Do you think Raph is getting enough character/central focus?

Werecat · 06-28-2015, 01:12 AM

For awhile I have been thinking that the focus on Leo or Leatherhead's rage is detrimental to Raph's character because it causes multiple characters to have a recurrent theme. The rage theme define Raph's character and to make it repetitive and dull will hurt Raphael's character as well.

Raph needs some elaboration on his violent impulses; an elaboration that explains that Raph's rage runs deeper and is more of a genetic mutation than PTSD. The creators of TMNT even wrote drafts and comics that depict Raphael's further descend into madness by making his second mutation more monstrous. I think it would help the flow of future episodes if Raphael's rage is a genetic mutation; it would maintain his defined characteristic while informing the audience that he is not some character that forgets previous learned lessons.

The genetic factor could also be used as a way to explore the genetic side of aggression. There are research articles/documentaries that show that violent impulses have to do more with genetic/environment variables than previous thoughts of rage being caused from lack of sex or other trivial things(which is silly).

Researching the mind of killers could also be a great way to understand how violent impulses are caused. Just read the case of Charles Whitman or something for an idea of aggression. I am not saying to make Raph a serial killer but to research subjects who have had overwhelming violent impulses then use it as a reference to thouroughly flesh out Raph's violent impulses.

http://brainmind.com/Case5.html
Teh charles whitman article has great diary entries that express his thoughts. Elaine Fuess had this to say about him:
"Even when he looked perfectly normal, he gave you the feeling of trying to control something in himself. He knew he had a temper, and he hated this in himself. He hated the idea of cruelty in himself and tried to suppress it."

Silly Edmund Kemper interview in spoiler.

Spoiler:

http://www.personalityresearch.org/papers/jones.html
This is an article that explores the potential causes of violent impulses. The cause of aggression or criminal behaviour may be the cause of:

Neurochemicals
"Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain that is associated with pleasure and is also one of the neurotransmitters that is chiefly associated with aggression. Activation of both affective (emotionally driven) and predatory aggression is accomplished by dopamine (Elliot, 2000)."

Personality disorders
"Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Conduct Disorder (CD), and Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) are three of the more prominent disorders that have been shown to have a relationship with later adult behavior (Holmes, Slaughter, & Kashani, 2001)."

Genes and environment
"it is very possible that disorders relating to such chemicals as serotonin and dopamine could be caused by stressful environmental situations. If environment affects the regulation of gene expression and, in turn, the activity of neurotransmitters that modulate behavior, this kind of interaction may be a significant factor in the development of criminal and antisocial behavior."

As you can see there is lots of interesting stuff that could be used to understand and portray Raph's violent impulses.

View Poll Results: Your opinion?
Yes	27	36.49%
No	47	63.51%
Voters: 74. You may not vote on this poll

06-28-2015, 01:12 AM	#11
Werecat Hench Mutant Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Canada Posts: 266	For awhile I have been thinking that the focus on Leo or Leatherhead's rage is detrimental to Raph's character because it causes multiple characters to have a recurrent theme. The rage theme define Raph's character and to make it repetitive and dull will hurt Raphael's character as well. Raph needs some elaboration on his violent impulses; an elaboration that explains that Raph's rage runs deeper and is more of a genetic mutation than PTSD. The creators of TMNT even wrote drafts and comics that depict Raphael's further descend into madness by making his second mutation more monstrous. I think it would help the flow of future episodes if Raphael's rage is a genetic mutation; it would maintain his defined characteristic while informing the audience that he is not some character that forgets previous learned lessons. The genetic factor could also be used as a way to explore the genetic side of aggression. There are research articles/documentaries that show that violent impulses have to do more with genetic/environment variables than previous thoughts of rage being caused from lack of sex or other trivial things(which is silly). Researching the mind of killers could also be a great way to understand how violent impulses are caused. Just read the case of Charles Whitman or something for an idea of aggression. I am not saying to make Raph a serial killer but to research subjects who have had overwhelming violent impulses then use it as a reference to thouroughly flesh out Raph's violent impulses. http://brainmind.com/Case5.html Teh charles whitman article has great diary entries that express his thoughts. Elaine Fuess had this to say about him: "Even when he looked perfectly normal, he gave you the feeling of trying to control something in himself. He knew he had a temper, and he hated this in himself. He hated the idea of cruelty in himself and tried to suppress it." Silly Edmund Kemper interview in spoiler. Spoiler: Around 15min he explains a situation were the urge to kill is beyond his control, some killers have the same view on it. The original Raphael expressed in some comics that the urge to kill is overwhelming and it scares him. The Charles whitman article above previews one of his diary entries that attempts to explain the fear and the helplessness of having cruelty within oneself. As you can see there is more behind violent impulses. http://www.personalityresearch.org/papers/jones.html This is an article that explores the potential causes of violent impulses. The cause of aggression or criminal behaviour may be the cause of: Neurochemicals "Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain that is associated with pleasure and is also one of the neurotransmitters that is chiefly associated with aggression. Activation of both affective (emotionally driven) and predatory aggression is accomplished by dopamine (Elliot, 2000)." Personality disorders "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Conduct Disorder (CD), and Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) are three of the more prominent disorders that have been shown to have a relationship with later adult behavior (Holmes, Slaughter, & Kashani, 2001)." Genes and environment "it is very possible that disorders relating to such chemicals as serotonin and dopamine could be caused by stressful environmental situations. If environment affects the regulation of gene expression and, in turn, the activity of neurotransmitters that modulate behavior, this kind of interaction may be a significant factor in the development of criminal and antisocial behavior." As you can see there is lots of interesting stuff that could be used to understand and portray Raph's violent impulses.