The year the villain won Wired

Irrational self-belief is one reason villains resonate so deeply across culture, says Kevin Winter, a professor of media studies at Pomona College. “In an oppressive society like ours that advocates conformity to better cultivate consumers, characters who actively reject the trappings of capitalist fantasy or who operate according to a code of subjective morality in opposition to the dominant society will inevitably be attractive in ways we like.” “Not everyone may want to confess publicly,” he says.

Today, traditional notions of villainy have been replaced by complex, and sometimes contradictory, standards of what different groups consider acceptable or threatening. Winter believes this has led to a “post-punk world.” Tech moguls (Elon Musk), politicians (New York City mayor). Eric Adams), podcasters (Joe Rogan) – for many people, they are the essential offenders of our time (and heroes for others). They are anti-establishment. They want to subvert “the system.”

“There are few, if any, villains who so masterfully combine buffoonery with wealth and power as Donald Trump,” Winter adds. “Even his most recent parasitic association, Elon Musk – who, again, is to some a completely evil character, is to others an adventurous future cowboy.”

That’s the thing about the future, you never know exactly how it’s going to go down, or who it’s going to favor. For some, AI was the main antagonist of 2024. And throughout Hollywood and the gaming industry, AI was revealing itself as More than just an existential threatas many workers were concerned about Job loss.

Others, feeling lost as social media goes through a sharp transition, rightly point the finger at digital optimizers. “I’m angry that everything that was fun and useful about the Internet 10 years ago is now broken. Obviously, this site,” said Tracy Chu, app developer, to publish On

In times as Unprecedented like usFor all the anxiety and excitement, the redirection toward real transgressions seems less shocking when you consider it part of a larger societal reframing. Villainy has long permeated the cultural imagination — the American tradition, after all, is built on the sensibilities of mavericks, vigilantes, and underdogs — but in 2024 the main character has come full circle.

Why? It is possible that villainy, more than heroism, offers a different texture of purpose, closer to reality, that sees our world for what it is now — very bad — and responds accordingly.

What I can say with certainty is that villainy has no special loyalty. In the end everyone is consumed. In December, it was announced that Warner Bros. would be canning it. Discovery Sesame Streetlong-term children’s program. It is understood that the decision was not well implemented. On Bluesky, the social media app of the moment, @valhallabackgirl responded with an anger that many people have also witnessed this year. “I think this is my original evil story.” books.