No matter what kind of fiction or nonfiction that we write or read, there must be CONFLICT. Without conflict there is little interest. So what creates that conflict? The villain, antagonist, shadow, giant/monster/ogre or whatever kind of “evil” figure can exist, needs to exist, for a STORY to exist. There can even be many different antagonists within a single story. Cinderella and her evil stepmother and stepsisters Yet there must be something that blocks the hero in some way. As a reader, you may not… Continue reading →
Category Archives: Archetypes
THE FEMALE HERO—ARCHETYPES and STEREOTYPES
I was going to continue this sequence of blogs with villains, but came across an article in the April Smithsonian called, “The First Wonder Women.” Amanda Foreman’s article discusses the more modern “Wonder Woman” comics persona and her upcoming presence or lack thereof in the upcoming movie, “Batman vs. Superman.” Not that favorably, either. Foreman continues backwards in time until she arrives at one of my favorites:… Continue reading →
ARCHETYPES-THE HERO/HEROINE
WHY ARCHETYPES? WHY HEROES/HEROINES? Archetypes are important because they bring into our, well, psyches. Robert Jones and a guest post on Larry Brooks’ Storyfix.com says, “all fiction is an archetype that displays life on a symbolic level.” Archetypes are universally recognized essentials to literature. Chris Vogler in The Writers’ Journey agrees. He says, “All stories consist of a few common structural elements found universally in this, fairy tales, dreams, and movies.” Heroes can make or break. When I read the Tarzan series, I realized how impossible and unrealistic the… Continue reading →