Collaboration | Lecture [2] Archetypes & Storytelling
Archetypes: with 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade', (1989).
Sallah and Marcus Brody are reliable/trusted characters for Henry and Indiana.
Brody insists on coming with Indiana to Italy, to help, despite the danger, and is trusted to take the map from the diary for safe keeping. Sallah often gives vital information into other character's wellbeing, telling the Joneses that Marcus had been captured. He helps Indiana save both Henry and Marcus from the tank, and accompany the other 3 from the temple, at the end of the film.
Mother – A nurturing and caring presence. Generally they’re a female figure, but may also be “male or a collective”.
Though Indiana’s mother is dead, she’s referred to on numerous occasions, as a the gentle/accepting presence that had once united the family. Her death led to the collapse of family dynamics, and both father and son drifted apart, years after her death.
Child- An archetype that represents innocence, honesty, and sometimes, naivety.
Though this could arguably be Marcus Brody, who seems not to take the situation of hostage-taking seriously enough… it could also be Indiana’s dad, Henry, whose stubborn enough to refuse confiding in his son, until he was nearly killed.
He backs away at times of conflict, saying he’s unused to it, and quickly blaming others for his mistakes (shooting their own plane and saying it was the Nazi’s, setting the German HQ’s alight when trying to escape etc.).
Maiden- An archetype that stands for “purity” and “sexuality”.
Elsa Schneider acts as Indiana’s love interest for the first part of the film. She initially seems pure, and reliant upon the hero (being picked up in the tomb when scared of the rats). When admitting her true intentions, she remains confident in her “sexuality”, kissing the main character so to mock him.
'The Hero'- The main protagonist of a story, whose adventure we follow from their p.o.v. Often their goal is to “separate from his ordinary world & then return to restore balance”. By which point, they’ve undergone significant growth of character.
We are first introduced to Indiana Jones, (Dr. Henry Walton Jones, Junior), as his younger-self, a boy scout. Passionate about justice and adventure, he's quick to stomp mud through the carpet of his home, enthusiastic to show his dad the “Cross of Coronado’.
Years later, we follow his story as a successful American archaeologist, more set on books and reality than adventure. He possess hero-like qualities, embodying first the ‘reluctant hero’, and then the more traditional, ‘willing hero’, who, upon crossing the first threshold and finding the tomb in Venice, has his giddy excitement for adventure return.
The more personal challenge of finding his dad, also drives him to take the ‘call to adventure’.
'The Shadow'- The potential evil of the story, that embodies the character’s “darkest fears, desires and phobias. These often relate to the Hero’s own qualities.
The shadow is the ‘Nazi’s’/Gestapo, and the beliefs/values they embody. The ignorance of history, and tendency to destroy historic artefacts, conflicts against the heroic qualities of Indiana, and his father Henry Senior, who value ‘enlightenment’ over a ‘prize’ for oneself, by the end of the film.
Indiana’s initial ambition and need to find something to aid himself nearly has him killed, but in denying ‘The Shadow’ (i.e. the desire for success, in self-interest), he lives to see another day.
Meanwhile, Walter Donovan’s ignorance has him drink from the wrong cup, and Elsa Schneider’s greed and ‘obsession’ has her indirectly killed.
Herald- ‘A physical entity’, or ‘abstract form’ that appears at the start of the movie, to announce the ‘Call to Adventure’.
American Industrialist, collector, and head of the Nazi search group, Walter Donovan, is the first to tell Jones of the quest for the Holy Grail, and of his missing dad- a catalyst which drives Indiana to join the search.
Threshold Guardian- An archetype that functions to "test" 'The Hero', and who must be outwitted to allow the adventure to proceed.
Indiana and Henry's capture, courtesy of Donovan and Schneider’s betrayal, shows the importance of the ‘Holy Grail’ in helping Nazi Germany war effort. Henry, and Indiana must escape the fire, and outwit the guards to escape, before travelling back to Berlin, to find the journal. This is their first test against their rivals, in their quest for the ‘Holy Grail’. Later, Indiana must outwit the gestapo who come onto the Zeppelin, and later fly the planes, so to find/kill them. This allows them to cross the threshold, to meet Sallah in Hatay.
Trickster- The "mischievous" and "clown" archetype, that often jokes to torments 'the Hero'. They may have ambiguous motives, and disobey "normal rule and conventional behaviour".
Elsa Schneider, Austrian archaeologist, has ambiguous goals. Often tormenting Indiana with her betrayal, but also showing genuine regret for the burning of the books. We are unsure as to her role/side in the story.
Mentor & Father- There to "guide", and pass his knowledge onto 'the Hero' | An authoritative figure which holds some power in 'the Hero's' life.
Henry Walton Jones, Senior, (or “Sir”), is the authoritative figure in Indiana’s life. Often judging Indiana’s actions, and looking down upon him as if he’s still a boy, (“Don’t call me Junior!”).
Though absent for the first part of the film, he’s unconsciously present in the diary- which time and time again, offers vital clues to help Indiana in his quest. It’s as if he’s mentoring the main character through his book, even in his absence.
Allies- There to support the main character on his journey. They advise the hero through “the transitions of life”.
We are first introduced to Indiana Jones, (Dr. Henry Walton Jones, Junior), as his younger-self, a boy scout. Passionate about justice and adventure, he's quick to stomp mud through the carpet of his home, enthusiastic to show his dad the “Cross of Coronado’.
Years later, we follow his story as a successful American archaeologist, more set on books and reality than adventure. He possess hero-like qualities, embodying first the ‘reluctant hero’, and then the more traditional, ‘willing hero’, who, upon crossing the first threshold and finding the tomb in Venice, has his giddy excitement for adventure return.
The more personal challenge of finding his dad, also drives him to take the ‘call to adventure’.
'The Shadow'- The potential evil of the story, that embodies the character’s “darkest fears, desires and phobias. These often relate to the Hero’s own qualities.
The shadow is the ‘Nazi’s’/Gestapo, and the beliefs/values they embody. The ignorance of history, and tendency to destroy historic artefacts, conflicts against the heroic qualities of Indiana, and his father Henry Senior, who value ‘enlightenment’ over a ‘prize’ for oneself, by the end of the film.
Indiana’s initial ambition and need to find something to aid himself nearly has him killed, but in denying ‘The Shadow’ (i.e. the desire for success, in self-interest), he lives to see another day.
Meanwhile, Walter Donovan’s ignorance has him drink from the wrong cup, and Elsa Schneider’s greed and ‘obsession’ has her indirectly killed.
Herald- ‘A physical entity’, or ‘abstract form’ that appears at the start of the movie, to announce the ‘Call to Adventure’.
American Industrialist, collector, and head of the Nazi search group, Walter Donovan, is the first to tell Jones of the quest for the Holy Grail, and of his missing dad- a catalyst which drives Indiana to join the search.
Threshold Guardian- An archetype that functions to "test" 'The Hero', and who must be outwitted to allow the adventure to proceed.
Indiana and Henry's capture, courtesy of Donovan and Schneider’s betrayal, shows the importance of the ‘Holy Grail’ in helping Nazi Germany war effort. Henry, and Indiana must escape the fire, and outwit the guards to escape, before travelling back to Berlin, to find the journal. This is their first test against their rivals, in their quest for the ‘Holy Grail’. Later, Indiana must outwit the gestapo who come onto the Zeppelin, and later fly the planes, so to find/kill them. This allows them to cross the threshold, to meet Sallah in Hatay.
Trickster- The "mischievous" and "clown" archetype, that often jokes to torments 'the Hero'. They may have ambiguous motives, and disobey "normal rule and conventional behaviour".
Elsa Schneider, Austrian archaeologist, has ambiguous goals. Often tormenting Indiana with her betrayal, but also showing genuine regret for the burning of the books. We are unsure as to her role/side in the story.
Mentor & Father- There to "guide", and pass his knowledge onto 'the Hero' | An authoritative figure which holds some power in 'the Hero's' life.
Henry Walton Jones, Senior, (or “Sir”), is the authoritative figure in Indiana’s life. Often judging Indiana’s actions, and looking down upon him as if he’s still a boy, (“Don’t call me Junior!”).
Though absent for the first part of the film, he’s unconsciously present in the diary- which time and time again, offers vital clues to help Indiana in his quest. It’s as if he’s mentoring the main character through his book, even in his absence.
Allies- There to support the main character on his journey. They advise the hero through “the transitions of life”.
Sallah and Marcus Brody are reliable/trusted characters for Henry and Indiana.
Brody insists on coming with Indiana to Italy, to help, despite the danger, and is trusted to take the map from the diary for safe keeping. Sallah often gives vital information into other character's wellbeing, telling the Joneses that Marcus had been captured. He helps Indiana save both Henry and Marcus from the tank, and accompany the other 3 from the temple, at the end of the film.
Mother – A nurturing and caring presence. Generally they’re a female figure, but may also be “male or a collective”.
Though Indiana’s mother is dead, she’s referred to on numerous occasions, as a the gentle/accepting presence that had once united the family. Her death led to the collapse of family dynamics, and both father and son drifted apart, years after her death.
Child- An archetype that represents innocence, honesty, and sometimes, naivety.
Though this could arguably be Marcus Brody, who seems not to take the situation of hostage-taking seriously enough… it could also be Indiana’s dad, Henry, whose stubborn enough to refuse confiding in his son, until he was nearly killed.
He backs away at times of conflict, saying he’s unused to it, and quickly blaming others for his mistakes (shooting their own plane and saying it was the Nazi’s, setting the German HQ’s alight when trying to escape etc.).
Maiden- An archetype that stands for “purity” and “sexuality”.
Elsa Schneider acts as Indiana’s love interest for the first part of the film. She initially seems pure, and reliant upon the hero (being picked up in the tomb when scared of the rats). When admitting her true intentions, she remains confident in her “sexuality”, kissing the main character so to mock him.
Good choice.
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