You Are The Main Character (Part 2) ft. Rachel Connolly (Patreon)

In the second part of this series, we're joined by writer and critic Rachel Connolly (@RachelConnoll14) to talk about why "The Main Character" no longer exists, and how platforms incentivise us to not only be the Main Character, but to also cast ourselves as heroes valiantly conquering our enemies by any means possible. No better is this shown than in the recent spate of Villain origin movies, which rationalise their behaviour and actions as part of a broader, legitimate resistance against systemic (Disney friendly) struggle.

We later talk about Kristen Roupenian's "Cat Person" essay, which was recently thrown back into the discourse after a Slate essay accused her of manipulating someone else's experiences to serve a predetermined, culturally in vogue narrative. Was this legitimate artistic license, or an example of atomisation expressed through platforms?

You can read Rachel's essays we refer to in the episode here:

https://artreview.com/how-the-villain-origin-story-invaded-pop-culture-cruella-joker-nero/

https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/books/2021/07/cat-person-was-story-clear-villain-life-always-more-complicated