Forget the Hero Journey - Women want an Antagonist

Women are going loco for Loki in the latest Avenger’s film, myself among them. While it would be easy to dismiss this wildfire of obsession as yet another handsome bad-boy, I think the attraction runs deeper than just attention to a pretty face.

I am not drawn to Loki by his looks — no disrespect meant to the fine Tom Hiddleston — but what I find far more compelling than his appearance is his nuanced portrayal of character whose story resonates so strongly with my own.

It has long been thought that the masculine hero’s journey is a miss-match when it comes to a woman’s experience of life. However, it was not until I saw the Avengers that it occurred to me — perhaps the female journey to identity does not lie in the tales of our culture’s heroes, but of their villains.

In the article linked below, I delve into two Antagonist tales from recent films – Loki, from Marvel’s Thor and Avengers, and the Megamind from the eponymous film by Dreamworks – comparing them to my own personal experiences. While I acknowledge that my perspective may not be shared by everyone, I hope that others can join me in exploring this idea with their own experiences and parallels.

SPOILER WARNING: This article contains some mild spoilers (mostly quotes) on Marvel’s Thor & Avengers, major spoilers on Dreamwork’s Megamind, and details from Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew”.

READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE HERE!