Escapism/Analysis: Difference between revisions

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'''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]]''}}
'''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 Were 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]] 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_(psychology) The answer lies inside our souls].
Have you ever wondered [[I Wish It Were 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]] 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]]? [[wikipedia:Psyche (psychology)|The answer lies inside our souls]].


=== DESIRE ===
=== DESIRE ===
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#[[A Darker Me|We don’t accept our own desires]]. <ref>you want to kill your teacher</ref>
#[[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 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].
Both fantasy (escapism) and repression [[wikipedia: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 ===
=== 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]].
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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{{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}}
{{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]] 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].
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]] are never what we are, but a combination of what we are and what we wish we were. This is called [[wikipedia: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.
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 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.
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. [[wikipedia:Identification chr(28)literaturechr(29)|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 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.
[[wikipedia:Identification chr(28)literaturechr(29)|“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]] ===
=== [[Mary Sue]] ===


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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.
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]] are a specific form of [[Escapist Character]]. Despite the lack of a concrete definition, there is one trait that all [[Mary Sue|Mary Sues]] have in common: all of them are a form of [[Wish Fulfillment]]. A [[Mary Sue]] [http://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]] are a specific form of [[Escapist Character]]. Despite the lack of a concrete definition, there is one trait that all [[Mary Sue|Mary Sues]] have in common: all of them are a form of [[Wish Fulfillment]]. A [[Mary Sue]] [[wikipedia:Subconscious|is a cry of help from our subconscious and one of the most pure expressions of repressed desire]].


[[Mary Sue|Mary Sues]] 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]].
[[Mary Sue|Mary Sues]] 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]].
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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]].
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] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maternal_bond maternal] love. None of their flaws will be an obstacle to love and be the best [[Escapist Character|for their son/daughter]].
An innate desire of human beings is guidance, care, wisdom, protection and [[wikipedia:Paternal bond|paternal]] and [[wikipedia: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_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 fictional characters fulfill our needs of love by being the people we would like to be. As the [[wikipedia:Social aspects of television#Social 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 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 [[MMORPG|MMORPGs]].
These needs of love can also be fulfilled trough non-physical [[wikipedia: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 [[MMORPG|MMORPGs]].




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