You haven’t met this character before. But maybe, just maybe… You have. Movies have consistently used and reused female archetypes that bear structural similarities to their predecessors. Primary movie characters are often built on the same foundations as those we have seen and loved over generations, but in a new world, a new setting, facing new challenges, in an all-new movie.Hollywood movies stubbornly cling to their favorite female blueprints, and more often than not, you love them for it. While some continue to critique archetypal writing as unoriginal, others admire it for its timelessness and the idea of bringing a fresh take to an existing foundation.Let’s take a look at a few archetypes that refuse to exit Hollywood movies.What Is An Archetype?Before we look at popular female character archetypes, let’s try to understand what an archetype character is. An archetype is a universal character template that repeats across stories and cultures. They are characters that audiences are likely to recognize simply because they have been a part of multiple narratives over the years, in different forms.Essentially, these are roles that are often instantly recognizable. So, you may ask, if they are instantly recognizable, why do movies continue to use them?There are many answers to this question. Firstly, writers can use archetypal characters to build familiar foundations only to subvert audience expectations. This, in my opinion, is one of the sharpest ways of using archetypes. Secondly, in movies that are inherently more ambitious, archetypal characters help bring about a sense of...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Thursday, 20 November