The Rise of the Anti-Hero

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/tv/rise-anti-hero

Why the characters in TV and movies we love are the ones with fatal flaws.

A lot of TV is dark these days. Some of television’s most celebrated shows over the past
10 years have taken us deep into the shadiest, seediest—and sometimes scariest—areas
of our world, fantasies, and the human psyche. And you know what? Apparently, we love
it. We are hooked on shows like Mad Men, Breaking Bad, The Wire, Dexter, Game of
Thrones, Weeds, American Horror Story, The Sopranos, True Blood and House of Cards,
just to name a few.

Of course, for some people, these shows are just a bit too dark. But for the rest of us who
tune in to these series weekly (or binge watch them via Netflix), what draws us to these
stories? And what keeps us coming back? Is it that we have a sick fascination with
watching the underbelly of society live out our own secret desires? Or is it that we waiting
for redemptive resolution that affirms our understanding of right and wrong?
To answer that question, we must consider the anti-hero.
The “anti-hero” (also known as the flawed hero) is a common character archetype for the
antagonist that has been around since the comedies and tragedies of Greek theater.
Unlike the traditional hero who is morally upright and steadfast, the anti-hero usually has a
flawed moral character. The moral compromises he or she makes can often be seen as
the unpleasant means to an appropriately desired end—such as breaking a finger to get
answers—whatever it takes for the protagonist to come to justice. Other times, however,
the moral flaws are simply moral flaws, like alcoholism, infidelity, or an uncontrollable and
violent temper.

So why do these heroes exist and why are they so popular in modern culture ? It is safe to
say that the world includes far more shades of gray, and the characters on the silver
screen need to reflect a broader view of morally acceptable behavior. Traditional heroes
are just far too un-relatable. Characters who shine as morally pure and upright don’t ring
true to us anymore, because it’s not who we see around us in the world. Neither is it what
we see when we look in the mirror. Brokenness is a part of humanity, and we can more
easily relate to the choices that a character makes on a TV show if they are broken too.
After all, a believable and relatable character is one of the single-most important elements
of an enjoyable story.

One thing is certain for the future : the likes of Walter White, Dexter Morgan and Tyrion
Lannister are set to take the place of Superman, Spider-Man and Wonder Woman for a
long time yet.
 The Rise of the Anti-Hero - Questions

I) Global comprehension
• What type of document is this text ?
• What is the target audience of this text ? Justify
• Do you think that that title of the text is adequate ? Try to propose a different title. Why did
you choose it  ?

II) Detailed comprehension

Part 1
• What do all the TV shows mentioned in the first paragraph have in common ?
• Match the words of vocabulary to their meanings
Word Meaning/Synonym
Shady A period of excessive indulgence
Seedy Dark side of society
Underbelly Of doubtful honesty or legality
Binge Sordid

Part 2

• How is the anti-hero compared to the hero ? What are the differences between their
qualities ?
• The author talks about the 'moral compromises' that anti-heroes are prepared to accept.
What example is given  ? Why do anti-heroes accept these compromises ?

Part 3

• What reasons does the author give to explain why the anti-hero is so popular today ?
• What is the relationship between viewers and the anit-hero of a TV show/film ?

Expression : Is the anti-hero is more adapted to 21 st century stories or should we

continue to promote the classical hero and his values ? (100 words)