What is a Villain?

[Story_Marc]

Decided to do the other side of the coin today with villains.

 

[Thraben]

This one is incredibly interesting, and I think deserves a longer form video with more in-depth explanations, as well as counter-examples and detailed analyses of examples and counter-examples, as I really think this one can reach a satisfactory answer to the question 'what is a villain' based on this starting point.

Now, obviously, the definition given does disagree with the classical definition, but that definition stopped being useful to analysis some time ago, so that's water under the bridge.

I think the only shaky part of the video is the 'Villainy is the antithesis of Heroism', because (not to sound like a broken record) it's evidentially subjective what 'heroism' is and because there are a number of characters commonly considered villains that aren't covered by yours or other's definitions of heroism. Again though, I think that's an easy fix. If you do ever decide to make longform videos on topics like this, I'd suggest cutting that portion of the analysis for being uninteresting and simultaneously both unfalsifiable and irrelevant.


I'd also be interested in seeing this idea of villainy taken to a logical extreme and a logical minimum, since your current definition should allow for subjective judgements on 'how villainous' a character or action can be, and as such, could further elucidate on the topic.

 

[SailusGebel]

Thank you!

 

[PancakesWitch]

This one is incredibly interesting, and I think deserves a longer form video with more in-depth explanations, as well as counter-examples and detailed analyses of examples and counter-examples, as I really think this one can reach a satisfactory answer to the question 'what is a villain' based on this starting point.

Now, obviously, the definition given does disagree with the classical definition, but that definition stopped being useful to analysis some time ago, so that's water under the bridge.

I think the only shaky part of the video is the 'Villainy is the antithesis of Heroism', because (not to sound like a broken record) it's evidentially subjective what 'heroism' is and because there are a number of characters commonly considered villains that aren't covered by yours or other's definitions of heroism. Again though, I think that's an easy fix. If you do ever decide to make longform videos on topics like this, I'd suggest cutting that portion of the analysis for being uninteresting and simultaneously both unfalsifiable and irrelevant.


I'd also be interested in seeing this idea of villainy taken to a logical extreme and a logical minimum, since your current definition should allow for subjective judgements on 'how villainous' a character or action can be, and as such, could further elucidate on the topic.

but he's right, Villainy is the antithesis of Heroism, what you're refering to is an Antagonist, someone that goes against the protagonist doesnt have to be portrayed as a villain. Villain and Antagonist does not always go hand by hand.

 

[TaciturnHuman]

Whatever a villain is, that ain't me

 

[Nolff]

Whatever a villain is, that ain't me

Cap.

I saw you mutilated and devoured some human flesh a few weeks ago.

 

[Thraben]

but he's right, Villainy is the antithesis of Heroism, what you're refering to is an Antagonist, someone that goes against the protagonist doesnt have to be portrayed as a villain. Villain and Antagonist does not always go hand by hand.

I thought I was pretty unambiguous in saying that I reject that exact notion you're trying to imply I'm missing the point for, so maybe I need to reiterate. Classically, villain did mean antagonist. It doesn't anymore, and hasn't for a long time, so I specifically brought up that fact to disambiguate it from both my points and the points being made by the original video.

Please re-read my response with this context since you missed it the first time

 

[Tsuruya]

cough2