Archetype of the Week

Archetype of the Week: Moving On

Thursday, 08 July 2010 20:28 | Written by Steve |

After almost a year and 40 columns, I've run out of archetypes. I can think of others, but most of them are either specific to a certain genre or variations on Archeypes I've already covered. So I'm putting the column on hiatus for now. I'll still post new archetypes if I think of them and may revive it as a regular column for short periods to cover a specific genre or setting (kind of like the Fratboy of the Week entries), but for the time being this column will no longer be weekly. Tune in next week for the first installment of Monster of the Week.

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Archetype of the Week: The Holy Man

Thursday, 01 July 2010 20:25 | Written by Steve |

Columns - Archetype of the Week

The holy man is a character who serves God. Most fictional holy men serve the Christian God, but there are occasional examples of holy men serving other deities, especially in fantasy stories. It should be noted that the holy man's status as a servant of God is not usually verifiable; he is self-appointed, granted his holy status by a human organization, or claims that God talks to him. As a result, is often difficult to distinguish between a true servant of God and a delusional psychopath.

Archetype of the Week: The Noble Savage

Thursday, 24 June 2010 16:57 | Written by Steve |

Columns - Archetype of the Week

The noble savage is a character from a primitive culture who is uncorrupted by the prejudices and quirks of "civilized" society. As a result, the noble savage is seen as embodying a high level of spiritual enlightenment despite his barbaric nature. His simple, straightforward way of looking at the world allows him to point out the irrationality of many of modern society's most treasured rituals and beliefs.

Archetype of the Week: The Boy Scout

Thursday, 17 June 2010 22:37 | Written by Steve |

Columns - Archetype of the Week

The boy scout is the classic white-hat-wearing Good Guy. He believes that everyone should get along and follow the rules, and does his best to help people in need. The boy scout's strong values, incorruptible ethics, and idealistic beliefs can at times border on hokey. In other words, your classic Lawful Good Paladin from D&D.

Archetype of the Week: The Warrior

Thursday, 03 June 2010 21:19 | Written by Steve |

Columns - Archetype of the Week

The warrior is a character who specializes in battle. Unlike swashbucklers, most warriors prefer to dispatch their enemies with ruthless efficiency and sound tactics rather than with flashy displays of skill. This does not necessarily mean that the warrior is a humorless killing machine, however. Many warriors revel in the thrill and glory of battle (and even more in the victory celebrations that follow). The main distinction between the warrior and the soldier of fortune is that warrior often fights for reasons beyond the simple desire to earn a living--justice, his homeland, or political ideals, for example.

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The Death Cookie

Archetype of the Week

Archetype of the Week: Moving On

Archetype of the Week: The Holy Man

Archetype of the Week: The Noble Savage

Archetype of the Week: The Boy Scout

Archetype of the Week: The Warrior