'n Fotografiese verkenning van neo-argetipiese karakters in "The Simpsons"

Abstract

This research project is a photographic exploration of four neo-archetypes: the Innocent, the Caregiver, the Leader, and the Jester. This exploratory investigation makes use of creative practice, a theoretical framework and critical reflection on the interaction between these two to produce a reinterpretation of archetypal characters. The ultimate goal is to create photographed neo-archetypal subjects inspired by The Simpsons, Vetkoekpaleis, Orkney Snork Nie and my idiosyncratic memories. The resulting creative artefacts are exhibited on a website. This study's relevance is reflected in how contemporary and local subjective realities are investigated within the design of neo-archetypal characters. This study's methodology is aligned with a practice-related research (PRR) approach. Accordingly, Scrivener's Model for Creative Production Processes (2004), which consists of six steps, is used as the study's research methodological framework. In the project's first step, The Simpsons, Orkney Snork Nie and Vetkoekpaleis were contextualized within my autoethnographic framework as subject matter for this study. Step two served as a theoretical foundation that focuses on neo-archetypes within the theme of character design and is approached from an auto-ethnographic perspective. The project is explored through an interwoven exploration of theory and practice, where character design is informed by theory and my auto-ethnography. Step three involved conceptual reflection on the neo-archetypes where I identified in The Simpsons and South African sitcoms. This led to the reinterpretation of the neo-archetypes in The Simpsons within a (South-/)African context from my auto-ethnographic perspective and through character development. Step four involved a creation phase of the various production cycles during which critical reflection in-action, on-action, and for-action took place, as captured in my process documents. Step five served as a reflection on the cycles of production with a specific focus on the artifacts that were created, which takes place in the process of curation as captured on the website in a virtual gallery. The final step of this study involves retrospective examination of the project as a cohesive entity, with the aid of explicit knowledge conveyed through written means. In this step, the project is subjected to comprehensive reflection. By means of reinterpreting and visualizing neo-archetypes in The Simpsons drawing upon my personal autoethnography, the current study endeavours to contribute to the visual data on neo-archetypal manifestations by offering a specific, local (South-/)African perspective, which would facilitate others' identification and engagement with the subject.