Archetypes in Movies

[Spaced]

Been on quite the superhero kick eh Plenum?

[Plenum]

and double-post strikes again BlatzAddict

its always more enlightening reading something the second time around ... like watching these movies with a 10 year gap in experience ...

[Aureus]

Don't take any of my posts in this thread seriously. Just ungrounded ramblings. At the time I was just very.. new and confused.

[Plenum]

Ip Man: The Final Fight (2013)

this is a scene from very early in the film (linked to start time)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeYDQOA0ClY&t=270

basically, Ip Man is challenged to demonstrate his technique, and says to the challenger:

"If you can knock me off this piece of newspaper, you've won'.

and the following sequence shows what a balanced, centred individual is like in the face of challenges from the world: they remain as steady and sure as an oak, and reply to things in an even handed way, never enforcing their will, but just redirecting and reapplying the forces that are directed against them. They are steadfast in their centredness, and like the buddha, are unmovable from peace.

it is quite the depiction!

[Confused]

...and the following sequence shows what a balanced, centred individual is like in the face of challenges from the world: they remain as steady and sure as an oak, and reply to things in an even handed way, never enforcing their will, but just redirecting and reapplying the forces that are directed against them. They are steadfast in their centredness, and like the buddha, are unmovable from peace.

That is a wonderful piece of literature. Thanks, plenum. Made for inspiring reading.

[Plenum]

Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

this is a gloriously joyful film that looks great. The story is a fairly simple one, in that it illustrates the two paths before us: one of service to self (the peacock who uses and controls others to achieve his own ends, even sacrificing his own followers to that end), and the path of service-to-others, where there is acceptance of the other, even with one's foibles and individualities, and working together as a group, supporting and embracing each other in difficult times.

it is a simple narrative, but one that is timeless. The humor is light and refreshing, and constantly draws a smile to the face. The visual style is quite distinct, and the music speaks of the orient. And did I say the film looks great? like wow, in 1080p it is just STUNNING. Gorgeous, delightful 3d animation; I was truly impressed.

the film also has a message about inner peace.

a very enjoyable and uplifting watch.

plenum

[Hototo]

Kick-Ass 2 was found to be a humorous and well organized societal commentary on situations resembling my life and my group of friends really really well. Assuming one has no problems with violence and loudmouthed humor.

[Plenum]

Sunshine (2007)

well, here we have a film that is an homage to our Logos. The majesty, might, and brilliance of our Logos is held in stark contrast to the humans that are on a mission to ostensibly 'save it'; and restart it. What, of course, is needed is that the humans themselves need to address their various distortions (distortions that are exposed in the film as various character flaws and emotional imbalances).

this quote came to mind about 30 min into the film:

6.14 Thus, the illusion is created of light, or more properly but less understandably, light/love. This is in varying degrees of intensity.

The spirit complex of each harvested entity moves along the line of light until the light grows too glaring, at which time the entity stops.

until the light becomes too 'glaring' indeed. And this is depicted by various members of the crew visiting the observation deck, and seeing our Logos at a fraction of its full intensity, and having a 'spiritual experience'.

this is one interchange between crew members early on:

Searle: It's invigorating. It's like... taking a shower in light. You lose yourself in it.

Corazon: Like a floatation tank?

Searle: Actually, no. More like... In psych tests on deep space, I ran a number of sensory deprivation trials, tested in total darkness, on floatation tanks - and the point about darkness is, you float in it.

You and the darkness are distinct from each other because darkness is an absence of something, it's a vacuum.

But total light envelops you. It becomes you. It's very strange... I recommend it.

Mace: What's strange, Searle, is that you're the psych officer on this ship and I'm clearly a lot saner than you are.

it's a very unusual sci-fi film, and one that mucks around with visuals and music and sound like another famous sci-fi flick - 2001 - to convey the high strangeness that happens when you start leaving the boundaries of consensus reality, and get closer to the godhead (our Logos).

the theme of positive service and negative service are apparent in the film; and yet all end up as one by plummeting back into the One Infinite One; the Creator of us all, and the sustainer of the experience through the Light (love) which is offerered freely to all as part of the self chosen free-willed experience.

Majestic.

[Plenum]

Analysis of Certain Portions of Babylon5

*warning*
(MASSIVE SPOILERS!!)
*warning*

in the first 3 and a half seasons of Babylon5 (there are 5 seasons, incidentally) two central archetypal patterns are explored. These are the Vorlons (the light) and the Shadows (the dark). Both parties are somewhat mysterious and cloaked, and motives and means of interaction are likewise veiled and kept hidden from the viewer.

at last, the revelation occurs as to what these two archetypes truly represent, although in the show, it is presented in a somewhat muddied manner, and a bit of frustration can ensue; as the expected mappings of these archetypes were Vorlon = good, and Shadows = bad. In the first couple of seasons, it is relatively easy to go along with this interpretation, and most indications were that this was the relatively simple narrative being portrayed, but there are clues and hints that this was not such a simple show.

Kosh (the first Vorlon ambassador) gives signs of positive service, and yet, as an archetype, he could be angered and resort to 'over-the-air' violence, as he never really lays hands on anyone lol. That is ok, as we know that even 4d entities can engage in warfare and feel the 'need to fight', and that was an ok reading to that point. But when Kosh is killed, and his replacement arrives, we see that this 'sto' reading of the Vorlons cannot hold. They are a deeply imbalanced 'people'.

- -

as season 4 progresses the final truth is revealed. The Vorlons and the Shadows are brought together with the First One (Lorien) watching. This is Lorien:




now, if didn't know any better, I would say that was Not Sure under all that makeup. The dude (Lorien) seems to have the same facial expression that I've seen in Sure in multiple different photos. So I can only conjecture as to Sure's true past

back to the analysis.

- -

now, the Vorlons (light) and the Shadows (dark) depend on each other in a certain way. They were two of the ancient races that stayed behind when the others passed beyond the 'Rim' (they were harvested essentially, those were moved beyond the Rim).

The Vorlons (light) suppressed the Shadows, and could have obliterated them and their homeworld, but were content to just letting them sleep and be dormant, but being riled up when they appeared. The Vorlons didn't want to annihilate the Shadows, but just suppress their influence.

The Vorlons also stood for 'order'; whereas the Shadows represented chaos and conflict; survival of the fittest.

The Vorlons had a 'nurturing side' but only if they could direct things (greater order). The Shadows seeded conflict, and didn't care who won in the end. They just wanted 'conflict' because it had greater potentials for change.

now, after different ways of examining what these two Archetypal Agencies stood for, I ended up with the following:

Vorlons represent the conscious mind; that of 'Light', waking awareness, control, putting things into order, routine, a certain rigidification (as seen by the Vorlon representation of being trapped in ice, quite willingly).

Shadows represent the unconscious mind, or those influences which lead to change through catalyst (disorder), they can seem to be 'scary', and they come from no-where. Such are the impulses from the realm of the unconscious.

- -

Yang-Yin best captures this mutual relationship between the conscious-unconscious:



now, this was an epic portrayal of these two forces on screen! I mean, the art of being able to convey this in a story that is simultaneously engaging, comprehensible, and yet portrays a deep unseeable aspect of the Mind is quite a feat!

such is the Art of those who are able to communicate clearly.

a big thumbs up to all those who worked on this show. It is truly a vehicle in which much of the self may be seen with clarity.

plenums

[Plenum]

Lady in the Water (2006)

another greatly misunderstood film.

it is somehow mocked for its simplicity and 'naivety' and yet it speaks to the nature of the subconscious, and that which drives and enlivens our lives here in the 'waking world'.

the 4 central archetypal roles presented are:

* the Guardian
* the Guild
* the Healer
* and the Interpreter

and who is who, and what is what?

like all M Night Shyamalan films it works its magic on the first viewing, and reveals its mystery like the tearing off of a Veil; subsequent viewings cannot match the glorious first experience of the 'knowing'.

the music is evocative and well placed; the casting spot on and delightfully humorous.

in this fable of the human experience we get to see in the ordinariness of human experience how there may be a co-ordinating of greater parts at a deeper level.

an unforgettable experience.

[Plenum]

il sole penetra le illusioni (tv show: Aired: Jul 6, 2013 to Sep 28, 2013)

this is an anime series based on the tarot cards.

I best recommend the HorribleSubs version rather the Underwater version.

first 4 or 5 episodes are ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC; full of archetypal mythos; the latter episodes slow down a bit.

[Plenum]

Hunter x Hunter (ongoing series)

the current plotline revolves around the king and his ongoing chess matches with a blind peasant girl. Through these interactions, the king is continually challenged on his assumptions, and finds himself having to integrate the perspective of the other-self into his thinking process. When this becomes too challenging, he finally decides to 'stamp out the catalyst' with brute force, and remove it from his reality - ie, he goes to her room to kill her.

and yet, when he arrives, there is an eagle attacking the blind girl, and he intervenes to save her. And he asks - why did I do that? what am I doing? what do I want? what happened to my resolve?

this simple girl, with her simplicity and earnestness and lack of ego, who only has the skill to play the chess ... she is the greatest catalyst of all for the other self, who has the wealth of the world, the power to command, and legions at his back. What is this confrontation? it is none other than with the self, and the mirror of unacknowledged (rejected) qualities.

it is an amazing depiction.

- -

ps, it reminded me of some of the interactions I've had with homeless people, and how some of the most unaffected and unfiltered expressions can cause one to re-examine pre-built belief (or societal belief) patterns.

an excellent show! very quirky indeed

[Adonai One]

The Matrix Trilogy probably has the purest dialogue of the archetypes I've seen so far. It's so close that I wouldn't be surprised if Ra was inspiring the writers.

[Plenum]

yeah, I revisited Matrix 1 a few weeks ago.

still quite a good watch.

the storyline is actually quite threadbare, when exposed for what it is; but the concepts are presented quite clearly and lucidly, and it definitely introduced a different element of thinking into mass culture.

and Trinity is quite the babe too

[zvonimir]

1 archetype analysis of Matrix is requested.

who can offer this service?

[blank]