Introduction to Tin Tin; The Blue Lotus
Before this course began, I was unfamiliar with the name Tin Tin, and couldn't have told you anything about him. However, when I saw the character and his dog in comic form, I immediately recognized the two. I must've come across Tin Tin and Snowy in my childhood at some stage, and their faces had stuck in my memory somewhere.
But why could I recognize his face with such ease? What makes Tin Tin and his adventures so popular, even today?
In our first tutorial, we discussed features Tin Tin possesses that we believe makes him a likeable, and therefore popular character that has stood the test of time. The most important characteristics that stood out to me, were the following;
Tin Tin is..
-Innocent
-Independent
-Resourceful
-Adventurous
But most importantly, he is a 'flawed hero'.
Tin Tin has no super powers, he is human. He is someone we can connect with on a closer, more realistic level as he is not above us in anyway, and like us, he isn't perfect. His innocence and naivety can get him into tricky situations, he is far too trusting; for example, he never questions who the notes he receives regularly are truely from. He immediately assumes they are legit, and follows their instructions, sometimes leading him straight into the hands of the bad guy.
Everyone loves a flawed hero, because they are a real person with real issues, just like themselves.
not if they have a moral flaw . .
ReplyDeleteIndeed! But his flaws are in his qualities that will mature with age, such as naivety and being too trusting. These aren't ill-moralled qualities, just characteristics that make him a little more normal and less superhero; they most definitely do not make him a bad person.
ReplyDeleteI think it is important that Tintin is a flawed hero where it makes his adventure more serious and exciting. Because Tintin is not drawn or seen like other superheroes having his own gadgets or automobiles it surely has the realism that connects to the audience. I believe that Tintin's popularity is ongoing because of his characteristics that you have listed and also the magnificent adventures on history settings around the world.
ReplyDeleteIt just goes to show that a protagonist doesn't necessarily need to have superhuman traits to appeal to a wide audience. As long as the character and the surrounding story and plot are well designed and written everything else will also 'fall into place'.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this discussion thread. Tintin is very independent and resourceful, and I like May Kim's comment that he doesn't need gadgets and super weapons as do modern screen heroes. This means we get a much more clever plot or story, as, mostly, Tintin has to think his way out of problems not just shot his way out! Could we say Tintin is an archetypal hero?
ReplyDelete