Tricksters

A Social Catalyst Tricksters are often portrayed negatively, but they are constructive, vital components of our social system and contribute positively to the advancement of human society. Although they seem to stand in the way of progress with mischief, they are an impetus for change and radical thinking. Tricksters are people who mock authority and cause people to question commonly held conventions through humor (often satire), are viewed in a negative way by most people, and are necessary to literature and society. Because of the questions they raise, tricksters force humans into forward thinking and progress. ====A trickster is a person who openly mocks authority, often with satire and humor, because they are unhappy with the current system. The name “Trickster” itself implies impish behavior and mischief. This name was given to the archetype because the trickster uses humor to amuse the reader while also drawing attention to the “Emperor's New Clothes”(or lack of). Tricksters lampoon common situations and satirize without discretion because these two types of humor are inherently expository. Through the use of hyperbole, understatement, irony, and ridicule, tricksters expose societies ineptitude and force humanity to progress. ==== ====Tricksters are often viewed in a negative light by society. The popular conception of tricksters is that they are destructive. For example, Loki, in “Freya and the Golden Necklace” steals Freya's necklace to prove her infidelity, thus pushing the story forward. Loki is a shape shifting god in Norse mythology who is characterized by his mischievous acts. He causes trouble for the gods and is the explanation for some harmful natural phenomena (like earthquakes). Likewise, The Riddler from the DC comic series Batman is an eccentric villain who often leaves Batman riddles that the hero must decode in order to save Gotham City from sure destruction. With his elaborate antics and even childlike, silly dispositions, he Riddler is portrayed as a terrorizing force in the fictional city. Finally, the Big Bad Wolf from the Brother's Grimm story “Little Red Riding Hood” is the antagonist who eats the little girl's grandmother and is eventually cut open by the lumberjack. The wolf uses decorated “sweet talking” and a disguise that allows him to eat Little Red's grandmother and almost Little Red herself. This kind of extravagant terrorism within makes tricksters appear destructive, while they are actually necessary to the story. Tricksters are also said to lack gravity. ====

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==== The Raven from Edgar Allen Poe's poem “The Raven” is a trickster whose lack of gravity torments an unfortunate hallucinating man who lost his wife. Without considering the feelings of others, The Raven drives the man to insanity. In the same way, Q (a super advanced species of shape shifter), from Star Trek, lacks gravity based on his overly embellished attacks on the crew of the enterprise.He appears not to care about the crew's well being. His lack of concern for the humans makes him an antagonist in the series. Some tricksters seem to lack a consciousness to the point of being sociopathic, but this allows them to accomplish their goal. Tricksters inherently lack this gravity in order to parody any and all situations. While people believe that tricksters lack gravity, tricksters provide an essential role to literature. ==== ====Though frowned upon, tricksters are necessary to literature and to the reality of our society. They can (and often do) contribute positively to society despite their Machiavellian tactics. This is because they are an impetus for change. Take the common folklore character of Robin Hood for example (see Robin Hood). While taking from the rich in a largely flamboyant fashion, he gave to the poor and caused the social-economic status of the inhabitants of the poorer sections of Sherwood Forest to be raised. He forced people to question why the rich had all the money when they worked so little. In the Disney version of the folk tale, Robin Hood is even used to teach children morals. He was compassionate and gave to those he deemed deserving of money. Furthermore, Banksy, a British graffiti artist, commits illegal acts through his art (vandalism), but expresses an anti-war sentiment while doing so. His art is noticed by the capacity in which it is presented and it forces people to question war and why our global concepts exist; therefore, making the world a better place. Tricksters also provide their information through humor, an extremely effective tactic. The general public responds to humor and is more likely to question conventions and question the authority of institutions when they have laughed at the concepts presented. Humor also allows tricksters to overstate or understate. Bugs Bunny, as an example, has made people laugh all over the world since 1938, while providing the political opinion ====

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====of the Warner Brothers company. He can be considered to be one of the most influential inanimate objects ever. He owes this influence and popularity to the fact that he entertains while conveying his opinions. Similarly, for over 20 years Bart Simpson, the mischievous son from The Simpsons television show, has been the poster child for intelligent children who do not fit with the standard school system. Through his humor he makes viewers sympathize with the struggles of the hyperactive-ADHD stereotype. He calls for reform in the school system and a change treatment of unorthodox learners while entertaining millions. Tricksters make us consider what we can do better while, at the same time, amusing and entertaining us. ==== ====Satire is the sixth canon of rhetoric. In our modern society, humor has become the most powerful method of discourse. Tricksters take full advantage of humor. They have an enormous power to persuade people which they often use for good. Through decorated and theatrical acts they force society to progress consistently keeping humankind away from that which they hate most, static actuality. Though their tactics can be questionable and they have a great capacity for evil, tricksters have a net positive force on situations. Put under a bad light by the media and popular literature, tricksters are not understood by many people, but they are undeniably the driving force behind human ambition, progress, and intellectual evolution. ====

-Benjamin Quick-

Works Cited Banksy. "Banksy." Banksy. Web. 20 May 2012. .

Batman Forever. Perf. Jim Carrey and Val Kilmer. Bing. Windows. Web. .

ClassicOldies4ever. "Star Trek Q as Human." YouTube. YouTube, 17 Oct. 2011. Web. 20 May 2012. .

DotHackNETSLUM. "Duck! Rabbit, Duck! -- 1953." YouTube. YouTube, 21 Dec. 2010. Web. 20 May 2012. .

"The Emperor's New Clothes." The Emperor's New Clothes. Web. 20 May 2012. .

"Freya and Her Golden Necklace." Freya and Her Golden Necklace. Web. 20 May 2012. .

"Little Red Riding Hood." Little Red Riding Hood. Web. 20 May 2012. <http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/type0333.html>.

Poe, Edgar A. "The Raven - Poem by Edgar Allan Poe." The Raven - Poem by Edgar Allan Poe. Web. 20 May 2012. <http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/edgar_allan_poe/poems/18848>.

Robin Hood. Dir. Wolfgang Reitherman. Disney, 1973. Web. 20 May 2012.