Philippine E-Journals

Archetypes in Motion: Comparative Readings of the FPJ Hero(es) and International Blockbuster Icons

Janice Roman-Tamesis

Discipline: media studies

 

Abstract:

Carl Gustav Jung’s archetypal literary criticism argues that human experience is shaped by a “collective unconscious,” a shared repository of recurring images, symbols, and patterns that manifest across myths and narratives worldwide. This universal psyche is vividly expressed in the enduring myth of the hero, a figure embodying courage, altruism, and transformation. Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey expands on this archetype, identifying the cyclical stages of separation, initiation, and return that appear in diverse cultural traditions. This paper applies Jung’s theory and Campbell’s framework to a comparative analysis of selected Fernando Poe, Jr.’s (FPJ) Filipino movies and globally influential titles, such as Star Wars: A New Hope (1977), The Matrix (1999), and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001). Using textual analysis, it examines geography, character archetypes, narrative structure, and thematic elements in the construction of cinematic hero figures. FPJ’s portrayals reframe the archetype into a localized “everyman” hero confronting systemic injustice, while foreign examples emphasize mythic quests with cosmic stakes. The article also evaluates critiques of archetypal universality, highlighting how FPJ’s narratives resist formulaic readings by foregrounding Filipino sociopolitical realities, masculinity, and the theme of community redemption. Alternative narrative strategies, such as Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat device, are considered not as central structures but as comparative tools for understanding global shifts in empathy and identification. Ultimately, the paper argues that heroic storytelling persists through two key dynamics: creative disruption of established formulas and cultural localization of universal myths, ensuring both continuity and transformation in cinematic traditions.