Archetype
noun
The original model or example that all other similar things are based on.
The father is the archetype of authority in traditional cultures.
Often appears as...
- archetype of perfection
- archetype theory
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A typical example of something.
He is the archetype of a successful businessman.
Often appears as...
- archetypical example
- perceived as archetype
noun
In psychology, universal symbols in our collective unconscious that influence our thoughts and behaviors.
In Jungian psychology, the 'great mother' is an archetype.
Often appears as...
- jungian archetype
- archetypical figures
Usage tips
Academic
noun
The original model or example that all other similar things are based on.
The father is the archetype of authority in traditional cultures.
Often appears as...
- archetype of perfection
- archetype theory
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A typical example of something.
He is the archetype of a successful businessman.
Often appears as...
- archetypical example
- perceived as archetype
noun
In psychology, universal symbols in our collective unconscious that influence our thoughts and behaviors.
In Jungian psychology, the 'great mother' is an archetype.
Often appears as...
- jungian archetype
- archetypical figures
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Origin
Understand that 'archetype' has roots in ancient Greek culture, often relating to myths or storytelling.
Hercules is considered an archetype of heroism in Greek mythology.
Pro Tip 2/3Blueprint Connotation
'Archetype' implies a perfect form others copy, not just any original model.
Many modern smartphones are based on the archetype created by the first iPhone.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Positive
'Archetype' can be negative if the original model has undesirable traits.
The villain in the story was an archetype of greed and corruption.
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Origin
Understand that 'archetype' has roots in ancient Greek culture, often relating to myths or storytelling.
Hercules is considered an archetype of heroism in Greek mythology.
Pro Tip 2/3Blueprint Connotation
'Archetype' implies a perfect form others copy, not just any original model.
Many modern smartphones are based on the archetype created by the first iPhone.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Positive
'Archetype' can be negative if the original model has undesirable traits.
The villain in the story was an archetype of greed and corruption.
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Origin
Understand that 'archetype' has roots in ancient Greek culture, often relating to myths or storytelling.
Hercules is considered an archetype of heroism in Greek mythology.
Pro Tip 2/3Blueprint Connotation
'Archetype' implies a perfect form others copy, not just any original model.
Many modern smartphones are based on the archetype created by the first iPhone.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Positive
'Archetype' can be negative if the original model has undesirable traits.
The villain in the story was an archetype of greed and corruption.
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Video examples
Design at the...
with a vehicular base that will one day soon print entire buildings, to nanoscale graphics made entirely of genetically engineered microorganisms that glow in the dark. Here we've reimagined the mashrabiya, an archetype of ancient Arabic architecture,
Video examples
How to make your writing...
Let's start with the who, the comedic character. Think about the books, TV shows, and movies that make you laugh. They're usually filled with funny types, or archetypes. The know-it-all, the loveable loser, the bad boss, the neurotic, the airhead.
Video examples
3 Things Men Can Do to...
I had to display physical prowess -- intimidation. Because of that indoctrination, as an adult, I refused to seek help facing escalating health challenges, including high blood pressure and mental trauma. The archetype of manhood nearly killed me.
Video examples
6 ways mushrooms can...
are trying to allocate resources in order to protect the biosphere. Going way out, dark matter conforms to the same mycelial archetype. I believe matter begets life; life becomes single cells; single cells become strings;
Video examples
Steve Silberman: The...
He believed that autism and autistic traits are common and always have been, seeing aspects of this continuum in familiar archetypes from pop culture like the socially awkward scientist and the absent-minded professor.
Video examples
How to build your...
A world that isn't intimidated by confidence when it shows up as a woman or in black skin or in anything other than our preferred archetypes of leadership. A world that knows that that kind of confidence
Video examples
Joan Halifax: Compassion...
our capacity for compassion is also paralyzed. The very word terror is global. The very feeling of terror is global. So our work, in a certain way, is to address this imago, this kind of archetype
Video examples
Artemisia Gentileschi:...
with a nod to Michelangelo. On the sword’s hilt there’s a screaming Gorgon or Medusa— both female archetypes evoking rage and power which link the work to Caravaggio.
Video examples
What should electric...
And as a third step, we enter the world of the sound design, where the sound genes are composed and a new archetype is conceived. Now let me show you another example
Video examples
Naif Al-Mutawa:...
These are clearly biblical archetypes, and the thinking behind that was to create positive, globally-resonating storylines that could be tied to the same things
Video examples
Design at the...
with a vehicular base that will one day soon print entire buildings, to nanoscale graphics made entirely of genetically engineered microorganisms that glow in the dark. Here we've reimagined the mashrabiya, an archetype of ancient Arabic architecture,
Video examples
How to make your writing...
Let's start with the who, the comedic character. Think about the books, TV shows, and movies that make you laugh. They're usually filled with funny types, or archetypes. The know-it-all, the loveable loser, the bad boss, the neurotic, the airhead.
Video examples
3 Things Men Can Do to...
I had to display physical prowess -- intimidation. Because of that indoctrination, as an adult, I refused to seek help facing escalating health challenges, including high blood pressure and mental trauma. The archetype of manhood nearly killed me.
Video examples
6 ways mushrooms can...
are trying to allocate resources in order to protect the biosphere. Going way out, dark matter conforms to the same mycelial archetype. I believe matter begets life; life becomes single cells; single cells become strings;
Video examples
Steve Silberman: The...
He believed that autism and autistic traits are common and always have been, seeing aspects of this continuum in familiar archetypes from pop culture like the socially awkward scientist and the absent-minded professor.
Video examples
How to build your...
A world that isn't intimidated by confidence when it shows up as a woman or in black skin or in anything other than our preferred archetypes of leadership. A world that knows that that kind of confidence
Video examples
Joan Halifax: Compassion...
our capacity for compassion is also paralyzed. The very word terror is global. The very feeling of terror is global. So our work, in a certain way, is to address this imago, this kind of archetype
Video examples
Artemisia Gentileschi:...
with a nod to Michelangelo. On the sword’s hilt there’s a screaming Gorgon or Medusa— both female archetypes evoking rage and power which link the work to Caravaggio.
Video examples
What should electric...
And as a third step, we enter the world of the sound design, where the sound genes are composed and a new archetype is conceived. Now let me show you another example
Video examples
Naif Al-Mutawa:...
These are clearly biblical archetypes, and the thinking behind that was to create positive, globally-resonating storylines that could be tied to the same things
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Ann Nocenti
American Journalist
Green Arrow was a very complicated character to take on because he has archaic weaponry. Catwoman, I think is more of a simple archetype to grasp, so it will be about nuance. But I think you need three or four issues before you say, 'Ah ha! Now I really know how to write this character!' You're carrying them around with you.
Quote examples
Bob Shacochis
American Novelist
The stories are there first, and they come from my experiences wandering around in the world. They will resonate into bigger things, forces sweeping the planet, themes and archetypes, but I'm not smart enough to have lucid integration of all that in my head as I'm writing.
Quote examples
Natalie Zea
American Actress
There is something about my aura or essence, or whatever, that draws the ex-wife characters to me. I don't seek them out, but people tend to think of me for that particular archetype, or whatever you want to call it, and I don't mind it. I think there is a strength to it.
Quote examples
John Howe
Canadian Artist
More often than not, however, the person who flatly states 'Elves aren't like that!' is hard pressed to describe how they really look.... as if Tolkien has summoned archetypes from so deep in our minds that we can only recall them incompletely.
Quote examples
Isabel Lucas
Australian Actress
I love Athena. I love all the goddesses and the archetypes and what they represent because I think they're always going to be relevant not just to women but to humanity. They're living energy. There's a lot we can still learn from them.
Quote examples
John Boorman
British Director
I look at the story, I look at the idea and just try to think of it in terms of that whole body of myth and see where the characters fit in and what they ought to be doing-all those archetypes are there to play with.
Quote examples
Weyes Blood
American Musician
It's important to me to create archetypes of human experiences and make them so that the song has a sense of purpose when you experience those emotions. You know, just making people feel like they're not alone.
Quote examples
Bruce Feirstein
American Writer
Bond is a classic archetype character, a character that's embedded in our heads forever, one of a lone warrior setting out to avenge a nation - and you find that character across cultures.
Quote examples
Laura Dern
American Actress
We like our archetypes and heroes to be what they are at face value. And life doesn't work out like that.
Quote examples
Christopher Nolan
British Director
I've never read Joseph Campbell, and I don't know all that much about story archetypes.
Quote examples
Ann Nocenti
American Journalist
Green Arrow was a very complicated character to take on because he has archaic weaponry. Catwoman, I think is more of a simple archetype to grasp, so it will be about nuance. But I think you need three or four issues before you say, 'Ah ha! Now I really know how to write this character!' You're carrying them around with you.
Quote examples
Bob Shacochis
American Novelist
The stories are there first, and they come from my experiences wandering around in the world. They will resonate into bigger things, forces sweeping the planet, themes and archetypes, but I'm not smart enough to have lucid integration of all that in my head as I'm writing.
Quote examples
Natalie Zea
American Actress
There is something about my aura or essence, or whatever, that draws the ex-wife characters to me. I don't seek them out, but people tend to think of me for that particular archetype, or whatever you want to call it, and I don't mind it. I think there is a strength to it.
Quote examples
John Howe
Canadian Artist
More often than not, however, the person who flatly states 'Elves aren't like that!' is hard pressed to describe how they really look.... as if Tolkien has summoned archetypes from so deep in our minds that we can only recall them incompletely.
Quote examples
Isabel Lucas
Australian Actress
I love Athena. I love all the goddesses and the archetypes and what they represent because I think they're always going to be relevant not just to women but to humanity. They're living energy. There's a lot we can still learn from them.
Quote examples
John Boorman
British Director
I look at the story, I look at the idea and just try to think of it in terms of that whole body of myth and see where the characters fit in and what they ought to be doing-all those archetypes are there to play with.
Quote examples
Weyes Blood
American Musician
It's important to me to create archetypes of human experiences and make them so that the song has a sense of purpose when you experience those emotions. You know, just making people feel like they're not alone.
Quote examples
Bruce Feirstein
American Writer
Bond is a classic archetype character, a character that's embedded in our heads forever, one of a lone warrior setting out to avenge a nation - and you find that character across cultures.
Quote examples
Laura Dern
American Actress
We like our archetypes and heroes to be what they are at face value. And life doesn't work out like that.
Quote examples
Christopher Nolan
British Director
I've never read Joseph Campbell, and I don't know all that much about story archetypes.
Example 1 of 10
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