The concept of archetypes, derived from the psychology of Carl Jung, states that cultural symbols and images are shared by individuals and act as a universal language that gives a common meaning to experiences. These archetypes reflect humanity's fundamental needs, desires, and motivations, and they have been represented in literature, art, and storytelling for centuries.
Over time, archetypes have evolved as societies and cultures have changed. Today, we can still find archetypes such as the hero, the villain, the mentor, the trickster, and the maiden in modern literature, films, and video games, but these archetypes have taken on new forms and meanings. For instance, the hero archetype can now be found in diverse characters, including superheroes, survivors, rebels, and underdogs.
Additionally, archetypes have been critiqued for their universality, as they were originally defined as applicable to all humans. However, since the 20th century, scholars have examined how archetypes are influenced by gender, race, class, and other social structures, leading to the creation of new archetypes and the questioning of traditional ones. Therefore, the evolution of archetypes can be attributed to the changing cultural contexts, social norms, and interpretations of symbols and images.