Ravinia 2024 Issue 5

MARTIN THEATRE 7:30 PM TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2024 THIRD COAST PERCUSSION † SEAN CONNORS ROBERT DILLON PETER MARTIN DAVID SKIDMORE CLARICE ASSAD, voice, piano, bass guitar † SÉRGIO ASSAD, guitar Archetypes CLARICE ASSAD The Rebel * SÉRGIO ASSAD The Innocent * SÉRGIO ASSAD The Orphan * DAVID SKIDMORE The Lover * SÉRGIO ASSAD The Magician * PETER MARTIN The Ruler * –Intermission– CLARICE ASSAD The Jester * CLARICE ASSAD The Caregiver * ROBERT DILLON The Sage * SEAN CONNORS The Creator * CLARICE ASSAD The Hero * SÉRGIO ASSAD The Explorer * † Ravinia debut * First performance at Ravinia ARCHETYPES Archetypes are ancient, universal patterns of human behavior that are found in storytelling, mythology, and our daily interactions with one another. With all that separates us from one an- other—distances that are geographic, ideologi- cal, cultural, temporal—the commonalities that transcend these barriers can offer a profound sense of comfort and optimism. Storytellers throughout history, and from cultures spanning the globe, have manifested these character types, which are variously defined by their person- ality, talents, occupation, or the role they play in a story. The concept has also created a lens through which to view human nature, which has fascinated philosophers, psychologists, business people, and others. While a single archetype will appear across many stories, the wonder of archetypes is to experience the different ways that each cul- ture, tradition, or author creates variations of an identity—rich characters that go beyond the archetype, and who may at times contradict the assumptions the audience makes about such a character. Specific popular characters can even start to become archetypes of their own; think about all the versions of fictional figures like Batman, James Bond, or Romeo and Juliet that have emerged over the years. These variations often spur conversations—sometimes very heat- ed—about what characteristics define a figure, and what are flexible. The Swiss psychologist Carl Jung popularized the view of archetypes as a window into human behavior, understanding each of these charac- ter types as a “living system of reactions and aptitudes that determine the individual’s life in invisible ways.” Jung proposed that these arche- types live in our collective unconscious, that the common understanding of what makes a “caregiver” or a “hero” creates a reference point by which all people measure their own identity, and the identities of others. This, in turn, has led thinkers from other fields to consider arche- types as useful tools for predicting or shaping human behavior. The particular list of 12 arche- types that served as the inspiration for the mu- sic in tonight’s performance has also been used as a tool in the business world. Margaret Mark and Carol S. Pearson use this collection of ar- chetypes in their book The Hero and the Outlaw: Building Extraordinary Brands through the Pow- er of Archetypes . There is no set number of archetypes; some lists include over 300, but people have made their own shorter lists by grouping them in different ways or selecting a subset that has the greatest use for their purpose. This list of 12 resonated with us because it represented distinctly differ- ent characters which felt very familiar from sto- ries and real people. We have all known individ- uals who we considered rebels, jesters, or sages, and we have all inhabited each of these identities RAVINIAMAGAZINE • AUGUST 19 – SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 74