Responsive: D&AD - Shutterstock

The brief: 

There are seven different story archetypes; overcoming the monster, the tragedy, rebirth, comedy, voyage and return, the quest, rags to riches. All stories follow one of these archetypes. The brief set by shutterstock is to take everyday occurrences that fit into these archetypes and create images based on this. Choose three of the seven story archetypes and create one image or video based on this. Has to have a real life basis, not fantasy! - MAKE REAL LIFE EPIC

" WHAT’S ESSENTIAL 

Three images or video snippets, each telling a powerful visual story. 

A 30 second video explaining your process and the background to your work (use voiceovers and / or subtitles, but don’t talk directly to camera)." 

The Archetypes

Christopher Booker's "The Seven Basic Plots. Why We Tell Stories" analyses stories and these archetypes. These archetypes are used in everything we use to tell stories - books, TV, film, advertising etc. 

Overcoming the Monster

•  Hero sets out to defeat an evil force that poses threat to them or their home
• Examples: Perseus, Star Wars: A New Hope, James Bond, Avatar

Tragedy

• The protagonist has a flaw or makes a mistake that is ultimately their undoing 
• ("A form of drama based on human suffering - that invokes an accompanying catharisis or pleasure from the audience")
• Goes well with schadenfreude 
• Examples: Romeo and Juliet, The Picture of Dorian Grey, Revenge of the Sith

Rebirth

• Within the story an important event allows the character to change, or change their ways - usually an improvement
• Examples: Beauty and the Beast, A Christmas Carol, The Frog Prince

Comedy

• Lighthearted, fun, with a happy and cheerful ending, more than humour - events make the conflict more and more confusing. Perhaps like a sitcom misunderstanding. 
• Examples: Twelfth Night, Bridget Jones' Diary, Four Weddings and a Funeral

Voyage and Return

• The hero journeys to a strange land and returns with nothing but experience
• Examples: The Hobbit, Labyrinth, The Odyssey, Spirited Away, Alice in Wonderland

The Quest

• The protagonist &co. set out to complete a task (get an item, reclaim a homeland and slay a dragon etc) facing many obstacles along the way
• Examples: Lord of the Rings, Watership Down, The Land Before Time, Iliad

Rags to Riches

• protagonist gains wealth, power, love etc. Loses it all then regains it, growing as a character
• Examples: Aladdin, Cinderella, The Prince and the Pauper