence that they are guilty of murder, and he must dispose of all evidence so he doesn't get caught.
Clint Eastwood as William Munny in "Unforgiven" is an example of "The Hero With A Past". He is a man riddled with regrets that feels like one act of kindness/sacrifice might undo past wrongs.
Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games is an example of a hero against an established social order in a dystopia.
Jason Bateman is Martin "Marty" Byrde in Ozark. He is a man who must go through a virtual hell in order to go free. He is mixed up with some bad people who will not let him go until he satisfies them. Adding to the peril is the imminent threat to his wife and two children.
Chris Washington plays Daniel Kaluuya in "Get Out" as the man who must escape a society that wishes to imprison and destroy him. It is one of the most powerful horror films in recent memory.
Alison Williams plays Rose Armitage - one of the most powerfully deceptive villains since Lady McBeth.
For today's journal, I want you to name your favorite archetype characters. You can name heroes or villains, men or women. Please give some reason for why you chose this character. Now, we started this in yesterday's class. Today, I want you to expand on simply naming the character. Please explain what draws you to this character. How are you like this person? Or, do the differences between you and this character attract you to them?
