CHRONOTOPES:

Definition

Ronald Example

1. Greek Romantic Systemicalness

Epic hero conquers territory by systemicalness, including technically organized time

Ronald parodic humor of McDonald’s systemicalness (Scared Silly film, 1998).

2. Everyday Adventure

Hero’s chance & accident encounters along his journey cause hero to become other than what they were

All six ‘Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald’ films; plus 1989, McTreasure Island

3. (auto) Biography

Biographical time dissolves into abstract epic time of idealized era; hero does not change, merely discovers traits already there

Ronald (& Kroc) epically narrated, given biographical depth in his films.

4. Inversion of Folkloric Realism

Realism of folkloric here-and-now is transposed into a mythic (epic) past to give otherwise ephemeral future more concrete materiality

In film “Have Time will Travel” Ronald (& gang) travel back to time, then back to the future.

5. Chivalric Romance

Hero is tested against a chivalric code, but # 2 everyday chance/ accident disrupts that #1 systemicalness; a fairytale motif is linked to one’s identity.

Ronald’s key tension is between his spiritual & human side; cannot remain human, as chance events call for superpower intervention

6. Rogue-Clown-Fool

Three masks: R has right to be in two worlds; C is not of this world; F has right not to comprehend modernity or its systemicalness; can encompass aspects of #2, #3, #4, & #5.

Ronald wears all three masks in his 7 animated films, & as clown he interacts with Hamburglar (rogue) & Grimace (fool)

7. Rabelaisian Purge

Grotesque realism purges the lofty-feudal/official ideology or transcendent-religious worldview; Can include aspects of #1, #2, #4, #5, & #6.

Ronald preferences the transcendent (idealistic) worldview; other characters (Sundae & Hamburglar) are hypocritical to Ronald

8. Rabelaisian turns Individualistic

Capitalist individualism degrades time that is collective, measured by collective labor events, as well as generative time: a birthing (pregnant) time, time is future-directed; time is sinking into earth, ripening, and regenerative.

Ronald seeks to develop the self-concepts and individualism of companions, while seeing they conform to teamwork & corporate mission.

9. Idyllic Organic disintegrates

Hero tied to familiar territory, to rhythm of locale life, and to cyclical repetition of nature & family (as opposed to progress time); hero breaks free from local and heads on romantic (#1) or everyday (#2) adventure or is tested by chivalric code (#5), which disintegrates local time-space & its systemicalness (#1).

In “Legend of Grimace Island” film, Ronald leads the gang to a lost sort of Atlantis, helping Grimace find courage (& appealing to follower’s higher need).