A philosophical or artistic stance that rejects the concept of heroes and heroic ideals, often portraying protagonists as flawed, ordinary, or morally compromised.
From anti- (against) + heroism (the qualities of a hero). The prefix 'anti-' comes from Greek, meaning 'against,' while 'heroism' derives from the Greek 'heros' (hero). This term emerged in the 20th century literary criticism to describe modern literature's departure from traditional hero worship.
Antiheroism became huge in literature and film—think Walter White from Breaking Bad or Holden Caulfield—because writers realized flawed characters are way more interesting and relatable than perfect ones. This shift reflects how modern culture started questioning authority and perfection, preferring authenticity and complexity instead.
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