Archetypes and Mythic Characters
What are Archetypes?
Archetypes (meaning "first type") are universal patterns and characteristics that live inside all of us. They can be aspects of our personalities, like the child, the rebel, or protector; they can be roles that we play out in our lives such as the martyr, the rescuer, or the jester, and archetypes can types of situations such as "fish out of water," "rags to riches" or "coming of age." Archetypes not only give us a character's personality traits and behaviors, but also the motivations and internal beliefs that are the root cause of these actions. Signs of the Zodiac are common archetypes - universal patterns that diverse individuals share in common, yet play out in different ways. Both under the sign of the bull, Taurus, one person could be tenatious and persistent to accomplish a difficult goal, while another could be stubborn and unwilling to budge on something that perhaps they should.
All these are very important for cinema - writers use archtypes for developing and creating richer characters, actors use archetypes to get to the heart of the characters they are portraying, and directors need to look at all the archetypal elements of the drama as a whole. Pschologically, archetypes have been used in analysis, most notably through the works of Carl Jung, and can provide insight by finding the archetype that corresponds to the person's difficulty to address patterns of behaivor. For example a man who always seems to get involved with women who betray him, might be considered as having a Samson complex, and by looking at the mythic scriptural tale, see if the person has become "over-identified" with this archetype.
In the movies, and in life, by connecting with the archetypes, we get to a richer, fuller expression that makes for performances with greater emotional truth, and a deeper involvement with the drama by the audience. Through a particular portrayal of a specific character, one that is vitally connected to its universal archetype, we can all learn something about ourselves, individually, and although the experiences will all be different, they are all connected to the same archetypal, universal truth.
How do I determine my character's archetypes?
First, take a look at a list of archetypes here, or visit Carolyn Myss's website (get her book, Sacred Contracts, which is like an encyclopedia of psychological archetypes - perfect for actors and writers). Most archetypes are so obvious they seem simple - and they are - but what's important is that they are powerful and universal, and from each single archetyps, an infinite amount of specific types can be drawn out. Become familiar with these and begin to realize that what appear to be seemingly very different characters, are actually just different aspects of the same archetype. For example, a despotic ruler of a nation and a film director could both be driven by the same archetype - the dictator. One may cause suffering on thousands of people and the other may just be a control freak that's not much fun to work with, but the dictator aspect is the same, just played out in a different context. Note that there can be both positive and negative (and a whole range) aspects of any archetype; the ruler can do so with an iron fist, or as a peacemaker.
For a writer, if you know the story but not sure of who the character is, ask what the story needs the character to do or be and then go to the archetype. If the story calls for a person with leadership skills and confidence, see how it would play out if the character was an "eternal child" who was irresponsible, or, if the character was a military commander who led in a very impersonal style, or, if the character was a martyr who would give all for the cause at hand. Likewise, if you have a pretty good handle on your specific character, find his/her archetype, and from there, ask what situation would be interesting for such a person to be immersed. If your specific character is a bartender who needs to finally settle down, and the archtype is actually that of a healer (bartenders give sage advice, right?), ask what situation would interesting or challenging for a healer, instead of a bartender. Or, if your bartender's archetype is more of a survivor, then work out your story with a survivor as the character, not a bartender. Then your survivor bartender will have something to survive in the bar, or elsewhere. Remember, the father is the king, mom is the queen, the house is the castle and the yard is the kingdom. Context and location change the surface story, but underneath it all, the archetypes are the same, played out over and over in an infinite variety of specifics.
For actors, the archetypes can be an extremely useful tool to get to the heart of your character. Even thinly drawn characters come alive when you determine and access their archetypes. In preparing youself for the role, instead of directly connecting with the bartender (from above) in the script, determine the archetype (survivor, for this example) and then approach the role as that archetype who just happens to be a bartender. You, as the actor in real life, may have no experiece as a bartender or even in bars, but you probably do as a survivor of some sort. That emotional truth will come through your acting because you'll be connected with the role on a deeper, visceral level. Knowing your personal archetypes can also warn you about a part of your personality that can get in the way of you getting closer to your character, so be aware of your pitfalls and plan around them.
And when you don't have time to prepare, such as in a cold read at an audition, a quick assessment of the character's archetype, as well as the overall situation, will give you more to go on than just reading the lines. If, say on a commercial audition, you get a script for an insurance salesperson, realize that the company is actually selling peace of mind, security and well being (or trying to), and read your character as someone who is selling that, and not just insurance. More about this in the Actor section. Read also, this article on accessing archetypes for actors.
Directors need to understand both character types and archetypal story types, AND, need to communicate with writers and actors. Using the universal language of archetypes can provide the middle ground where both parties can meet when trying to express certain points and communicate ideas.
What are my Archetypes?
Personally, as the actor, writer, or director, you have your own set of archetypes that rule your personality and situation. Knowing these can help you forge a better relationship to you script, role or film project. Often writers write what they know or have experienced, or write what they would most want to experience and explore through the situations and characters they create. Actors can use their own personal archetypes to their advantage when portraying a character. For example, if you are a "goodie-goodie" and always do everything properly and promptly, you know you can use that when playing a similar character, and, you can use that if your character is opposite of that. The creative tension will add to the role, and knowing your archetypes will give you a firmer ground to stand on and more in your tool kit to choose. Directors should look into their archetypes to find out more about your directing style, how you fit in with the position of power and responsibility and how you relate to others.
ARCHETYPES: Child, Hero, Victim, Martyr, Wounded Healer, Redeemer, Warrior, Nurturer, Mentor, etc.
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