By Margaret Holloway
Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist and founder of analytical psychology, introduced the concept of the collective unconscious—a shared layer of the human psyche filled with archetypes, or universal symbols and narrative patterns. These archetypes, according to Jung, emerge repeatedly in dreams, myths, and art across cultures and eras.
Jung identified core archetypal figures such as the Hero, the Shadow, the Wise Old Man, the Anima, and the Trickster. Each of these figures represents a recurring psychological role or inner conflict. When applied to storytelling, these archetypes offer a powerful framework for understanding recurring characters, journeys, and transformations in genre narratives.
In genre theory, Jungian archetypes are especially influential in fantasy, epic, and adventure films. The Hero’s Journey, as later popularized by Joseph Campbell and adopted in screenwriting models, is rooted in Jungian psychology. Genres such as the Western, the superhero film, or even noir frequently deploy archetypal figures that embody larger psychological or cultural tensions.
Jung’s ideas help explain why certain genre patterns resonate so deeply and universally. They suggest that genres are not only shaped by industry or culture, but by the deep structures of the human mind. The appeal of genre, from this view, lies in its ability to mirror internal psychic struggles through symbolic external conflict.
Although Jung’s work has been critiqued for its essentialism and lack of cultural specificity, his influence remains vital in approaches to myth, symbolism, and psychological resonance within film genres.
Source: Carl Jung, The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious; related analytical psychology texts.