Stock Characters
Guess the character - An attractive, young, blonde-haired woman with little common sense
Dumb blonde
What is taboo?
something society considers forbidden, uncomfortable or inappropriate to talk about
This common school stereotype describes a student who always sits in the front row, raises their hand first, and is known for doing extra homework even when it isn’t assigned. What stereotype is this?
Teacher’s pet/overachiever/keen student
Guess the character - An average young woman, reasonably attractive, with wholesome demeanor.
Girl next door
What taboos is in the perks of being a wallflower? Name 3
Mental illness, social isolation, drug and alcohol, toxic relationships, grief and death and sexual abuse.
Why are stereotypes not reliable?
Because they assume everyone in a group is the same and ignore individual differences.
Guess the character – This person has his sports jacket on, is popular and in a relationship
Jock
Why do writers use taboo topics?
taboo topics create tension, conflict and emotional impact. They make the audience curios or uncomfortable.
Why can stereotypes make it harder to understand who a person really is?
Because they assume that everyone in a group acts the same way, ignoring each person’s individuality.
What type of stock character is the main character in “Perks of being a wallflower”?
Loner, Nerd, boy next door
Why do stories sometimes show topics people don’t usually talk about, like death or mental health?
Because it makes the story more interesting and shows real problems people face.
What makes a stereotype harmful, even if it seems positive, like “the strong one” or “the responsible one”?
Because it stops the person from showing their real feelings or asking for help.
Because it makes people hide their feelings and always act a certain way.
Unlike the stereotypical "bad boy," this type of character grows throughout the story. They overcome insecurities and develop new qualities. What do we call a character who changes?
Dynamic character
This movie explores taboo topics such as trauma, sexual abuse, and mental illness. The main character struggles silently, which creates internal conflict and emotional tension throughout the story.
The perks of being a wallflower
What is the difference between a stereotype and a stock character?
A stereotype is a simplified and often harmful(bad, judgeful) belief about a real group of people. To put them in boxes.
A stock character is a common character type in stories or literature. They have typical traits that people easily recognize.