Batman, Valkyries, and the Evolution of a Story

Click here for audio In 2022, we saw the release of yet another Batman movie. This one, called The Batman, is a little different from recent movie incarnations in that it focuses more on Batman as a detective and also really digs into the negative psychological impact of being a vigilante.  Even Batman’s alter ego Bruce Wayne has succumbed to…

Continue ReadingBatman, Valkyries, and the Evolution of a Story

Archetypes: the Sidekick

Click here for audio version You may not know the word archetype or what it means, but if you’ve read novels or watched movies and TV shows, you have encountered them. Archetypes are the characters who play a particular role in a story, like the Wise Old Wizard or the Femme Fatale, and we all recognize them when we see…

Continue ReadingArchetypes: the Sidekick

When Gods and Heroes Lose a Right Hand

Click here for the audio version The right-hand man. What does this mean to you? The man who sits at the right hand of a king or other powerful leader, the man who is next in power? Or perhaps the right-hand man is the partner-in-crime or the best friend? Whatever the case, the right hand holds an important, symbolic function…

Continue ReadingWhen Gods and Heroes Lose a Right Hand