This month is Power of Love month, but this week takes a slight detour because of the biggest movie of the year so far- a true cultural phenomenon. Black Panther features examples of both the light and dark side of Power of Conscience, and it tackles themes of what is right and who gets to decide that issue.
Black Panther
Black Panther tells the story of T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), the recently coronated king of the fictional African nation of Wakanda. Built around the world’s rarest metal, Wakanda is the most technologically advanced nation on earth, and centuries ahead of everyone else in every respect. At its heart, it’s a story led by Power of Conscience character.
Power of Conscience Characters follow their own moral code and expect others to do the right thing. They operate on their own level of justice and think solely about what is right and what is wrong. Most importantly they are compelled to tackle in injustice and correct what they perceive as wrong-doing.
T’Challa’s Moral Dilemma
T’Challa must compromise his moral code to become the leader that his country needs. He is challenged by a Power of Conscience antagonist that is the seeming opposite of everything he stands for. He learns to become the kind of leader who makes decisions that are for the greater good, despite opposition.
I will try to avoid spoilers for those of you who haven’t seen the movie- Go see it yourself!
Too Good To Be King
“You’re a good man, with a good heart — and it’s hard for a good man to be king.”
One of the central dilemmas that faces King T’Challa in Black Panther is whether he should cooperate with the rest of the world and share with them what Wakanda has to offer. Many in the nation he now leads believe that the world is not ready to interact with Wakanda.
Throughout the film, T’Challa does the right thing no matter the cost. Members of his family and his heads of security disapprove. When he learns of his father’s dark past, and his connection to film’s lead antagonist, Erik Kilmonger (Michael B. Jordan), he sympathizes with Erik and realizes he must lead Wakanda in a different direction to his ancestors.
T’Challa’s journey is going from being an uncertain man who does not feel ready to carry out what he knows the be right, to a King who has conviction in his actions.
Mirror Image
Erik Kilmonger (Michael B. Jordan) represents the dark side of Power of Conscience. Some people have already compared T’Challa and Kilmonger’s approaches to that of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X respectively. He is an outsider to Wakanda, determined to use Wakanda’s resources to benefit others. However, his vision is far more violent than T’Challa’s.
Erik takes it upon himself to take revenge for the injustices that the world has perpetrated on all his African forebearers. He believes that Wakanda has an obligation to help the oppressed outside of the nation. He is willing to shed blood to make sure that they rise up against inequality.
Erik shows how far Power of Conscience Characters will go to do what they believe is right. Although his intentions are noble, T’Challa knows that it will result in a scenario of endless bloodshed where no one truly wins. Erik is so blinded by his moral code that he becomes the kind of villain he wants to destroy.
Doing The Right Thing
Black Panther features both ends of the spectrum for Power of Conscience Characters. The film shows how far people are willing to go for the greater good, as they percieve it.
T’Challa becomes a better man when faced with constant challenges to his authority and beliefs. Erik is so blinded by rage and tragedy that he believes the ends justify the means. He goes too far in his attempt to conquer Wakanda and wage war on the world for past oppression.
Power of Conscience
Power of Conscience Characters provide plenty of opportunity for conflict in drama. They work well in serious or comedic stories. For more examples of Power of Conscience characters, check out my eBook about this Character Type at the ETB store.
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This month is Power of Conscience month, where most of the website’s content is dedicated to those who are justice seekers. They believe they know best what is right or wrong, and will go as far as they have to do ensure that wrong is punished or set right.
Today we’re looking at Whistleblowers. These are the men and women who call out injustice and conspiracy for the good of the people. In the real world, we have recent examples like Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning, who were forced into exile for exposing Government wrongdoing.
Whilst it may have broken the law, sometimes laws are outdated and no longer work to protect the people. When this is the case, sometimes, you need to go outside the law in order to do what it right. This is exactly what any Power of Conscience character would do.
There are also Whistleblowers who don’t break the law but are suppressed and finally risk everything to do what is right. Most recently we saw Rose McGowan, among others, who drove the momentum after the accusations came out against Harvey Weinstein.
The movement became bigger than one predator because of Whistleblowers like Rose McGowan who were bullied into silence but spoke out because it was the right thing to do. Whistleblowers are always Power of Conscience characters.
An excellent example of a fictional Whistleblower is Captain America (Chris Evans), in the 2014 movie Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Captain America is frozen in time after WW2 and defrosted in the present day. A soldier with a boy scout mentality has his morality severely tested when he discovers that SHIELD, the espionage organization he works for, has been infiltrated by HYDRA, the villains he thought he defeated back in the 1940s, since the beginning. He has been working for the bad guys and decides to reveal this information to the public.
This action destabilizes national security and leaves the espionage community, and government, in chaos.
He may not have been a Whistleblower if he wasn’t a Power of Conscience character. He always does the right thing, even if it may have catastrophic results in the long term.
In this case, he was right to do so, but in the 2016 sequel he goes the other way and keeps information from his friends, and violates international law because he believes it is the right thing to do. Captain America is every bit as much as Power of Conscience character as Manning, Snowden, and McGowan.
This key speech from the film perfectly sums up Captain America’s motivations:
“The Price of Freedom is high, and it’s a price I’m willing to pay.”
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This month is Power of Conscience month, where most of the website’s content is dedicated to those who are justice seekers. They believe only they know what is right or wrong, and will go as far as they have to do ensure that wrong is punished or set right.
We will start 2018 by examining these characters. I’ll be looking at some of these examples from TV, Film and the world of politics throughout the course of January.
Frank Castle, A.K.A “The Punisher”, in Netflix’s recent show of the same name, brings to life one of the most controversial and iconic characters in Comic Book history. Driven only by vengeance, he will not stop until everyone involved in the brutal murder of his wife and children is dead. This show and its central character are great recent examples of the Dark Side of Power of Conscience. In fact, the show is full of great Power of Conscience characters
Power of Conscience characters take the law into their own hands and exact their own unique brand of justice. They are fighting for what they believe is right, and never listen to anyone who suggests they may be wrong. Even when they are acting to protect others, they are oblivious to the fact that their approach may actually put people in harm’s way
Frank represents the darkest side of Power of Conscience- he has continued to go further and further to do what he believes is right, without listening to those who may curb his righteousness that he seems like a total lost cause, and many believe him to be nothing more than a psychopath. he has good reasons for what he is doing, but what he is doing will not bring him peace or ultimately resolve his inner conflict, or get rid of the inner demons that haunt him. Frank Castle is a tragic character because he cannot see beyond his mission. As many characters remind him in the show, “say you I’ll kill everyone involved in my family’s death- what then?” and Frank never has an answer.
The show also features David Lieberman, A.K.A. Micro (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), a whistleblower who has to pretend to be dead in order to protect his family. He paid the price for doing the right thing, and Whistleblowers tend to be Power of Conscience characters. He is morally twisted and has no problem enabling Frank’s brutal murdering spree against those who have wronged him, but he represents the lighter side of Power of Conscience. He is one of the few to support Frank, and tolerate him. He understands that Frank is very much like him, but is able to go further than him in order to exact justice and vengeance, so he partners with Frank in order to achieve what he believes to be right.
He is doing it all for his family, both to protect them and eventually return home to them. But he is the only one stopping himself from getting his life back. He is too determined to finish what he started- being a Whistleblower and doing the right thing.
Frank only considers one person as family, and that is journalist Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll). Karen has escaped death at the hands of brutal gangsters, vigilantes and even ninjas, but through it all, she has been dedicated to exposing corruption which she does through official channels. She could easily be viewed as a Power of Truth character, but her sense of right and wrong is more important to her than solving and mystery or exploring a conspiracy.
In the past, dangerous people have asked for her help and she has turned them down because it goes against her own moral code. The fact she is one of the few to constantly defend Frank, despite his brutal methods, shows she will support those who she believes to the good and pure in their actions, even if they cross the line.
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by Guest Contributor Oscar Harding
Three of the highest-grossing films of all time are The Avengers and the two most recent installments of the Fast & Furious franchise. Besides a blockbuster budget and total abandonment of reality, they have something in common- they are ensemble pieces featuring much-loved characters interacting with each other.
Audiences have made it clear they want very different characters to come together for massive summer events. On the smaller screen, the latest attempt at capitalizing on this success has been Netflix’s The Defenders, bringing together the main characters from their 4 original series so far. The ratings aren’t believed to have been stellar, but critically it has received mixed reviews. It is an excellent opportunity to examine how different character types interact with each other when forced together by extraordinary circumstances.
Daredevil – Power of Love
Daredevil, the heroic alias for blind lawyer Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) is all-too-human, his decisions- rather ironically- blinded by his love for his friends, his city, his religion and the troublesome Elektra (Elodie Yung). He can never truly be a perfect superhero, despite his incredible skills and decades of training, because he lets affection get in the way.
Daredevil has been compared to Batman, but whilst both are motivated by justice, Batman is not held back by love (he is a Power of Truth character) and trusts few people. Matt, however, regularly ignores his calling because he knows it will put people in harm’s way. The only reason he teams up with Jessica, Luke and Danny is an entire city of innocent people is at stake.
Power of Love characters can be undone by there constant need to be relied on, indulging in self-pity as they believe they go above and beyond for those they love and their devotion is not returned. The more attached Daredevil gets, the more he sabotages himself, and in The Defenders his love for the antagonist constantly hinders the team’s efforts to save New York City.
But it is this personality that means he is equally reliable and will always protect his fellow teammates. In the dire situation that The Defenders find themselves in, Daredevil’s Power of Love traits are their greatest strength as well as their greatest weakness.
Jessica Jones – Power of Reason
Private eye Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) is the polar opposite to Daredevil- the cynical alcoholic has little emotional attachment to anyone, driven only by the need to solve mysteries- it’s what she’s best at.
She is not obsessed with justice or love, and wants to defeat The Hand as soon as possible so she can be left alone. Everything but the mission at hand is a distraction.
Like all Power of Reason characters, be they detectives or not, Jessica sees the world as a series of puzzle to be solved, questions to be answers and codes to be cracked. The world has to adhere to set rules, and any deviation from that presents a problem. She also lacks the charm of other Private Eyes- Rick Deckard and Jake Gittes are Power of Truth characters who can use their charisma to achieve their objectives, but Jessica can’t rely on that.
Jessica, as reluctant as she is, is a vital part of The Defenders because … Luke is the emotional anchor, Daredevil is the defacto leader, and Iron Fist is the muscle, but Jessica is the one who drives the others to stay focused. Once she knows she has been proven right about this mystery that threatens New York, she is totally dedicated to the cause and never wavers. This cobbled-together team is an uneasy alliance, and when Jessica knows they are vital to restoring order, she is ruthless in making them stick to their objective.
Luke Cage – Power of Conscience
Bulletproof hero Luke Cage (Mike Colter) was once described by a nemesis as “Harlem’s Captain America”, and it’s an apt description. Like Captain America, Luke is a Power of Conscience character.
These characters believe they have to look out for others. They have a profound sense of right and wrong. Luke is no exception- He fights for what he believes to be moral and right. He will sacrifice everything to be Harlem’s hero, looking out for the residents of the borough because he thinks no one else will.
He encounters the rest of The Defenders whilst on a mission to deliver justice for a resident of Harlem who has been ruined by the secret organization, The Hand. The others cross paths whilst undertaking a quest or to solve a mystery- only Luke is acting out of the interest of someone else. This action speaks volumes about his character.
As part of an ensemble, he is the real anchor of the group. Jessica is reluctant to be part of the team every step of the way, Daredevil is blinded by his love for the enemy. Danny is unfocused in terms of who he is, and his mission. Luke has to remind them why they are fighting, who they are fighting for, and what is at stake. Like Jessica, he is reluctant to be part of The Defenders but understands it is necessary for them to stand to together. He is their moral compass and their steadying influence is essential with a group of such wildcards.
Iron Fist – Power of Ambition
Danny Rand (Finn Jones) refers to himself by the mouthful of a title “The Immortal Iron Fist, Protector of K’un-L’un and sworn enemy of The Hand”. It’s pretty obvious that he puts up a front to impress others.
He thinks that focusing on the mission will make him impervious to criticism, and will gain him the respect of others. Power of Ambition characters like Danny seek approval and often put on a facade to make themselves seem worthy of that approval. Whether they be ninjas with a magic hand or more pedestrian characters like Michael Scott or David Brent.
Danny has a reason for this behavior that does evoke empathy- the only survivor when his family’s plane crashed in the Far East, the young Danny was taken in by an ancient order of Monks and trained to be a weapon. He effectively has been brainwashed rather than having developed true conviction. Such a tragic childhood means he is searching for people that will accept him and give him the love he hasn’t received since his parents’ death.
Danny is the one that brings together The Defenders- since he has the most knowledge of the enemy and their evil plan. He becomes the key to The Hand’s scheme which has been centuries in the making. Danny finally becomes the center of attention for good and bad reasons. He gets what he wants but has to learn humility and realize he has found, in The Defenders, the honest acceptance he has craved since he was an orphaned child.
For more examples of all the character types, you can purchase my in-depth e-books at the ETB shop, or you can read more articles on all the “Power Of…” types including James Bond, Doctor Who, Batman and Sherlock Holmes, every Tuesday.
There are also 9 pinterest boards full of character examples online. Check them out and let us know at [email protected] if you have any other suggestions.
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My husband was on a panel at a legal conference right around the time The Silence of the Lambs was released. An FBI profiler was also on a panel at the conference. The moderator asked what the profiler thought of the film. He said, “I was scared to death”. The moderator asked why. “Don’t you deal with this stuff every day in your job?” The profiler replied, “Yes. But in my job, there’s no music.”
Jonathan Demme is known for marrying sound and picture in a very evocative way. He creates a sound atmosphere’s that heightens emotion that’s already there but doesn’t hit you over the head telling you how to feel. Howard Shore wrote the score and he talks about music in film HERE.
This is also my impression of your score for SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. The music is very “neutral” and monochromatic. It’s just flowing without much counterpoint.
I tried to write in a way that goes right into the fabric of the movie. I tried to make the music just fit in. When you watch the movie you are not aware of the music. You get your feelings from all elements simultaneously, lighting, cinematography, costumes, acting, music. Jonathan Demme was very specific about the music. His suggestions were valuable…
Here is an analysis of Shore’s score for The Fellowship of the Rings trilogy. He is, indeed, a modern master.
Contrast Howard Shore with John Williams. While visiting my family this summer we went to an outdoor orchestral performance of John Williams’ scores. So much of it sound vaguely alike. Personally, I am not a fan. I especially disliked his heavy-handed work on Steven Spielberg’s War Horse. The script was very weak and very episodic and the score tried to box the audience in the ears to get them to feel something.
The following video essay on Marvel movies is a great analysis of modern scores:
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The character moments were my favorite parts of the movie because, I confess, the 3-D gave me a splitting headache and the action scenes go on a tad long for my personal taste.
The movie begins with the premise that humanity will be annihilated if Loki, the bitter banished demigod, opens a hole in space to let in an invading mechanized army. Loki is adopted, hates his brother, Thor, and wants to destroy the earth Thor loves and protects.
This crisis brings together the reluctant Avengers teammates. Each portrays his or her Character Type with nearly pitch perfect attitude and dialogue.
Loki is a Power of Idealism demi-god villain: Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and these Character Types believe they are meant for some kind of heroic destiny.
He says: I am Loki, of Asgard. And I am burdened with glorious purpose.
These characters are “divas” and want to be seen as special, unique, and extraordinary– something out of reach for Loki, who is always in the shadow of his more perfect “brother” Thor. It was Thor who got all the glory and Loki is furious about that. A bit of dialogue says it all–
Tony Stark: Loki wants everyone to see what he’s doing.
Steve Rogers: Yeah, I caught his act at Stuttengard.
Tony Stark: That was a preview, this will be opening night. Loki’s a full-fledged diva, everything’s got to be about him. He wants a parade, flowers, anything that’ll bring in an audience. He needs someplace where everyone can see it’s him and he’s doing it, somewhere where his name is up in lights!
Thor is a Power of Love demigod: Thor (Chris Hemsworth) uses his strength and power to care for and protect the earth. Despite everything, he still is attached to his adoptive brother, Loki, as evidenced in the following exchange:
Bruce Banner: I don’t think we should be focusing on Loki. That guy’s brain is a bag full of cats. You can smell crazy on him.
Thor: Have a care how you speak. Loki is beyond reason, but he is of Asgard. And he is my brother.
Natasha Romanoff: He killed eighty people in two days.
Thor: He’s adopted.
Thor is the son of Gaea, the nurturing mother earth herself. In his comic book backstory Thor is a caring doctor, Donald Black, who is willing to defy the might of Asgard for the woman he loves. Power of Love characters are incredibly strong characters and are ferociously unstoppable when something they love and care for is in threatened.
Iron Man is a Power of Excitement man-made superhero in his mechanized suit: In his own words he is Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist. In addition, he’s a jokester and an agent of chaos, who loves to stir things up. He’d especially like to see the Hulk get unleashed.
He says: “Dr. Banner, your work is unparalleled. And I’m a huge fan of the way you lose control and turn into an enormous green rage monster.”
Stark speaks frequently in the movie about escape or wanting to escape. Steve Rogers, Captain America, chides him for that saying Stark doesn’t have it in him to make the “sacrifice play” that puts others first. Tony Stark’s rakish push-the-envelop devil-may-care attitude continually presses everyone’s buttons in the story, but his charm, ready wit, and natural talent as an improvisor helps save the day.
Captain American is a Power of Conscience government laboratory experiment turned superhero: Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is a super-soldier who believes in following rules, following orders, and the importance of the chain of command. He can seem a little stiff and humorless at times but he is 100% reliable, trustworthy, and always puts the good of the team first. The difference between Rogers and Stark is summed up in this exchange:
Steve Rogers: We have orders, we should follow them.
Tony Stark: Following’s not really my style.
Steve Rogers: And you’re all about style, aren’t you?
Tony Stark: Of the people in this room, which one is A – wearing a spangly outfit and B – not of much use?
Stark surprises Rogers at the climax. And Rogers learns to improvise more, following Stark’s example.
The Hulk is a Power of Will gamma ray experiment gone-wrong superhero: Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), in his Hulk state, is all angry impulse. He is primitive. He’s strong. He is a mass of instinctual drives and impulses that only finds satisfaction in “Hulk smash!” In his normal human state Banner controls his anger enough to be a protector (as a doctor in remote India) rather than a destroyer. But his raw uncontrollable instinctual side is never far away.
Steve Rogers: Doc… I think now is the perfect time for you to get angry.
Bruce Banner: That’s my secret Cap, I’m always angry.
The Black Widow is a Power of Truth super-spy: Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) doesn’t have super powers per se but she is as skilled a warrior as any of her other Avengers teammates. She lives in a spy vs. spy world that is filled with hidden dangers, secretive enemies, and concealed pitfalls. With the Black Widow– “Things are never what they seem.” “Trust no one.” “Question everything.” “Watch out for secret agendas and hidden pitfalls.” Just when an adversary thinks she is most vulnerable she is actually conducting a brilliant and treacherous interrogation.
Hawkeye is a Power of Reason ultra-expert archer: Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) is a loner and a bit alienated, the perfect combination for his backstory and continuing role as sniper. He is a cold and calculating and spends the first half of the movie under the mind control of Loki.
There isn’t time for very much character development in The Avengers, but what there is is spot on. Each hero is absolutely true to his or her Character Types in both word and deed. When every bit of dialogue and action has to count as character development, the Character Types will help you be as economical and on target as the characters here.
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