Archetypes

In filmmaking and storytelling more broadly, "archetypes" refer to universally recognizable symbols, themes, situations, and character types that recur across cultures and throughout history in stories, myths, and tales. These elements resonate deeply with audiences because they tap into shared human experiences, fears, hopes, and understandings. Archetypes can be found in the narrative structures, characters, and symbolic motifs of films.

Here are some commonly recognized archetypes:

The Hero: The protagonist who seeks to overcome challenges and often goes on a transformative journey.

 The Mentor: An older, wiser figure who helps guide the hero and provides knowledge or tools. Think of characters like Obi-Wan Kenobi in "Star Wars" or Mr. Miyagi in "The Karate Kid."

The Threshold Guardian: These are characters or obstacles that challenge the hero as they try to cross into a new world or a new stage of their journey.

The Herald: A character or event that signals the advent of change or the start of the hero's adventure.

The Shapeshifter: Characters who are not what they seem. Their loyalties and nature can be uncertain.

The Shadow: Represents the darker aspects of a character, or the primary antagonist. 

The Ally: Friends or helpers the hero encounters on their journey.

The Trickster: Characters who disrupt the ordinary world, causing trouble but also often bringing change and transformation. They can be comedic or malevolent.

Situational Archetypes: These are recurring plot situations like "The Quest" (where the hero seeks something), "The Initiation" (a character comes of age or undergoes personal growth), or "The Fall" (a decline from a higher to a lower state of being).

Symbolic Archetypes: Common symbols that recur across stories, like "Light vs. Darkness," "Water vs. Desert," or "Heaven vs. Hell."

Setting Archetypes: Common settings that have symbolic meanings, like "The Garden" (paradise and innocence), "The Labyrinth" (a dangerous and confusing journey), or "The Underworld" (death and rebirth).

Film directors, writers, and producers might use these archetypes either consciously or unconsciously. However, it's essential to understand that simply using archetypes doesn't guarantee a story's success. They're tools, and it's the unique spin, depth, and modern relevance that a storyteller brings to these archetypes that can make a narrative truly compelling.

Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung is often credited with popularizing the concept of archetypes, seeing them as universal symbols present in the collective unconscious of humanity. Many narrative theorists, like Joseph Campbell with his monomyth or "hero's journey" concept, have further expanded on the idea, making it a central tenet in the study of storytelling.