{"id":167,"date":"2010-05-21T21:40:36","date_gmt":"2010-05-21T21:40:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deathcookie.com\/home\/archetype-of-the-week-the-trickster\/"},"modified":"2024-01-15T15:30:17","modified_gmt":"2024-01-15T21:30:17","slug":"archetype-of-the-week-the-trickster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deathcookie.com\/home\/archetype-of-the-week-the-trickster\/","title":{"rendered":"Archetype of the Week: The Trickster"},"content":{"rendered":"

The trickster (often called the shapeshifter) archetype is closely related to the fool, but tends to be a more subversive character than the fool. The fool is (whether he knows it or not) is the object of others’ laughter; the joke is on the fool. With the trickster, the joke is nearly always on someone else, and it’s the trickster who’s laughing. The trickster only reveals his true nature once the joke has paid off, and in many cases doesn’t even do so then. Andy Kaufman played both roles and offers a good example of the difference between the two: as “the foreign man” (who later became Latka on Taxi<\/em>), he was the fool; as Tony Clifton, Andy embodied the trickster. In literature, the trickster is often revealed to be something more than he pretends, usually a king or a god.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Likely Stories
\n<\/strong>Like the fool, the trickster is a universal archetype that can be found in any kind of story.<\/p>\n

The Name Game<\/strong>
\nBecause the trickster is at heart something of a con artist, he uses a variety of false identities and names. Such aliases frequently subtly reveal something about the trickster’s true nature, however, because the victims’ failure to notice the hint makes the deception that much sweeter.
\n
\nThe Numbers
\n<\/strong>The trickster needs a high Nerve Number to pull off his tricks, which usually require convincing the victim to take the trickster into his confidence. A high Brain score is useful for making sure there are no holes in a scheme, and a a good Body can be quite useful when a deception falls through.<\/p>\n

Suggested Jobs:<\/strong> Activist, Actor, Animal Spirit, Artist, Beatnik, Cartoon Animal, Comedian, Confidence Man, Criminal Mastermind, Culture Jammer, Eccentric, Elvis Impersonator, Fairy, Fixer, Ghost, Graffiti Artist, Hacker, Hippie, Imaginary Friend, Hustler, Journalist, Musician, Performance Artist, Philanthropist, Poet, Politician, Prankster, Prophet, Pornographer, Private Detective, Psychologist, Pundit, Punk, Radio Personality, Revolutionary, Self-Help Guru, Scientist, Serial Killer, Showman, Street Performer, Televangelist, Traveling Salesman, Wizard, Writer, ‘Zine Publisher
\n
\nSuggested Gimmicks: <\/strong>Almost Famous, Bag of Tricks, Born Salesman, Citizen of the World, Cool Toys, Cult of Personality, Friends In Low Places, Everybody’s Buddy, Honest Face, Master of Disguise, Shapeshifter, Smooth Talker, Stretching, Supernatural Powers (Specify), Underestimated, Wealthy, Weird Luck
\n
\nSuggested Weaknesses: <\/strong>Absurdity Magnet, Assumed To Be Full of Shit, Bad Karma, Conspiracy Magnet, Creepy, Dazed and Confused, Delusional, Drug Addict, Easy Come Easy Go, Enemies, Lecherous, Narcissism, OCD, Overconfidence, Paranoia, Quixotism, Reputation, Superstitious, Victim of the Past, Wanted Man, Weird Luck
\n
\nSuggested Skills: <\/strong>Acting, Bar Tricks, Brawling, Bullshitting, Comic Book Trivia, Computers, Conspiracy Theory, Cross Dressing, Disguise, Dumpster Diving, Drug Lore, Eavesdropping, Fast Talking, Freeloading, History, Law, Magic Tricks, Mythology, Panhandling, Practical Jokes, Public Speaking, Puppetry, Religion, Riddles, Role Playing, Satire, Singing, Stealth, UFOology<\/p>\n

WWPHITM?<\/strong> Jeff Anderson, Dietrich Bader, Jason Bateman, Mel Blanc, Jeff Bridges, Matthew Broderick, Steve Buscemi, Michael Caine, Nicholas Cage, George Carlin, Emma Caulfield, Tommy Chong,\u00a0 Stephen Colbert, Gary Cole, Clare Kramer, David Cross, John Cusack, Johnny Depp, Minnie Driver, Cary Elwes, Robert Englund, Nathan Fillion, Albert Finney, Kyle Gallner, Janeane Garofalo, Natasha Gregson-Wagner, Paul Giomatti, John Goodman, Michael C. Hall, Woody Harrelson, Neil Patrick Harris, Eddie Izzard, Lady Gaga, Heath Ledger, Jason Lee, Richard Jenkins, Rinko Kikuchi, Cheech Marin, Steve Martin, Bill Murray, Tim Blake Nelson, Paul Newman, Brad Pitt, Amy Pohler, Kevin Pollack, John C. Reilly, Tim Robbins, Christina Ricci, Alan Rickman, Sam Rockwell, Michael Rosenbaum, Tim Roth, Paul Rudd, Maya Rudolph, Mark Rufallo, Adam Sandler, Peter Sellers, William Shatner, Sarah Silverman, Kevin Spacey, Ryan Stiles, Nicole Sullivan, Hilary Swank, Audrey Tautou, Alan Tudyk, Patrick Warburton, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson,
\n
\nTag Line: <\/strong>“The only difference between me and a madman is that I’m not mad.”–Salvador Dali<\/span><\/p>\n

Tools of the Trade<\/strong>
\nThe specific tools required for a trickster will depend on the character concept, but are often not the tools that one normally expects.
\n
\nWhere You’ll Find Him
\n<\/strong>Wherever the universe takes him.
\n
\nSocial Circle
\n<\/strong>The trickster will have a small circle of like-minded friends and a large number of acquaintances who serve as audience members, foils, and test subjects. A trickster who has received some degree of fame for his work will also have a large number of admirers, minions, and hangers-on who he most likely detests but view as useful.
\n
\nSample Character
\nTyler Durden
\nBody: <\/strong>15
\nBrain: <\/strong>12
\nNerve: <\/strong>14
\nJob: <\/strong>Revolutionary (12); Recall Specialist (10)
\nGimmick: <\/strong>Minions (13)
\nWeakness: <\/strong>Multiple Personality Disorder (13); Insomnia (15)
\nSkills: <\/strong>Fighting +3; Soap Making +2; Support Group Lore +2
\nWWPHITM? <\/strong>Edward Norton and Brad Pitt
\nDumb Fact: <\/strong>Has a night job as a movie projectionist, where he adds frames of penises to movies.
\nTag Line: <\/strong>“You are not special. You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake. You are the same decaying organic matter as everything else.”
\nHP:<\/strong> 15
\nYY: <\/strong>3
\n
\nInspirational Materials
\nBooks & Comics
\n<\/strong>A Midsummer Night’s Dream <\/em>by William Shakespeare (Puck)
\nThe Adventures Tom Sawyer <\/em>by Mark Twain (Tom Sawyer)
\nThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn <\/em>by Mark Twain
\nAmerican Gods <\/em>(“Low Key” Lyesmith)
\nBorat<\/em>
\nCalvin & Hobbes <\/em>(Hobbes)
\nDC Comics (The Joker, Mr. Mxyzptlk, Plastic Man, The Riddler)
\nDragonlance Chronicles <\/em>(Fizban the Fabulous)
\nHarry Potter <\/em>series (Severus Snape, The Weasley twins)
\nQAGS <\/em>(Sparky in Sample of Play Theater)
\n
\nMovies & TV
\n<\/strong>Big Fish <\/em>(Ed Bloom)
\nDexter <\/em>(Dexter)
\nFerris Bueller’s Day Off <\/em>(Ferris Bueller)
\nHarold and Kumar Go To White Castle <\/em>(Neil Patrick Harris)
\nThe Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus <\/em>(Tony)
\nIt’s Your Move<\/em>
\nThe Onion<\/em>
\nParker Lewis Can’t Lose <\/em>(Parker Lewis)
\nLater Nightmare On Elm Street <\/em>movies (Freddy Kruger)
\nSaw <\/em>series (Jigsaw)
\nThe Simpsons <\/em>(Bart Simpson)
\nSix Feet Under <\/em>(Nathaniel Fisher, Sr.)
\nStar Trek: The Next Generation <\/em>(Q)
\nWarner Brothers Cartoons (Bugs Bunny)
\n
\nMythological Characters
\n<\/strong>Anansi
\nBrer Rabbit
\nCoyote
\nEris
\nLoki
\nReynard the Fox
\nRobin Hood
\n
\nReal People<\/strong>
\nBanksy
\nP.T. Barnum
\nJello Biafra
\nTony Clifton
\nStephen Colbert
\nSalvador Dali
\nCharles Fort
\nLarry Flynt
\nGregory Hill
\nAndy Kaufman
\nLady Gaga
\nTimothy Leary
\nEmperor Norton I
\nKerry Thornley
\nThe Yes Men<\/p>\n

Religious Organizations
\n<\/strong>The Church of the Sub-Genius
\nDiscordianism
\nDudism
\nThe First Church of Shatnerology
\nLandover Baptist Church
\nObjective Ministries
\nPastafarianism<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The trickster (often called the shapeshifter) archetype is closely related to the fool, but tends to be a more subversive character than the fool. The fool is (whether he knows it or not) is the object of others’ laughter; the joke is on the fool. With the trickster, the joke is nearly always on someone…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4036,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1998],"tags":[2868,3294,3293,3292,3291,3290,3289,3288,3261,3019,3295,2764,2622,2533,2410,2383,2346,2331,2322,2135,3304,3313,3312,3311,3310,3309,3308,3307,3306,3305,1606,3303,3302,3301,3300,3299,3298,3297,3296,705,714,713,712,711,710,709,708,707,706,715,678,611,496,480,328,211,119,71,724,1544,1417,1414,1137,756,728,727,726,725,43,723,722,721,720,719,718,717,716],"class_list":["post-167","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-archetype-of-the-week","tag-shakespeare","tag-severus-snape","tag-the-riddler","tag-mr-mxyzptlk","tag-calvin-hobbes","tag-borat","tag-a-midsummer-nights-dream","tag-taxi","tag-six-feet-under","tag-huckleberry-finn","tag-weasley-twins","tag-the-simpsons","tag-mark-twain","tag-emperor-norton-i","tag-american-gods","tag-fight-club","tag-freddy-krueger","tag-dc-comics","tag-harold-kumar","tag-neil-gaiman","tag-banksy","tag-objective-ministries","tag-the-first-church-of-shatnerology","tag-dudism","tag-the-church-of-the-sub-genius","tag-the-yes-men","tag-kerry-thornley","tag-gregory-hill","tag-jello-biafra","tag-p-t-barnum","tag-timothy-leary","tag-anansi","tag-saw","tag-parker-lewis-cant-lose","tag-the-onion","tag-its-your-move","tag-the-imaginarium-of-dr-parnassus","tag-big-fish","tag-sparky","tag-joker","tag-plastic-man","tag-the-joker","tag-tom-sawyer","tag-puck","tag-shapeshifter","tag-bugs-bunny","tag-tyler-durden","tag-loki","tag-coyote","tag-ferris-bueller","tag-fool","tag-fizban","tag-robin-hood","tag-larry-flynt","tag-trickster","tag-harry-potter","tag-archetypes","tag-charles-fort","tag-salvador-dali","tag-warner-brothers","tag-stephen-colbert","tag-lady-gaga","tag-dragonlance","tag-star-trek","tag-landover-baptist-church","tag-pastafarianism","tag-tony-clifton","tag-andy-kaufman","tag-qags","tag-discordianism","tag-reynard-the-fox","tag-eris","tag-brer-rabbit","tag-q","tag-dexter","tag-bart-simpson","tag-neil-patrick-harris"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/deathcookie.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/deathcookie.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/deathcookie.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deathcookie.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deathcookie.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=167"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/deathcookie.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1466,"href":"https:\/\/deathcookie.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/167\/revisions\/1466"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deathcookie.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4036"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/deathcookie.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=167"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deathcookie.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=167"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deathcookie.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=167"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}