Why Do People Keep Saying We Need More Escapism?

[Agent Z]

I frequently see this phrase or variations of it popping up online. " We need more escapism in our fiction " and stuff like that. I often find myself rather confused by this statement as it seems to me we aren't lacking escapism at all. Disney alone provides enough escapism to last us til the end of the human race. So what is this lack of escapism people are complaining about?

[Tendrin]

I frequently see this phrase or variations of it popping up online. " We need more escapism in our fiction " and stuff like that. I often find myself rather confused by this statement as it seems to me we aren't lacking escapism at all. Disney alone provides enough escapism to last us til the end of the human race. So what is this lack of escapism people are complaining about?

It's trotted out as a stance against 'politics in my entertainment', typically by those who are mad that, say, diversity is in their films. "I play games to get away from all that stuff," they yell when a transgender character has the temerity to exist in their fantasy world full of orcs and dragons.

[ed2962]

Well, it's a legit stance in the same sense that some people don't like say westerns and want more sci-fi in their entertainment. Or want more sexy people in their entertainment. Or whatever. Thing is, people who truly feel that way can usually find entertainment that meets their needs.

The thing that bothers me is when some people act as if "politics" in entertainment is some new thing. Social issues in art has existed since there's been art.

[Kirby101]

Well, it's a legit stance in the same sense that some people don't like say westerns and want more sci-fi in their entertainment. Or want more sexy people in their entertainment. Or whatever. Thing is, people who truly feel that way can usually find entertainment that meets their needs.

The thing that bothers me is when some people act as if "politics" in entertainment is some new thing. Social issues in art has existed since there's been art.

Yes, it goes back to the anti-Mastodon movement in 25,000 BCE.

[MyriVerse]

Most times when I hear it, it is a complaint against grimdark, though the political thing applies, as well.

[mathew101281]

It’s a biproduct of a world where moderation no longer exists and even the hint of something you don’t believe in is enough to send people into a blind rage. It’s a biproduct of a subculture that is breaking down into smaller and smaller subsets with little to no interaction between them. It’s more pernounced on the conservative side right now, but it’s happening on the Left to. Ideologies when kept in their rightful place are the engine of change(left) and the protectors of a cultures identity (right). But it’s true moderates that actually get work done. Conservatives are often to resilient to even benificial changes not realizing that cultures that don’t change often die or put themselves at a serious disadvantage against other cultures. Liberals are often to idealistic. To quick to glob on to anything that looks shiny and new. This to can also be a bad thing. It’s moderates the people who respect tradition but aren’t scared of change that are what we need right now in the world, country, and even in our irrelevant world of pop culture.

[skyvolt2000]

I frequently see this phrase or variations of it popping up online. " We need more escapism in our fiction " and stuff like that. I often find myself rather confused by this statement as it seems to me we aren't lacking escapism at all. Disney alone provides enough escapism to last us til the end of the human race. So what is this lack of escapism people are complaining about?

It means I want stories about certain demographics to fit the reality that I want to see.

[JasonTodd428]

Because they hate anything that smacks of things like "realism" in their fiction despite the fact that there does indeed need to be a little realism in fiction in order for it to be believable enough that people can suspend their disbelief. That's the crux of it anyway. In the end though its just an excuse though.

[Powerboy]

I frequently see this phrase or variations of it popping up online. " We need more escapism in our fiction " and stuff like that. I often find myself rather confused by this statement as it seems to me we aren't lacking escapism at all. Disney alone provides enough escapism to last us til the end of the human race. So what is this lack of escapism people are complaining about?

When I hear it, It usually starts with, "I go to see movies/ watch television to be entertained." It's usually in the context of a discussion about something that got heavily into real life issues of some sort, be it politics or rape or just not being a lot of fun every minute. A lot of times, it's also, "I have to wrack my brain all day at work and it's a tense job. What I want after that is entertainment. I want to watch something that I can just vegetate and have some laughs." Which is perfectly legitimate.

[KurtW95]

Because we don’t read comic books for things we see outside or read about in the news.

[LordMikel]

Yes, it goes back to the anti-Mastodon movement in 25,000 BCE.

That was annoying, and that pro wooly Rhino group. Like what were they on?

[Vegan Daddy]

I guess some people want fiction without any form of realism, satire, social/political commentary, or philosophical exploration — basically without artistry. That works for video games because they have the interactive aspect, but it makes for a brainless and dull book/movie/song etc.

[Kon93]

I guess some people want fiction without any form of realism, satire, social/political commentary, or philosophical exploration — basically without artistry. That works for video games because they have the interactive aspect, but it makes for a brainless and dull book/movie/song etc.

Your funny.so every sci-fi and fantasy movie and tv show that is "good" has had some kind of commentary or exploration that you speak of?

[Vegan Daddy]

Your funny.so every sci-fi and fantasy movie and tv show that is "good" has had some kind of commentary or exploration that you speak of?

Good or bad, it’s a cornerstone of science fiction.

Star Trek, Frankenstein, Blade Runner, 2001, 1984, Brave New World, The Left Hand of Darkness, Childhood’s End, Cat’s Cradle, X-Men, The Matrix, Ender’s Game, Gravity’s Rainbow, The Road, Cloud Atlas, Avatar, Dhalgren, Transmetropolitan, Westworld etc. — I could go on forever.

All of these touch on social/political issues like class disparity, gender roles, oppressive governments, religious/partisan extremism, racism, war, climate change, conservation and blah blah blah

[KurtW95]

Good or bad, it’s a cornerstone of science fiction.

Star Trek, Frankenstein, Blade Runner, 2001, 1984, Brave New World, The Left Hand of Darkness, Childhood’s End, Cat’s Cradle, X-Men, The Matrix, Ender’s Game, Gravity’s Rainbow, The Road, Cloud Atlas, Avatar, Dhalgren, Transmetropolitan, Westworld etc. — I could go on forever.

All of these touch on social/political issues like class disparity, gender roles, oppressive governments, religious/partisan extremism, racism, war, climate change, conservation and blah blah blah

The difference is that none of these are explicit in the issues they represent. The allegories and metaphors are broad enough that anybody can imagine whatever they want as a stand-in for what they feel it would be. Or not at all if they just want to enjoy it as pure escapism.