the “sneaky weasel” archetype

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The “Sneaky Weasel” Archetype. Mr. Jones and Mr. Jones. Notes About Presentation Slides. Remember: You deliver the presentation (not your slides) People listen to you. They won’t read paragraphs. People like a bit of colour and design: it makes for a pleasant visual environment. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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The Sneaky Weasel Archetype

Mr. Jones and Mr. JonesThe Sneaky Weasel ArchetypeNotes About Presentation SlidesRemember:You deliver the presentation (not your slides)People listen to you. They wont read paragraphs.People like a bit of colour and design: it makes for a pleasant visual environment.Too much slide stuff (multiple backgrounds, transitions, and noises) distracts in a big way

Bottom LineSlides are there to back you up.They reinforce your brilliant explanationsDont let your slides run the show.Sneaky Weasel: Core CharacteristicsThe sneaky weasel:Is never fair to people, is always trying to get something from someone for nothing.Usually uses some sort of deception to do so. These can further be broken down into:Sad stories, Cheques in the mail, Not what I asked forSometimes gets away with it, sometimes is left with a life of pain (depending on the Gods)Sneaky Weasel ArchetypeThe sneaky weasel is an archetype that shows up in many mythological traditions:Greek Tradition:Aeolus and the sneaky weasel whipped by the windAcherons nasty debtNative North American:Crow takes Manitou for a rideCrow and the bad deer meat.Norse Myth:Erik plays Poker with Thor

Erik and the Poker GameOverview:

Erik has been winning a lot with normal humans, mostly by cheating.Thinks he can beat Thor at poker.Thor (god) knows all. Says game will be unfair but could use the money so agrees to game.Lars plays looses his money in an hour, plays all night and looses his shirt.Cant pay back Thor. But will pay him after next fishing trip.Fishing trip is massive success (Thor helps out). But Erik Lies to Thor though (no fish).Says next fishing trip.On next fishing trip Thor leaves Erik on a leaky boat, in perpetual rain with a skull for a bailer. Sneaky Weasel in ErikLars:Is something of a sneaky weasel already as he has been making money playing poker and cheating.Uses a combination of sad stories and cheques in the mail.Sad Stories: Doesnt have the money. (True)No fish on last trip. (Total Lie!)Cheques in the mail:Will pay next trip. (No Intention of Paying)

ExplanationsExamplesCrow Takes ManitouProvide context. What happens in the Crow and Bad Deer Meat story. A good Second example, would have different characteristics, but still illustrate the archetype:

Crow gets away with it, Uses the bad deer meat argument (even though it is good)Manitou notices Crow eating carrion months later. Notices this is actually what crow likes.Tells crow he will never give him good meat againCrow Doesnt careSimilarities and DifferencesAgain an effective slide here would show differences between stories, but then common elements.Differences:Crow gets away with it, Erik doesnt.Erik uses a combination of sad stories and cheques in the mail. Crow uses not what I wanted.Similarities (common elements):Are both trying to take advantage of othersBoth use forms of deception to do so.

StrategyWhat have I done?Define the archetype listing characteristicsFor Each Story:Described the story (contextprovided basic plot information)Explain how the archetype shows up in this storyThe Sneaky Weasel In Ruthless PeopleContemporary ExampleOverview of Ruthless PeopleThis movie is full of sneaky weasel characters doing sneaky weasel stuff. Here is only a small part:A rich guy in the clothing business has married his wife for her dads fortune. The dad keeps living though, and the wife doesnt inherit his money.The rich guy is going to bump his wife off but then finds out that she has been kidnapped.He does everything possible to get the kidnappers to bump his wife off:Tells the policeDoesnt pay the ransomRuthless People contdThe problem is that the kidnappers are actually pretty nice people and cant kill his wifeAt the same time his wife is a really nasty, self-centred person as well and is driving the kidnappers nuts.They eventually let his wife go because they cant stand her. He thinks she has died in a car crash (is actually one of the kidnappers that dies). (scene here)But then she comes backhis worst nightmare.

Sneaky Weasel in Ruthless PeopleIs totally motivated by self interest: wants to kill his wife for money.Is really deceptive as he tries to make it look like he is concerned about his wife but the whole time he is trying to get her killed.

How Sneaky Weasel Has DevelopedThe biggest shift is that these characters arent gods. They are normal peopleIf we are looking at the behaviour of archetypical characters, they appear in a more day to day setting.

(would add a couple more points here)StrategyBegan by working through the same process once again for more recent story:Define (didnt have to do that as I had already done it in previous section).Outline plot of text.Explain how character is a sneaky weaselConclude by outlining developments over time. Answer the key question (thinking question):How has this archetype developed/evolved over time?