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Adventure!
Starter:
According to our Russian friend Propp, there are also a list of stock characters:
The hero- who departs on a search (seeker-hero), reacts to the donor and weds at end
The villain- who struggles with the hero
The donor- who prepares and/or provides hero with magical agent
The helper- who assists, rescues, solves and/or transfigures the hero
The princess- a sought-for person (and/or her father), who exists as a goal and often recognizes and marries hero
and/or punishes villain
The dispatcher- who sends the hero off
The false hero- who claims to be the hero, often seeking and reacting like a real hero
The Swordsman
The Commando
The Cop
The Epic Leader
The Superhero
The Explorer
The Woman
Which archetype
do you think your
heroes fit in to?
The Swordsman:
Profile: With a cutlass at his side and a faithful stead between his legs this is the Action
Hero from legend and fairy tale. Probably set in the past, somewhere in the east, or the
east in the past.
Motivation: There's a nasty evil overlord who's enslaving the people. The traditional hero
will cut him up and probably fight some monsters/big men along the way.
Mark of Masculinity: His steed and his cutlass.
Skills: Swordfighting, horse riding and romance.
Tools: Again, the sword and the horse. Possibly a mask. Perhaps a bow and arrow.
Examples: Zorro, Robin Hood, Aladdin, Conan, Prince of Persia.
From a by-gone age this hero comes from a time far more romantic than ours where heroes fought with sword instead of guns. Full of beautiful princesses,
kings, sultans, sorcery and mystery, the classic hero fights with honour and
TASK:
Split yourselves into 6 groups.
You will be assigned a hero archetype.
You must prepare a short presentation of the
Profile
Motivation
Skills
Tools
masculinity
The Commando:
Profile:
Motivation:
Skills:
Tools:
Mark of Masculinity:
The commando is an almost extinct hero, but in his hey-day (The 80s) he was a
perfect example of everything it was to be male: strong, resourceful and tooled
up to the teeth with weapons, he always managed to over come the odds.
The Cop:
Profile:
Motivation:
Mark of Masculinity:
Skills: .
Tools:
Examples: Axel Foley, John McClane, Jack Traven
This also allows the audience to live out the fantasy of defying their orders and running amuck with a
gun. Cops and Cowboys are perhaps the closest things to the Commando, still retaining a decent
level of the male hormone.
The Superhero:
Profile:
Motivation:
Mark of Masculinity:
Skills:
Tools:
Examples: Batman, Spiderman, The Incredible Hulk, Neo.
The Explorer:
Profile:
Motivation:
Mark of Masculinity:
Skills:
Tools:
Examples: Alan Grant, Indiana Jones, Captain Kirk
The Woman
Profile:
Motivation:
Mark of Masculinity:
Skills:
Tools:
Examples: Sarah Connor, Ripley, Alice, The Bride.
The Swordsman:
Profile: With a cutlass at his side and a faithful stead between his legs this is the Action
Hero from legend and fairy tale. Probably set in the past, somewhere in the east, or the
east in the past.
Motivation: There's a nasty evil overlord who's enslaving the people. The traditional hero
will cut him up and probably fight some monsters/big men along the way.
Mark of Masculinity: His steed and his cutlass.
Skills: Swordfighting, horse riding and romance.
Tools: Again, the sword and the horse. Possibly a mask. Perhaps a bow and arrow.
Examples: Zorro, Robin Hood, Aladdin, Conan, Prince of Persia.
From a by-gone age this hero comes from a time far more romantic than ours where heroes fought with sword instead of guns. Full of beautiful princesses,
kings, sultans, sorcery and mystery, the classic hero fights with honour and
The Commando:
Profile: Usually incredibly muscular and savage they carry equally big man guns
and knifes. By the end of the film they will have their top off and be covered in
blood.
Motivation: They're sent by a government agency/the army to take out a
terrorist threat probably in a jungle.
Mark of Masculinity: This guy couldn't be more masculine; he's the most
muscular man IN THE WORLD. He also has big guns, big knives and is just
generally big.
Skills: He's a commando, he can kill an entire army of men and probably not be
seen.
Tools: Guns, Knives, Bombs, maybe a tank or something big.
Examples: Rambo, Commando, Eraser, Dutch
The commando is an almost extinct hero, but in his hey-day (The 80s) he was
a perfect example of everything it was to be male: strong, resourceful and
tooled up to the teeth with weapons, he always managed to over come the
odds.
The Cop:
Profile: A cop who has a problem with authority, a lose cannon untamed. This is ALWAYS the case. He
may or may not have a 'buddy' with whom much humour will be generated. The cop is never in uniform.
It's quite likely that his wife was killed.
Motivation: He's been suspended for being untameable and now he's out to get the bad guys and get
his job back so he can do it all again.
Mark of Masculinity: Hating authority.
Skills: Really accurate shooting, one liners.
Tools: Cop badge and gun.
Examples: Axel Foley, John McClane, Jack Traven
This also allows the audience to live out the fantasy of defying their orders and running amuck
with a gun. Cops and Cowboys are perhaps the closest things to the Commando, still retaining a
decent level of the male hormone.
The Superhero:
Profile: Not like regular guys- instantly this means the superhero is isolated
from others. They will fight somebody equally mutated, but fighting for the
well being of ordinary folk.
Motivation: Destroy their polar opposite, usually the villain who is just as
super as they are.
Mark of Masculinity: Tight clothing which extenuates the height and
muscles.
Skills: Hand to hand combat, athleticism, secrecy.
Tools: Technology, the supernatural, their loving (but rather ordinary)
friends.
Examples: Batman, Spiderman, The Incredible Hulk, Neo.
The Explorer:
Profile: Quiet type who is happy digging around in their university until
somebody very rich (usually the government) will offer a financial grant if our
hero will go and find a mythical object.
Motivation: Money to fund their intellectual studies and further the
knowledge of mankind.
Mark of Masculinity: Rugged good looks, keen to be outdoors (hunter
gatherer style)
Skills: Languages, orienteering, other cultures/species.
Tools: Knowledge, nature, ropes, trusty backpack.
Examples: Alan Grant, Indiana Jones, Captain Kirk
The Woman
Profile: Lone woman in the wilderness (rural or urban) Due to lack of men
around, woman has to defeat the bad guy, usually the villain wants to hurt
the womans child. Usually this hero is tall and stereotypically unfeminine.
Motivation: Protect the children, maternal instincts, revenge.
Mark of Masculinity: Traditional weaponry, determination to protect.
Skills: Resourceful, intelligent, caring.
Tools: Emotional and mental strength,
Examples: Sarah Connor, Ripley, Alice, The Bride.
Homework
(Due