Archetypes in Movies

[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'.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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