Motley crew
Encyclopedia
A motley crew is a cliché
for a roughly organized assembly of characters. Typical examples of motley crews are pirates, Western posses, rag-tag mercenary bands or freedom fighters. They may align with, be (as a group), or include either the protagonist
or the antagonist
of the story.
Motley crews are, by definition, non-uniform and undisciplined as a group. They are characterised by containing characters of conflicting personality, varying backgrounds, and, usually to the benefit of the group, a wide array of methods for overcoming adversity. Traditionally, a motley crew who in the course of a story comes into conflict with an organised, uniform group of characters, will prevail. This is generally achieved through the narrative utilising the various specialties, traits and other personal advantages of each member to counterbalance the (often sole) specialty of a formal group of adversaries.
Archetypical examples of the "motley crew" overcoming adversity are commonly found in fantasy
and science fiction
. Examples include parties of the Rebel Alliance
(often including both humans and other species such as Wookiee
s, Ewok
s, or Gungans) defeating many identical battle droid
s or stormtroopers
in the Star Wars
universe. A motley crew is also the archetype for most sports stories. Examples include The Mighty Ducks
, The Sandlot
, in which the opposing and antagonistical team that is ultimately defeated is also much more organized and coherent.
. He was an important person in court circles, who could say the truth without punishment even if contrary to the King’s or senior officials’ opinion. Their uniform was multi-coloured.
From this usage came "motley crew" after about 1710 in the English Navy, which was a captain’s longboat crew who all wore identical multi-coloured uniforms rather than the dull navy blue or individual clothes of the common sailor. The term was used in a letter from an officer of the "Royal William" in 1719 describing the crews' uniform of the admiral's boat. In the 17th to 19th centuries fashionable captains invented unique motley uniforms to make their personal crew look smart, paying from their own pocket. The uniform was sometimes elaborate, for example that of the "Centurion" in 1750 with Roman styled fashion. A "motley crew" was a uniform, disciplined team of the best rowers in the ship. Two hundred years later 'blazer' is still used for the coat or jacket invented by the captain of HMS Blazer for his personal motley crew, then adopted by university rowing crew in the 19th century. The term 'motley crew' dropped out of frequent use in the late 19th Century with the adoption of standard Navy uniforms, but was still in use in the 1870s with 'Galatea cloth' used widely for Victorian children in mock navy uniforms from the blue and white striped motley of HMS Galatea commanded by the 'Sailor Prince', the Duke of Edinburgh.
The spelling of the word motley varied in the 14-18th centuries to include 'Motly crew' as used by Pope in 1748 to describe this small naval team.
In the 1920s at Oxford University, an additional meaning of motley crew came into use in English literature analysis to describe a small group or gang of people, each with a different skill or knowledge, who could overcome any problem or adversity as at least one member of the heterogeneous group could find a solution. The hero with his small band of faithful followers could beat enormous odds, a story theme going back to the Norse Sagas, and in English starting with the deeds of Robin Hood and his merry band of men, to the latest exploits of Biggles
and his faithful minor character friends. In this word usage, 'motley' described the characteristics of the group, rather than the characteristics of their uniform.
In the mid-1980s the technical term motley crew became used in rowing coach circles to describe a crew who were of significantly different height or strength, which made it difficult to establish an optimal length of stroke for a race distance. This was a particular characteristic of crews from small English public school with limited rowers.
Cliché
A cliché or cliche is an expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has been overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect, especially when at some earlier time it was considered meaningful or novel. In phraseology, the term has taken on a more technical meaning,...
for a roughly organized assembly of characters. Typical examples of motley crews are pirates, Western posses, rag-tag mercenary bands or freedom fighters. They may align with, be (as a group), or include either the protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
or the antagonist
Antagonist
An antagonist is a character, group of characters, or institution, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend...
of the story.
Motley crews are, by definition, non-uniform and undisciplined as a group. They are characterised by containing characters of conflicting personality, varying backgrounds, and, usually to the benefit of the group, a wide array of methods for overcoming adversity. Traditionally, a motley crew who in the course of a story comes into conflict with an organised, uniform group of characters, will prevail. This is generally achieved through the narrative utilising the various specialties, traits and other personal advantages of each member to counterbalance the (often sole) specialty of a formal group of adversaries.
Archetypical examples of the "motley crew" overcoming adversity are commonly found in fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
and science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
. Examples include parties of the Rebel Alliance
Rebel Alliance
The Alliance to Restore the Republic is an interstellar faction of the fictional universe of Star Wars....
(often including both humans and other species such as Wookiee
Wookiee
Wookiees are a species of bipeds in the Star Wars universe. The most notable Wookiee is Chewbacca, a companion to Han Solo.-Inspiration:...
s, Ewok
Ewok
Ewoks originate from the Star Wars films. In the series, they are a species of teddy-bear-like hunter-gatherers that inhabit the forest moon of Endor. The Ewoks live in various tree-huts and primitive dwellings. They first appeared in the film Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi...
s, or Gungans) defeating many identical battle droid
Battle droid
Battle Droids are a fictional, robotic combat unit used in the Star Wars Universe. Though developed earlier, battle droids served as frontline units in the Trade Federation Army and for the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the Clone Wars era. They were mass produced on Confederate planets...
s or stormtroopers
Imperial stormtrooper
The Imperial Stormtroopers are fictional soldiers from George Lucas' Star Wars universe. Stormtroopers are the soldiers of the imperial army under the leadership of the evil Sith Lord and Emperor Palpatine and his commanders, most notably Darth Vader and Grand Moff Tarkin.They are shown in...
in the Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
universe. A motley crew is also the archetype for most sports stories. Examples include The Mighty Ducks
The Mighty Ducks
The Mighty Ducks is the first film in The Mighty Ducks trilogy, produced by Avnet–Kerner Productions and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures and originally released on October 2, 1992. In the UK and Australia, the film was titled Champions...
, The Sandlot
The Sandlot
The Sandlot is a 1993 American comedy-drama sports film about a group of young baseball players during the summer of 1962. The film was filmed in Utah and directed by David M. Evans...
, in which the opposing and antagonistical team that is ultimately defeated is also much more organized and coherent.
Etymology
Motley from 13th-century Middle English means composed of elements of diverse or varied character. In the 15-16th century came the "Motley", the official dress of the court jesterCourt jester
A jester, joker, jokester, fool, wit-cracker, prankster, or buffoon was a person employed to tell jokes and provide general entertainment, typically for a European monarch. Jesters are stereotypically thought to have worn brightly colored clothes and eccentric hats in a motley pattern...
. He was an important person in court circles, who could say the truth without punishment even if contrary to the King’s or senior officials’ opinion. Their uniform was multi-coloured.
From this usage came "motley crew" after about 1710 in the English Navy, which was a captain’s longboat crew who all wore identical multi-coloured uniforms rather than the dull navy blue or individual clothes of the common sailor. The term was used in a letter from an officer of the "Royal William" in 1719 describing the crews' uniform of the admiral's boat. In the 17th to 19th centuries fashionable captains invented unique motley uniforms to make their personal crew look smart, paying from their own pocket. The uniform was sometimes elaborate, for example that of the "Centurion" in 1750 with Roman styled fashion. A "motley crew" was a uniform, disciplined team of the best rowers in the ship. Two hundred years later 'blazer' is still used for the coat or jacket invented by the captain of HMS Blazer for his personal motley crew, then adopted by university rowing crew in the 19th century. The term 'motley crew' dropped out of frequent use in the late 19th Century with the adoption of standard Navy uniforms, but was still in use in the 1870s with 'Galatea cloth' used widely for Victorian children in mock navy uniforms from the blue and white striped motley of HMS Galatea commanded by the 'Sailor Prince', the Duke of Edinburgh.
The spelling of the word motley varied in the 14-18th centuries to include 'Motly crew' as used by Pope in 1748 to describe this small naval team.
In the 1920s at Oxford University, an additional meaning of motley crew came into use in English literature analysis to describe a small group or gang of people, each with a different skill or knowledge, who could overcome any problem or adversity as at least one member of the heterogeneous group could find a solution. The hero with his small band of faithful followers could beat enormous odds, a story theme going back to the Norse Sagas, and in English starting with the deeds of Robin Hood and his merry band of men, to the latest exploits of Biggles
Biggles
"Biggles" , a pilot and adventurer, is the title character and main hero of the Biggles series of youth-oriented adventure books written by W. E. Johns....
and his faithful minor character friends. In this word usage, 'motley' described the characteristics of the group, rather than the characteristics of their uniform.
In the mid-1980s the technical term motley crew became used in rowing coach circles to describe a crew who were of significantly different height or strength, which made it difficult to establish an optimal length of stroke for a race distance. This was a particular characteristic of crews from small English public school with limited rowers.