History Analysis / Escapism

We tend to roleplay these fantasies through gaming, [[FanFic Fanfiction]], dreams, fan talk, and cosplay in order to live out more of these fantasies. Fantasy has a strong influence in RealLife. 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]]".

-->She doesn't go to school or go home. She just plays videogames all day.

-->She doesn't go to school or go home.She just plays videogames all day.

->” …A sense of humor is a major defense against minor troubles.

-->-- '''Cleolinda Jones''' about ''HarryPotter'' in ''[[http://cleolinda.livejournal.com/602881.html My thoughts on Twilight]]'' et al

While most fantasies try to fulfill all of these needs, there are also specific desires that are fulfilled depending on the particular fantasy work. Common desires include beauty, fame, money, and power. These specific desires can be found in the premise of a particular work; for instance, ''HarryPotter'' fulfills the desire of having magical powers.

[[EarnYourHappyEnding Happy lives and happy endings exist. They aren't impossible, but they require a lot of effort to get there]].

-->-- ''The {{Dilbert}} Principle''

[[caption-width-right:247:Our fictional avatars represent [[EscapistCharacter 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 [[Literature/{{Twilight}} Bella Swan]] has the same attributes of [[StephenieMeyer her creator]].[[EscapistCharacter Both are one]] and [[AuthorAvatar the same]].]]

Have you ever wondered [[IWishItWereReal why some people get so obsessed with fantasy that they slowly begin to forget their]] {{Real Life}}? Why some people are always LongingForFictionland? Why most stories have a HappyEnding? Why {{Mary Sue}}s exist in the first place? Why the hero of your favorite show [[ThisLoserIsYou is apparently an average person]] [[TheChosenOne that suddenly finds out he is special]] and [[ChangelingFantasy that the people he lives with aren’t his real family]]? [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psyche_(psychology) The answer lies inside our souls]].

The main reason [[BeneathTheMask 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 GrandTheftAuto are so popular is because people are able to break the rules without reprimand.

-->-- '''[[Creator/CSLewis C. S. Lewis]]''', "On Science Fiction"

The second one is called ''philia'', which is defined as the warm affection and loyalty shared between family or friends. True friendship is uncommon for some people in RealLife. Betrayal and masquerades often result in {{false friend}}ships, which are often the reason people can’t trust one another. While a true friendship needs time and investment in RealLife, in a fantasy setting the protagonist will often obtain tailor-made deep bonds and friendships with little to no time or effort. [[{{Nakama}} These friends tend to be very close]], trusting and loyal in spite of their flaws, and are even willing to sacrifice everything for each other. In some fantasies, entire groups of friends gravitate towards [[EscapistCharacter just one character]].

However not all dreams and desires are actually doable in reality. This is the reason fantasy exists.

The main reason [[BeneathTheMask 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 GrandTheftAuto are so popular is because people are able to break the rules without reprimand.

->” …A sense of humor is a major defense against minor troubles.

-->-- '''[[CSLewis C. S. Lewis]]''', "On Science Fiction"

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 [[GenderBender gender]].

The MarySue is one of the most controversial subjects among fantasy, and [[YourMileageMayVary 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.

->''Every engineer dreams about saving the universe and [[BoldlyComing having sex with aliens]]. This is much more glamorous than the real life of an engineer, which consists of hiding from the universe and [[ADateWithRosiePalms having sex without the participation of other life forms]]. Consequently, ratings for "StarTrek" will remain high as long as they stay away from any realism.''

->''I never fully understood [the label of 'escapist'] till my friend Professor [[JRRTolkien 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.''

->” …You both make money of the people natural insecurities you show people oddballs so that they feel better about themselves… ”

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 [[HumansAreFlawed flawed]], [[AbusiveParents evil]] or [[ParentalAbandonment non-existent]] In RealLife. Paternal figures are often portrayed as near perfect moral guides. In the lack of paternal or maternal figures, there are always [[TheDumbledore mentor figures who take their places]].

It is important to note that 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:

->"You are [[{{Twilight}} Bella Swan]]"

[[caption-width-right:247:Our fictional avatars represent [[EscapistCharacter 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}} Bella Swan]] has the same attributes of [[StephenieMeyer her creator]].[[EscapistCharacter Both are one]] and [[AuthorAvatar the same]].]]

-> I’m [[AuthorAvatar Arnold]]

--> -- Ikari NeonGenesisEvangelion.

[[caption-width-right:350:Fantasy's work is to fulfill this desires.]]

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 MMORPGs.

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 -- 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)

Have you ever wondered [[IWishItWereReal why some people get so obsessed with fantasy that they slowly begin to forget their]] {{Real Life}}? Why some people are always LongingForFictionland? Why most stories have a HappyEnding? Why {{Mary Sue}}s exist in the first place? Why the hero of your favorite show [[ThisLoserIsYou is apparently an average person]] [[TheChosenOne that suddenly finds out he is special]] and [[ChangelingFantasy that the people he lives with aren’t his real family]]?. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psyche_(psychology) The answer lies inside our souls]].

[[CaptainObvious All Humans have dreams and desires]]. Part of our nature as humans is that we always desire something, It doesn’t matter how “rich” or “gifted” a person is. Thanks to this never ending cycle of desire, humanity has evolved as a whole. This non-conformist behavior is what made us abandon our old torches for flashlights, the Stone Age for the modern age, and our old dreams for new ones.

Though his Hierarchy may be debatable by today’s standards [[http://tiny.cc/rrnt3 we can use Maslow's Pyramid of Needs to classify those desires and understand them better]]. In consequence the relationship desire-fantasy is immense. We'll see that in more detail later.

Is important to note that 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:

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]].

Anything that makes you avoid facing reality can be considered a form of escapism: drugs, alcoholism, gambling, video games, smoking,[[TvTropesWillRuinYourLife TvTropes]]etc. In this analysis, we are going to focus only on “fantasy-escapism”.

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]]. [[BeneathTheMask This includes desires that are repressed]] or [[{{GIFT}} things our normal selves would never do]]. These {{EscapistCharacter}}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]]

Most {{Mary Sue}}s are created because their creators have dreams and desires that they are unable to fulfill. They are created often created by people that have[[BeneathTheMask 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 RealLife.

Humor and tragedy are ways to escape reality without {{Escapist Character}}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 on someone or highlighting the defects of a person like stupidity.

Escapism makes you feel better in two ways. Tt makes you what you wish you were through {{Escapist Character}}s. It also makes you feel better by looking at others that are in a situation worse than your own, and [[TheWoobie we can ultimately identify our own suffering in them]]. These anti-avatars” are how people [[{{Escapism}} escape through the suffering of others]].

2. ''Safety needs'' are the needs of being protected from physical damage, financial harm, or any other kind of threat.We as humans are in constant danger: danger of not having financial security, of being ill, of crime or of getting hurt. The fact that we cannot predict our future coupled with the feeling of being helpless gives us a constant fear. To face insecurity, we either imagine ourselves protected by [[MysteriousProtector someone more powerful than us]], or we imagine ourselves with money or extraordinary abilities. These abilities are often supernatural in nature, hence the reason the whole concept of superpowers and superheroes exists.

As Elias Canetti wisely said, “There is nothing men fear more than the unknown”. We are also afraid of the future and the uncertain, so we tend to imagine that the future is assured to be happy.

3. ''Love and belonging'' is the need for [[IJustWantToBeLoved being loved]] and [[IJustWantToHaveFriends being accepted by others]]. Due to the enormous complexity of this desire, it is explained in greater detail below in the section “The Ideal People”

5. ''Self-actualization'' is the need is the need fulfilled at the end of the hero's journey. It is where the hero wants to be from the beginning: the place where they have reached their ultimate potential and can live [[HappyEnding happily ever after]]. It's when our dark side (represented by the villain and ShadowArchetype) and our life's hardships (represented by the evil of the story) are beaten. This usually happens at the GrandFinale as the HappyEnding.

->”Arnold's grandparents are like fantasy grandparents, the kind you wished you had”.

-->--'''{{Aristotle}}'''

The first is called ''eros'', and is defined as a “passionate physical and emotional love based on aesthetic enjoyment; stereotype of romantic love”. It is the "true love" of our EscapistCharacter. [[EarnYourHappyEnding Often, the journey of a hero is also a path of finding and maintaining true love]]. Fantasy provides this partner that we would like to have in RealLife as an idealized and perfect soulmate. They are often destined to be together.

The second one is called ''philia'', which is defined as the warm affection and loyalty shared between family or friends. True friendship is uncommon for some people in RealLife. Betrayal and masquerades often result in {{false friend}}ships, which are often the reason people can’t trust one another. While a true friendship needs time and investment in RealLife, in a fantasy setting the protagonist will often obtain tailor-made deep bonds and friendships with little to no time or effort. [[{{Nakama}} these friends tend to be very close]], trusting and loyal in spite of their flaws, and are even willing to sacrifice everything for each other. In some fantasies, entire groups of friends gravitate towards [[EscapistCharacter just one character]].

This fictional characters fulfill our needs of love by being the people we would like to be.[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_aspects_of_television#Social_surrogacy_hypothesis as the social surrogacy hypothesis says Fictional characters replace the lack of social interactions in RealLife. “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 [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_community non physical Virtual communities]] .Were 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 are most commonly found in MMORPG.

Escapism [[TropesAreNotBad is not a bad thing in and of itself]]. It helps to relieve stress,[[JustForFun entertain]], [[AnAesop give lessons]], and [[http://kotaku.com/5723970/video-game-charity-raises-over-2-million-for-sick-kidsit help others directly or indirectly]].

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 solution their own problems in RealLife. So, an individual's problems don't get solved or they get 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, RealLife is not fair -- nor easy. [[YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre When we realize that We don't need to be "the ChosenOne" or being chosen by destiny to have worth]], [[EarnYourHappyEnding we can accomplish our dreams and find the love we seek in fantasy]].

#[[AdarkerMe We don’t accept our own desires]]. [[hottip:*:you want to kill your teacher]]

-->-- '''Mignon McLaughlin'''

Humor and tragedy are ways to escape reality without [[EscapistCharacter Escapist Characters]]. 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 on someone or highlighting the defects of a person like stupidity.

Escapism makes you feel better in two ways. Tt makes you what you wish you were through {{EscapistCharacter}}s. It also makes you feel better by looking at others that are in a situation worse than your own, and [[TheWoobie we can ultimately identify our own suffering in them]]. These anti-avatars” are how people [[{{Escapism}} escape through the suffering of others]].

->Craig Bartlett Creator of HeyArnold

No human is truly independent. As social animals, humans are unable to exist by themselves. This desire can be better understood as the need of love. There are three major types of love that are fulfilled through fantasies. Due to the fact that we live in a world of complex relationships and convenience, many relationships are [[BeneathTheMask masqueraded]] as [[FalseFriend false friendships]]. People have the need of true love.

The second one is called ''philia'', which is defined as the warm affection and loyalty shared between family or friends. True friendship is uncommon for some people in RealLife. Betrayal and masquerades often result in [[FalseFriend false friendships]], which are often the reason people can’t trust one another. While a true friendship needs time and investment in RealLife, in a fantasy setting the protagonist will often obtain tailor-made deep bonds and friendships with little to no time or effort. [[{{Nakama}} these friends tend to be very close]], trusting and loyal in spite of their flaws, and are even willing to sacrifice everything for each other. In some fantasies, entire groups of friends gravitate towards [[EscapistCharacter just one character]].

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, RealLife is not fair -- nor easy. [[YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre When we realize that We don't need to be "the ChosenOne" or being chosen by desiny to have worth]], [[EarnYourHappyEnding we can accomplish our dreams and find the love we seek in fantasy]].

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/s_Hierarchy_of_Needs_svg_2798.png
[[caption-width:350:Fantasy's work is to fulfill this desires.]]

[[MarySue Mary Sues]] are a specific form of EscapistCharacter. Despite the lack of a concrete definition, there is one trait that all [[MarySue Mary Sues]] have in common: all of them are a form of WishFulfillment. A MarySue [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subconscious is a cry of help from our subconscious and one of the most pure expressions of repressed desire]].

[[MarySue 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 RealLife is going to be expressed through them. While a [[EscapistCharacter balanced escapist character]] represents both what we are (our flaws) and what we wish we were, a MarySue is defined by only the latter. They only represent what we wish we were. [[UncannyValley That perfection has the price of the humanity of that character]].

Most [[MarySue Mary Sues]] are created because their creators have dreams and desires that they are unable to fulfill. They are created often created by people that have[[BeneathTheMask 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 RealLife.

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dibujos-coyote-correcaminos-p_3185.jpg
[[caption-width:350:The suffering of others makes us forget our own.]]

-->-- ''Candace'' PhineasAndFerb “Attack of the 50 Foot Sister

-->-- 'Mignon McLaughlin

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/secondlife2_2387.jpg
[[caption-width:273: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.]]

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/beneaththemask_3212.jpg
[[caption-width:226:[[BeneathTheMask We are not always happy about the people around us.]]]]

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vicious_5622.jpg
[[caption-width:350:The Vicious Circle Of Escapism]]

-->-- '''Almost There''', ThePrincessAndTheFrog

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/stephaniemeyer2_3608.jpg
[[caption-width:247:Our fictional avatars represent [[EscapistCharacter 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}} Bella Swan]] has the same attributes of [[StephenieMeyer her creator]].[[EscapistCharacter Both are one]] and [[AuthorAvatar the same]].]]

Is important to note that 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, [[Psychological_repression this is called repression]]. This happens for two reasons:

Though his Hierarchy may be debatable by today’s standards [[{{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs}} we can use Maslow's Pyramid of Needs to classify those desires and understand them better]]. In consequence the relationship desire-fantasy is immense. We'll see that in more detail later.