A Character theory in the context of media, such as print or electronic media texts or productions such as films and plays, is useful for analysing and understanding media in which people take on the role of an actor

Actor

An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...

 or social actor. Character theories are popular with academics teaching and researching media and film studies as they are useful for appreciating the structure of different types of media and the roles of the characters, fictional or otherwise that are portrayed in them.

Goffman's Character theory

Erving Goffman's (1959) character theory suggests that there are four main types of broad character

Fictional character

A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...

 in a media text or production;

1. 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...
   
    (leading character)
2. The deuteragonist
   Deuteragonist
   In literature, the deuteragonist is the second most important character, after the protagonist and before the tritagonist. The deuteragonist may switch from being with or against the protagonist depending on the deuteragonist's own conflict/plot.-History:Greek drama began with simply one actor,...
   
    (secondary character)
3. The bit player (minor character whose specific background the audience is not aware of)
4. The fool (a character that uses humor to convey messages)

Propp's Character theory

Vladimir Propp (1969) developed a character theory for studying media texts and productions, which indicates that there were 7 broad character

Fictional character

A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...

 types in the 100 tales he analysed, which could be applied to other media:

1. The villain (struggles against the hero)
2. The donor
   Fairy godmother
   In fairy tales, a fairy godmother is a fairy with magical powers who acts as a mentor or parent to someone, in the role that an actual godparent was expected to play in many societies...
   
    (prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object)
3. The (magical) helper (helps the hero in the quest)
4. The princess (person the hero marries, often sought for during the narrative)
5. Her father
6. The dispatcher (character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off)
7. The hero or victim/seeker hero, reacts to the donor, weds the princess

Campbell, Fletcher and Greenhill's Character theory

John Campbell, Gorden Fletcher, and Anita Greenhill (2002, 2009) developed a character theory for analysing online communities

Online community

An online community is a virtual community that exists online and whose members enable its existence through taking part in membership ritual. An online community can take the form of an information system where anyone can post content, such as a Bulletin board system or one where only a restricted...

, based on tribal typologies. In the communities they investigated they identified three character types:

1. The Big Man (offer a form of order and stability to the community by absorbing many conflictual situations personally)
2. The Sorcerer (will not engage in reciprocity with others in the community)
3. The Trickster (generally a comical yet complex figure that is found in most of the world's culture)

Bishop's Character theory

Jonathan Bishop (2008) developed a character theory for analysing online communities

Online community

An online community is a virtual community that exists online and whose members enable its existence through taking part in membership ritual. An online community can take the form of an information system where anyone can post content, such as a Bulletin board system or one where only a restricted...

, partly utilizing Campbell et al.'s character theory. In the online community he investigated, he found the following character types:

1. Lurker - The Lurker may experience a force, such as Social, but will not act on it, resulting in them not fully taking part in the community.
2. Troll - Driven by Chaos forces as a result of Mental Stimuli, would post provocative comments to incite a reaction.
3. Big Man - Driven by Order forces as a result of Mental Stimuli, will seek to take control of conflict, correcting inaccuracies and keeping discussions on topic.
4. Flirt Driven by Social forces as a result of Social Stimuli, will seek to keep discussions going and post constructive comments.
5. Snert - Driven by Anti-social forces as a result of Social Stimuli, will seek to offend their target because of something they said.
6. E-venger - Driven by Vengeance forces as a result of Emotional Stimuli, will seek to get personal justice for the actions of others that wronged them.
7. MHBFY Jenny - Driven by Forgiveness forces, as a result of experiencing Emotional Stimuli. As managers they will seek harmony among other members.
8. Chat Room Bob - Driven by Existential forces as a result of experiencing Gross Stimuli, will seek more intimate encounters with other actors.
9. Ripper - Driven by Thanatotic forces as a result of experiencing Gross Stimuli, seeks advice and confidence to cause self-harm
10. Wizard - Driven by Creative forces as a result of experiencing Action Stimuli, will seek to use online tools and artefacts to produce creative works
11. Iconoclast - Driven by Destructive forces as a result of experiencing Action Stiumli, will seek to destroy content that others have produced