For Every Blinding Light There is an Impenetrable Shadow
Effect villain archetypes are as broad as the day is long. Finding a good villain ultimately depends on the context of the story and the nature of the hero.
For example, Professor Moriarty wouldn't exactly make a brilliant sith lord, but he WOULD make an amazing Imperial Commander.
Vader would cut Holmes up like butter.
A villain is just as, if not more, human and relateable than a protagonist. If a hero were without a villain, he would cease to exist. However if a Villain existed without a hero, the context of their existence would manifest a hero from the people. Ergo the sheer existence and distrubtion a villain brings is paramount to most stories.
The male messiah archetype accepts the call to adventure to face and defeat the ultimate challenge. This story arc is manifested in very many different forms. (STAR WARS, LION KING, PROMETHEUS, MYTHOLOGY, RELIGION)
(THE HERO'S JOURNEY.)
I really, ideally, want more than two characters here. I think having more than two, or at least stylistic variations or different interperitations, is very important in terms of my honours project. Therefore, I have started thinking about effective archetypes that would gel well with one another.
THE SHADOW
Embodiment of fears, repressed psyche. Immediate self projection between protagonist, and perhaps audience. If the audience can empathise with the hero AT ALL they should easily identify with The Shadow.
THE DRAGON
The beast that must be slain before it's master can be fought. Typically not a dragon, but a great physical hurdle must be crossed by the hero; gargantuant risk.
THE ANTI-HERO (ambiguous role)
generally considered to be a protagonist whose character is at least in some regards conspicuously contrary to that of the hero, and is in some instances its antithesis. Some consider the word's meaning to be sufficiently broad as to additionally encompass the antagonist, who (in contrast to the archetypal villain), elicits considerable sympathy or admiration.
MALE MESSIAH OR FEMALE MESSIAH?
The sex of the protagonist is important at least in identifying the nature of their journey. Typically the male messiah (Luke Skywalker) preaches and shows the way to enlightment, or better being, whereas the female IS it.
What does the antagonist represent? The greatest struggle, but yet have character and depth. The viewer should project the self.
Virtue vs Vice is something long overused.
The hero's self discovery should not overshadow any aspect of this project. Their call to adventure should be something as simple as being conscripted to a fighting force, decorated war hero, freedom fighter etc. (If it needs to be defined at all.)
Against the Messiah, the appropriate enemy archetypes should be exploring The Shadow, the physical embodiment of the fears and repressed psyche of the hero.
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