Female Shapeshifters and Other Questionable Archetypes

Words to Write by

Everyone who's read a blog post on the Hero's Journey can spot the Hero and Mentor archetypes, but what about a Threshold Guardian, or Herald, or elusive Shapeshifter?
Are these actual story archetypes or just personifications of the early stages in the Hero's Journey? Do they play a significant role in modern narratives? And just how sexist is Christopher Vogler, in his book The Writer's Journey, going to get in his descriptions of the femme fatal/temptress Shapeshifter? Find out what we have to say about these three archetypes in this episode---and boy, does Renee have things to say.
As a bonus, we draw upon Diana Wynne Jones's book, Howl's Moving Castle, for examples.

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