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{{Analysis}}{{trope}}
{{quote|"You are [[Twilight (Literaturenovel)|Bella Swan]]"<br />
[[Escapist Character|People defend her]] , because they '''are really defending themselves'''"|Shmelia Rokie'''[http://www.youtube.com/user/shmeiliarockie#p/a/C889B504E14888E7/0/xykagta29P8 YABS]'}}
 
{{quote|'''Phineas:''' If you could have a super power, which one would it be?<br />
'''Bufford:''' That's an interesting question you pose, as it reveals not only one's impulses and desires, but one's deepest fears as well|''[[Phineas and Ferb|Phineas & Ferb]]''}}
 
Have you ever wondered [[I Wish It WereWas Real|why some people get so obsessed with fantasy that they slowly begin to forget their]] [[Real Life]]? Why some people are always [[Longing for Fictionland]]? Why most stories have a [[Happy Ending]]? Why [[Mary Sue|Mary Sues]]s exist in the first place? Why the hero of your favorite show [[This Loser Is You|is apparently an average person]] [[The Chosen One|that suddenly finds out he is special]] and [[Changeling Fantasy|that the people he lives with aren’t his real family]]? [http://en.[wikipedia.org/wiki/Psyche_:Psyche (psychology) |The answer lies inside our souls]].
 
=== DESIRE ===
[[File:s_Hierarchy_of_Needs_svg_2798s Hierarchy of Needs svg 2798.png|frame|Fantasy's work is to fulfill these desires.]]
 
 
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However not all dreams and desires are actually doable in reality. This is the reason fantasy exists.
 
Though his hierarchy may be debatable by today’s standards [https://web.archive.org/web/20190915113518/http://tinyt4f4onno.ccfreepod.co/rrnt3 we can use Maslow's Pyramid of Needs to classify those desires and understand them better]{{Dead link}}. In consequence the relationship desire-fantasy is immense. We'll see that in more detail later.
 
Some desires are hidden, from others and from ourselves. As a matter of fact, some of these desires are even hidden from the people that desire them. In other words, not even we are aware of our own desires. According to the psychoanalytic school of psychology, this is called repression. This happens for two reasons:
 
#[[Beneath the Mask|We are embarrassed to show others our hidden desires]].
#[[A Darker Me|We don’t accept our own desires]]. <ref>you want to kill your teacher</ref>
 
Both fantasy (escapism) and repression [http://en.[wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_mechanism:Defence mechanism|are self defense mechanisms]] our brain uses to cope with reality. They provide a refuge within a situation in which a person is not currently able to cope. [http://www.nlm.nih.gov/cgi/mesh/2009/MB_cgi?mode=&term=Defense+Mechanisms These processes are unconscious (meaning that the person is not aware of them), and are normal for a healthy person].
=== Defining Escapism ===
Escapism is defined by [[The Other Wiki]] as a “mental diversion by means of entertainment or recreation, as an "escape" from the perceived unpleasant or banal aspects of daily life. It can also be used as a term to define the actions people take to help relieve persisting feelings of depression or general sadness.” In other words, people avoid what is unpleasant to them by temporarily forgetting [[Real Life]].
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=== We are our avatars ===
 
[[File:stephaniemeyer2_3608stephaniemeyer2 3608.jpg|frame|Our fictional avatars represent [[Escapist Character|what we wish we were]]. They are an idealised verion of ourselves. As it can be seen from this picture, it isn't a coincidence that [[Twilight (Literaturenovel)|Bella Swan]] has the same attributes of [[Stephenie Meyer|her creator]].[[Escapist Character|Both are one]] and [[Author Avatar|the same]].]]
 
 
{{quote|''Every engineer dreams about saving the universe and [[Boldly Coming|having sex with aliens]]. This is much more glamorous than the real life of an engineer, which consists of hiding from the universe and [[A Date Withwith Rosie Palms|having sex without the participation of other life forms]]. Consequently, ratings for "[[Star Trek (Franchise)|Star Trek]]" will remain high as long as they stay away from any realism.''|''The [[Dilbert]] Principle''}}
 
{{quote|''You're not a neglected orphan sleeping in a cupboard! You're a wizard! You're the bestest wizard of all and you're also great at sports and you had rich, wizardly parents who loved you so much they died for you (but you've still got their money) [[Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking|and also, we brought you birthday cake]]!''|'''Cleolinda Jones''' about ''[[Harry Potter]]'' in ''[http://cleolinda.livejournal.com/602881.html My thoughts on Twilight]'' et al}}
 
You are your favorite character. One of the reasons a person enjoys their favorite fictional character is because they unconsciously or consciously want to be that character. People can fulfill their needs and desires through a fictional character or through [[GIFT|an anonymous persona]]. [[Beneath the Mask|This includes desires that are repressed]] or [[GIFT|things our normal selves would never do]]. These [[Escapist Character|Escapist Characters]]s are never what we are, but a combination of what we are and what we wish we were. This is called [http://en.[wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_projection:Psychological projection|psychological projection]].
 
The main reason [[Beneath the Mask|people don’t act as how they would in real life is fear of reprisal]] and the rules that are put by society. For example, one of the reasons games like [[Grand Theft Auto]] are so popular is because people are able to break the rules without reprimand.
 
In essence, fictional characters are a reflection of ourselves. This is one of the reasons people like and/or get obsessed with certain characters. People get into fights, defend, [[Shipping|and even fight for the romantic situation]] of fictional characters. They feel [[Audience Surrogate|they are that character]]. In essence, that fictional character is a synonym of your own self. [http://en.[wikipedia.org/wiki/Identification_%28literature%29:Identification (literature)|This happens through a process called "identification"]]. It is easier for a person to like a character that has similar attributes, struggles, and defects as themselves. Identification is the “link” between a spectator (fan) and a fictional character. Thanks to this process, spectators (fans) see themselves in the fictional character.
 
[http://en.[wikipedia.org/wiki/Identification_%28literature%29:Identification (literature)|“Identification is a largely unconscious process. Even though people (fans) are aware that they like a character, they aren’t aware that they actually see that character as an alter ego, a version of them, or a projection of her aspirations for herself. Most characters (including villains) elicit some degree of identification on the part of the spectator”]] 1.
=== [[Mary Sue]] ===
 
''….Is this who you are, not who you want to be?''
{{quote| --'''Plushgun''', ''Just Impolite''}}
 
The [[Mary Sue]] is one of the most controversial subjects among fantasy, and everybody has a different definition of the term. The objective of this analysis isn’t to define the term, but to explain it as a psychological phenomenon.
 
[[Mary Sue|Mary Sues]]s are a specific form of [[Escapist Character]]. Despite the lack of a concrete definition, there is one trait that all [[Mary Sue|Mary Sues]]s have in common: all of them are a form of [[Wish Fulfillment]]. A [[Mary Sue]] [http[wikipedia://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subconscious |is a cry of help from our subconscious and one of the most pure expressions of repressed desire]].
 
[[Mary Sue|Mary Sues]]s are reflections of the person's innermost aspects of their personality. They are made only to fill the mold of the person that created them. That’s exactly why what a person needs and desires in [[Real Life]] is going to be expressed through them. While a [[Escapist Character|balanced escapist character]] represents both what we are (our flaws) and what we wish we were, a [[Mary Sue]] is defined by only the latter. They only represent what we wish we were. [[Uncanny Valley|That perfection has the price of the humanity of that character]].
 
Most [[Mary Sue|Mary Sues]]s are created because their creators have dreams and desires that they are unable to fulfill. They are often created by people that have [[Beneath the Mask|repressed desires]] or have experienced many frustrations in their lives. They are used to express suffering and/or frustration. They are a complete or near complete denial of reality. For this reason they can be considered a mechanism of defense and a reflection of who the person really is and what they desperately need in [[Real Life]].
 
== Escapism Through “Anti-Avatars” ==
[[File:dibujos-coyote-correcaminos-p_3185p 3185.jpg|frame|The suffering of others makes us forget our own.]]
 
 
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Escapism isn’t always about making an idealized version of ourselves. We can also “escape” through the problems of others. [[Rule of Fun|Humor]] and [[Tragedy]] frequently rely on this. [[Butt Monkey|People often rely on the suffering of others]] to forget their own troubles or simply to see their own in a more positive perspective.
 
Humor and tragedy are ways to escape reality without [[Escapist Character|Escapist Characters]]s. In them, we see not what we wish to be but what is, what we are (in a positive aspect), or what we wouldn’t want to be. This is the reason most humor relies on the suffering of someone or highlighting the defects of a person like stupidity.
 
Escapism makes you feel better in two ways. It makes you what you wish you were through [[Escapist Character|Escapist Characters]]s. It also makes you feel better by looking at others that are in a situation worse than your own, and [[The Woobie|we can ultimately identify our own suffering in them]]. These "anti-avatars" are how people [[Escapism|escape through the suffering of others]].
 
=== How Escapism fulfills our desires and needs . ===
 
[[File:secondlife2_2387secondlife2 2387.jpg|frame|On the right there is the fictional idealized version of the person of the left. As can be seen from this picture, we fulfill our needs and desires through fantasy.]]
 
 
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== The Ideal People ==
{{quote| ”Arnold's grandparents are like fantasy grandparents, the kind you wished you had.”<br />
Craig Bartlett, Creator of ''[[Hey Arnold!]]!'' }}
 
{{quote|''Even a beautiful scenery , even a beautiful flower is meaningless when you see it alone...'''|''Misao's Song'', ''[[Magical Project S]]''}}
 
[[File:beneaththemask_3212beneaththemask 3212.jpg|frame|[[Beneath the Mask|We are not always happy about the people around us.]]]]
 
 
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The third kind of love is called ''storge'', which is defined as fondness through familiarity, especially between family members or people who have otherwise found themselves together by chance. In our fantasies, family relationships also tend to be idealized. This is due to the fact that parental figures can be [[Humans Are Flawed|flawed]], [[Abusive Parents|evil]] or [[Parental Abandonment|non-existent]] In [[Real Life]]. Paternal figures are often portrayed as near perfect moral guides. In the lack of paternal or maternal figures, there are always [[Eccentric Mentor|mentor figures who take their places]].
 
An innate desire of human beings is guidance, care, wisdom, protection and [http://en.[wikipedia.org/wiki/Paternal_bond:Paternal bond|paternal]] and [http://en.[wikipedia.org/wiki/Maternal_bond:Maternal bond|maternal]] love. None of their flaws will be an obstacle to love and be the best [[Escapist Character|for their son/daughter]].
 
These fictional characters fulfill our needs of love by being the people we would like to be. As the [http://en.[wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_aspects_of_television:Social aspects of television#Social_surrogacy_hypothesisSocial surrogacy hypothesis|social surrogacy hypothesis]] says fictional characters replace the lack of social interactions in [[Real Life]]. "Providing a temporary substitute for acceptance and belonging that is experienced through social relationships by relieving feelings of depression and loneliness when those relationships are not available."
 
These needs of love can also be fulfilled trough non-physical [http://en.[wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_community:Virtual community|virtual communities]] where people are able to become an idealized version of themselves through an online avatar while at the same time having the freedom to be their true selves (regarding personality). This is kind of fantasy settings is most commonly found in [[MMORPGMassively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game|MMORPGsMMORPG]]s.
 
 
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The worst enemy of fantasy is the mundane. (This is not to be confused with the the desire of being [[I Just Want to Be Normal|normal]] or the desire of [[I Just Want to Have Friends|being accepted]] or [[I Just Want to Be Loved|loved]].) If people wanted to be average, they wouldn't use fantasy, as most people's lives are normal when compared to their favourite ficitional characters.
 
Contrary to popular belief, [[Dystopia|dystopic]], [[Crapsack World]] settings -- suchsettings—such as a [[Zombie Apocalypse]] or a horror movie -- aremovie—are forms of escapism, too.
 
Despite the fact that they are less pleasant than average everyday life, they give something everyday life doesn't: a higher purpose. They break the monotony and make you forget your everyday problems. For instance, the thrill of fighting for survival is not only a perfect excuse to break the rules, but it also implies you are [[I Just Want to Be Special|special somehow]]. You are important enough that something or someone wants to hurt you. Your life becomes so vulnerable that just trying to keep it is exciting. Like riding a roller-coaster, your life isn't really in danger but the illusion of it is thrilling.
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[[Otaku|otaku-land want to be pretty too]], [[Beneath the Mask|deep down]]."|'''Kuranosuke''', ''[[Kuragehime]]''}}
 
Not all of our desires are accepted, either by others or by ourselves. For that reason, is not uncommon for people to hide their desires -- anddesires—and, consequentially, the fantasy works they "secretly" enjoy, as they fear being rejected by the people around them. Many people secretly enjoy fantasies that they "aren't supposed to enjoy" (by society standards).
 
Desires are also hidden ''inside'' fantasies. A common way of doing this is by "masking" a desire as a flaw, such as a character being [[So Beautiful It's a Curse]]. This way, desires are fulfilled for the audience without admitting desiring them.
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== Role Playing and Addiction ==
 
[[File:vicious_5622vicious 5622.jpg|frame|The Vicious Circle Of Escapism]]
 
 
{{quote|''I remember Daddy told me<br />
Fairy tales can come true,<br />
But you gotta make them happen,<br />
It all depends on you!''|'''Almost There''', ''[[The Princess and Thethe Frog]]''}}
 
{{quote|''I never fully understood [the label of 'escapist'] till my friend Professor [[JRRJ. TolkienR. (Creator)R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] asked me the very simple question, 'What class of men would you expect to be most preoccupied with, and most hostile to, the idea of escape?' and gave the obvious answer: jailers.''|'''[[CS Lewis (Creator)|C. S. Lewis]]''', "On Science Fiction"}}
 
{{quote|She doesn't go to school or go home.She just plays videogames all day.|Hikari from [[Neon Genesis Evangelion]], referring to Asuka.}}
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As already mentioned, escapism exists to fill a void, need, or desire. It is a means to stop being ourselves for at least a little while and becoming someone else. Thanks to fantasy, we can experience other lives and be other people. By nature, escapist characters tend to have traits that their creators and/or audience do not have. People can imagine themselves as being someone of a different species, age, or even [[Gender Bender|gender]].
 
We tend to roleplay these fantasies through gaming, [[Fanfic|Fanfiction]]tion, dreams, fan talk, and cosplay in order to live out more of these fantasies. Fantasy has a strong influence in [[Real Life]]. Some technological advancements are made just to make role playing as someone else more effective, such as 3D technology. Sometimes we are reluctant to abandon our "[http://kotaku.com/5705281/i-like-games-too-much-to-finish-them other lives]".
 
Escapism [[Tropes Are Not Bad|is not a bad thing in and of itself]]. It helps to relieve stress, [[Just for Fun|entertain]], [[An Aesop|give lessons]], and [http://kotaku.com/5723970/video-game-charity-raises-over-2-million-for-sick-kidsit help others directly or indirectly].
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However, escapism can be considered harmful when the audience is caught in what is called the "vicious circle of escapism." Unfortunately, when some people are inside a fantasy, they are unable to actually solve their own problems in [[Real Life]]. So, an individual's problems aren't solved or become worse. At the same time, new problems can arise, and they return to their fantasy even more obsessed.
 
This is made worse [http://www.cracked.com/article_18461_5-creepy-ways-video-games-are-trying-to-get-you-addicted_p2.html by the fact that fictional media are designed to make us addicted]. The only way to break the circle is by '''facing reality''' instead of escaping it. It is important to remember that unlike fantasy, [[Real Life]] is not fair -- norfair—nor easy. [[You Are Better Than You Think You Are|When we realize that we don't need to be "the Chosen One" or be chosen by destiny to have worth]], [[Earn Your Happy Ending|we can accomplish our dreams and find the love we seek in fantasy]].
 
[[Earn Your Happy Ending|Happy lives and happy endings exist. They aren't impossible, but they require a lot of effort to get there]].
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