Archetypes of Cinematic Universes. Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Stranger Things

Why do some movies fade from memory the very next day, while others make you want to return again and again? Kira Kats explains how the archetypes of the Chosen One, the Friend, the Teacher, and the Shadow work—breaking them down using examples from “Harry Potter,” “Star Wars,” and “Stranger Things,” and showing what storytelling is made of that holds our attention for years.

Have you ever wondered what connects Harry Potter, Anakin Skywalker, and Eleven from “Stranger Things”? Why do some plots get forgotten instantly, while we rewatch others over and over again? And why, even in the most unbelievable fantasy, do we still look for— and find— reflections of ourselves?

Kira Kats shows how universal elements of the monomyth turn into unique arcs of character development.

The book includes an analysis of iconic film universes: “Harry Potter,” “The Lord of the Rings,” “Star Wars,” and one of the main hits of recent years—“Stranger Things.”

Kira Kats vividly demonstrates how the authors of these worlds relied on recognizable archetypes to build their stories. You’ll see how the Chosen One, the Friend, the Teacher, the Shadow, and the Trickster change and become more complex—gaining new facets from project to project.

Kira Kats is a journalist and a researcher of film theory and history, and the author of the culture blog “Kira writes.”