Month: March 2016

15 Hollywood Archetypes

Well, the 2016 Oscars have come and gone and, once again, I didn’t watch them. I just can’t work up much enthusiasm for the big show anymore, and not just because I didn’t see any of the nominated movies. The problem is that now, in my late 40s, I have seen so many movies that I recognize the same characters over and over in an endlessly repeating loop.  Don’t believe me? Check out the list below…

The Dark Prince

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Brooding, sexy, and smart, the Dark prince is often caught up in a hopeless battle against a larger system that is both impersonal and oppressive. These guys don’t smile a lot.

Famous Examples:

  • Errol Flynn
  • Robert Redford
  • Nicholas Cage
  • Leonardo Dicaprio
  • Matthew McConaughey

The Vixen (with a Brain)

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This archetype is reserved for actresses whose sex appeal is so strong that it blasts off the screen like a blowtorch. But the magic comes when the viewer realizes that there is much more to these women than just a pretty face. Often portrayed as a scarlet woman or a femme fatale, this archetype always has a troubled past and is unable to sustain a genuine relationship.

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