Damda 1 Yusuf Damda Professor Haglund English 103 8 May 2023 “The Protector” Archetype The archetype of “The Protector” is a recurring and popular character heavily seen in mythology, literature, and in pop culture. Delving upon the subject, this archetype is heavily represented as an individual willing to sacrifice their own safety and health to preserve society and ensure safety in their world. Examples of this specific archetype include The Flash in the television show, The Flash, Batman in the movie, The Dark Knight, and Spiderman in the movie, Spider-Man: Far From Home. The portrayal of these iconic superheroes is shown by their mighty strength and courage to stand up against evil and they all have specific hero journeys that focus on facing challenges and making sacrifices to preserve society. The book, “Signs of Life in the USA” by Sonia Massik and Jack Solomon, dives deep into the topics of, the Semiotic Method, Conducting a Semiotic Analysis, and Cultural Mythologies. Using these methods can help delve deeper into the archetype, “The Protector” and can provide context to better understand the cultural significance and enduring appeal of these superheroes. The enduring appeal of the “Protector” archetype is exemplified by iconic figures such as The Flash, Batman, and Spiderman, and is a testament to our society’s yearning for safety, justice, and protection in an increasingly unpredictable world. From the perspective of the archetype, it proves the behavior and values that society adapted from following “The Protector” archetype. Damda 2 Understanding how society perceives the archetype is key to understanding the values that are represented within the archetype. The archetype of “The Protector” reflects society’s desire for safety and justice and it represents a certain standard or perfect moral ethic that is highly valued in today’s world. One example to illustrate society’s value for “The Protector” is seen in the television show, The Flash. The protagonist of the show, Barry Allen is transformed into the superhero “The Flash” after he was struck by lightning and doused in chemicals from the laboratory. From that point on, he uses his superhuman powers to stop other metahumans who use their power for evil. In the TV show, Barry Allen saves a group of people from a burning building. After he rescues them, he quickly reacts and saves a small child from the flames (“Fastest Man Alive” 1:25-2:26). From this scene, we could see how society is reliant on and appreciative of “The Protector”. The fear and anxiety that comes from natural disasters in society make them reliant on "The Protector” to save the world. In a real-world example, if there are people in a burning building the first instinct would be to call the fire department. In this case, the firefighters would act as “The Protector”. In other ways, the use of semiotics can also convey how society perceives the archetype. Semiotics refers to the study of signs and symbols and how it’s used to convey a message or meaning. Daniel Chandler defines semiotics as, “In semiotics, 'signs' may be anything from which meanings may be generated (such as words, images, sounds, gestures, and objects). For the analytical purposes of semiotics (in the tradition of Saussure), every sign is composed of” (Daniel Chandler). Different signs can convey a different message to a person, and they can also provide a certain context to how society perceives a certain aspect. In the book, “Signs of Life in the USA”, it states, “Reduced to its simplest principles, the semiotic method carries on Damda 3 Saussure’s argument that the meaning of a sign lies, in part, in the fact that it can be differentiated from any other sign within the system, or code, to which it belongs (Massik and Solomon 10). Using the semiotic method to critically analyze certain symbols in movies and TV Shows allows a greater understanding of how society perceives “The Protector archetype” In the movie The Dark Knight, Bruce Wayne must utilize his heroics and abilities, to stop Joker from infecting Gotham with his disease. In the movie, a prominent symbol that was present was the bat symbol which acted as a safety sign to the citizens of Gotham. In a scene in the movie, there were criminals running throughout Gotham City and the police were completely unable to stop them. When the citizens, saw the bat symbol on the side of a building, they knew that there was going to be help on the way and that they would have been saved. The citizens associated the bat symbol as a sign of heroics a sign that they would be saved from harm. They associated that specific symbol with hope when the literal meaning of the symbol is simply referring to the bat animal. Similarly, the same aspect can be seen in the superheroes, The Flash and Spider-Man. In the TV show The Flash, there was a time when the villains were taking over the city and the citizens were feeling hopeless. To bring back the hopes of the citizens, Barry Allen organizes a pep rally to show hope and unity among the citizens. The Lightning symbol was also displayed to symbolize the sense of unity to convey a certain attitude to the people of Central City. In the movie, Spider-Man: No Way Home there was a strong use of semiotics that was used in the final battle between the protagonist Spider-Man and the antagonist Mysterio. In the final battle between these two characters, Spider-man’s costume was seen as primarily red and blue, which is associated with heroism and patriotism. Mysterio’s costume which was mostly green, is associated with envy and deception (Spider-Man: No Way Home, 1:37:50-1:48:50). In this battle, Damda 4 it is shown how the colors that are depicted in this scene, gave the citizens a mark of hope and how it helps them symbolize between evil and good. The different films showcase how society perceives different colors and symbols as a mark of safety and protection. There are certain cultural values and attitudes that are reinforced by “The Protector” archetype which include, selflessness, courage, and sacrifice. Archetypes in general can influence our thinking patterns and behavior. Scott Jeffery describes archetypes as, “… predictable. No matter what image of the Hero you hold in mind, for example, certain patterns of behavior and personality traits arise like bravery, valor, persistence, and action. So, when you think of archetypes, think of set patterns of behavior shared by all of humanity” (Scott Jeffery). In the TV Show The Flash, Barry Allan is transported to a different dimension where he encounters a different version of his mother. Barry needs to travel back to his dimension to stop a different villain in his current dimension. However, Barry learns that in the dimension that he traveled to there are lost souls that need to be saved so he decides to show an act of selflessness and risks dying to save the lost souls (The Runaway Dinosaur 24:48- 33:35). Seeing the selflessness, in a hero displaying heroics can encourage this type of ethic into one’s own personal life. An act of selflessness, it can be shown in a real-life example of a stranger chasing after a child in the middle of the street to make sure the child is ensured safety. Seeing this trait in “The Protector” will influence an individual to behave a certain way but will also link them to other behaviors. The Book, “Signs of Life in the USA”, states, “The first step when conducting a semiotic analysis is to build a system of related signs. The building of a system often leads to the construction of larger systems that envelop your original one” (Massik and Solomon 13). Learning about how the first value of selflessness is conveyed in “The Protector” archetype Damda 5 shows how it is also connected to the value of courage. In the movie The Dark Knight, there is a scene where Batman is under pressure from the Joker’s game that gives the passengers of two ferries a choice to blow up the other ferry using a detonator believing if they do not, they will explode. Batman had to persevere with the anxious passengers and fight the Joker’s men (The Dark Knight 2:04:15-2:16:03). The merit of courage is displayed in this example, and it shows how the “The Protector” must not feel scared, threatened, and show brute force to save their people and the world. They also must be willing to go to great lengths to make sure their mission is accomplished. It is seen in this scene of The Dark Knight; it showcases one of the many challenges that Batman must face and his continuous perseverance to go through with the mission no matter the consequences. Today, bravery is an aspect that is seen worldwide in society. An example includes the police constantly putting themselves in danger and busting down huge drug operations. Lastly, the value of sacrifice is displayed in Spider-Man: Far From Home when Peter Parker must display a double life and sacrifice his teenage years in order to save the world. A scene in the movie shows when Peter Parker and his friends travel to Europe, and he must sacrifice all aspects of the trip in order to keep his friends and the city safe from harm. He decides to ignore his love life and cancels all his plans in order to be a part of the greater good. (Spider-Man: Far From Home 45:26-57:21). This scene emphasizes the value of putting others before yourself which is a highly regarded trait in society. “The Protector” archetype must find a sense of not desiring herself in order to allow greater things in life. Many adults in today’s society have to sacrifice their time and money to take care of their children. Seeing these values that are reinforced by “The Protector” shows how each trait coincides and Damda 6 makes each trait stronger when it is seen collectively. Another aspect is how “The Protector” is seen as very popular and universal. The archetype, “The Protector” is seen as a very popular aspect of society in general. It goes into the fundamental and natural human desire for safety and security. In a very unpredictable world, people are comforted by those who can provide a sense of protection and assurance. This is where the qualities and different aspects of the protector come into play. “The Protector Archetype processes the traits of admiration and respectability. Another reason why the protector is seen as a popular aspect of desirability is because of the emotions that are provoked. Scott Jeffery explains how archetypes, “are the pieces of life itself—images that are integrally connected to the living individual by the bridge of the emotions. “When you experience an emotion, it is the emotion of an archetype. Different archetypes evoke different emotions. Lovers are passionate. Kings are magnanimous. Warriors are courageous. Sadists are hateful” (Scott Jeffery). In Jeffery’s example, it shows how different archetypes’ behavior is impacted by emotion. Emotion is a universal aspect of human nature. Everyone experiences it and the emotion that is conveyed in “The Protector” archetype is feelings of reassurance and safety. These two feelings are desired by society and therefore indicated that society desires these specific emotions. Another aspect that “The Protector” has is the cultural mythologies it contains. There are various cultural mythologies that are represented by “The Protector” Archetype. The book, “Signs of Life in the USA” defines cultural mythologies as, “a value system, then, is a kind of lens that governs the way we view our world… The profound effect our cultural mythologies have on the way we view reality, on our most basic values” (Massik and Damda 7 Solomon 20). Cultural mythologies have a profound impact on our attitudes, behaviors, and judgments. One cultural mythology that is represented by “The Protector” archetype is the concept of the “hero”. The hero aspect is seen throughout the history of mythology and stories. In the example of The Flash, Batman, and Spiderman, all these figures displayed the merit of heroism. The Flash must stop the other metahumans in Central City and save the other citizens from danger. In The Arkham Knight, Batman must stop Joker from killing the citizens of Gotham. In Spiderman: Far From Home must live a double life to save his friends and the entire city from getting hurt. Other cultural mythologies that are present in “The Protector” include the quest for safety and security. “The Protector” must tap into the deeply rooted human need for safety and Stability. In The Arkham Knight, Batman must ensure that he defeats the Joker without harming the innocent civilians around him while trying to ensure the innocent victim’s sanity. This is seen in the ferry scene where Batman must ensure the ships do not blow up while getting everyone to safety ((The Dark Knight 2:04:15-2:16:03). Lastly, the Guardian Angel mythology is seen where a supernatural being has been blessed to watch over humanity. This is shown when Barry Allen gains powers when he is struck by lightning and gains the power of super speed. This proves how certain ideologies that are adopted in different cultures that are seen in certain cultural mythologies, are engraved, and associated with “The Protector” archetype. To conclude, “The Protector” is an archetype that is seen throughout society and provides a universal understanding of healthy values such as security and safety. In a thriving society, these merits that are displayed in “The Protector” is a necessity for success. Society has to be seen through the lens of the values that are apparent in “The Protector” archetype. By doing so, Damda 8 society can cultivate a prosperous and healthy community that prioritizes the wellness and protection of its members. Damda 9 Works Cited “Fastest Man Alive.” The Flash, created by Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, and Geoff Johns, performance by Grant Gustin, season 1, episode 2, DC Studios, 2014, Netflix, https://www.netflix.com/watch/80057444?trackId=255824129 “The Runaway Dinosaur.” The Flash, created by Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, and Geoff Johns, performance by Grant Gustin, season 2, episode 21, DC Studios, 2014, Netflix, https://www.netflix.com/watch/80057444?trackId=255824129 The Dark Knight. Directed by Christopher Nolan, Performances by Christian Bale and Heath Ledger, DC Studios, 2008. Spider-Man: Far From Home. Directed by Jon Watts, Performances by Tom Holland and Jake Gyllenhaal, Marvel Studios, 2019. Chandler, Daniel. “Semiotics for Beginners.” Semiotics for Beginners, 1994, web.pdx.edu/~singlem/coursesite/begsem.html. Maasik, Sonia, and Jack Solomon. “The Semiotic Method, Interpretating Popular Signs: The Modern Vampire, Of Myths and Men.” Signs of Life in the USA: Reading on Popular Culture for Writers, Bedford/St. Martin’s, Boston, MA, 2018, pp. 10–20. Jeffrey, Scott. “Archetypes: A Practical Guide to Inner Work Using Archetypes.” Scott Jeffrey, 11 Jan. 2023, scottjeffrey.com/archetypespsychology/#:~:text=Archetypes%20Influence%20Behavior,How%20do%20archetypes&text=Jung%20described%20archetypes%20as%20%E2%80% 9Cthe,%2Dexisting%2C%20archetypes%20are%20predictable.
