Wednesday, March 10, 2010

What is an Archetype?

I've been listening to Caroline Myss and her audio book "The Lanquage of Archetypes". I find myself listening more to books these days than actual reading. My eyes are not as good and it is an efficient use of time while I am driving, working in the studio or exercising.

What is an archetype? Someone asked me that the other day when I was talking about my work.

From Wikipedia - An archetype is an original model of a person, ideal example, or a prototype after which others are copied, patterned, or emulated; a symbol universally recognized by all. In psychology, an archetype is a model of a person, personality, or behavior.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archetype

archetypal - representing or constituting an original type after which other similar things are patterned; "archetypal patterns"; "she was the prototypal .


So what does this have to do with my work as an artist? I use Archetypal images to create fictional or mythical characters that tell stories.

The shoes I make are not the character but they describe the personality or the behavior of the character that would wear them.


2 comments:

  1. I just noticed this... I got into the study of archetypes when I read Women Who Run With the Wolves. From there I found the work of Joe Campbell and Carolyn Myss... Inspirational stuff.. really turned my life around!

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  2. Graciela

    I have been listening and reading Carolyn Myss for years. I read Women who run with wolves a few years ago also...

    You may also enjoy Thomas Moore "Care of the Soul"

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