I think the most interesting stories have ugly heroes and beautiful villains. Like the movie Mean Girls. Regina George is beautiful but she uses her looks as a weapon in the way she controls and manipulates everyone around her. Cady is seen in the beginning as an ugly duckling and her friends are looked at as weird and ugly. But they end up becoming heroes when we see their authenticity and kindness and empathy. This is why I love Mean Girls and other movies like it! Thanks for doing a deep dive into this topic Idris Elijah!
Means Girls didn't come to mind while I was writing this issue, but I wish it did! You're so right! It really does represent beautiful villains and ugly heroes. The most interesting stories do implement this idea. Often times resulting in the audience falling head over heels for similar content. Great example Chloe! 🙂
One of my all time favorite movies dismantles the idea that being hot or popular means you’re a winner in life - Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion. Christy Masters (and her “A Group” friends) is the epitome of high school beauty and popularity but underneath it all is a shallow and insecure bully. Meanwhile, Romy was awkward and her best friend Michelle was “Back Brace Girl.” Romy and Michelle end up winning, not because they became more conventionally beautiful. They won because they own their style, their bond and their story. And viewers like me loved it! Beautiful villains and ugly heroes can make for some fascinating and compelling writing. Great work Idris!
A wonderful example of beautiful villans and ugly heroes. When done right you get great films like the one you mentioned. I'm familiar with it. Wasn't that movie released in the 90s? To think they had diversity of characters in mind as far back as then is wonderful. Proves modern storytellers realize its importance.
I started thinking about some of my favorite stories in TV and movies and realized several of them had ugly heroes and beautiful villains. Jane the Virgin, Wreck-It Ralph and of course Beauty and the Beast! I liked what you said about positive representation. We are living in a very filtered world right now and none of us are social media perfect! Often our scars and flaws are what makes us all the more beautiful. Like you said as long as it isn’t done in a way that panders and takes away from the authenticity of who the character is supposed to be. The more we show the “ugly heroes” the more real beauty we will see in the world. Very nice topic today Idris Elijah!
All wonderful examples of beautiful villains and ugly heroes! I also couldn't agree with you more. Our scars and flaws are what make us beautiful. It's the opposite of what most people think, but it's an important point to make often. Pleased you enjoyed the topic Brooke 🙃🙏🏾
This is a very powerful topic! Beautiful villain / Ugly Hero storytelling holds a mirror to how we judge people in real life. Movies like the wonderful Shrek wake us up and expose how people can get away with being cruel just because of their looks. It makes us ask ourselves the types of people we choose to listen to and elevate in our own lives. It shows us how charm and charisma aren’t always a good thing! Great examples in the comments about movies and tv shows with ugly heroes and beautiful villains. I enjoyed exploring this topic today Idris Elijah!!
You nailed it here, Jody! Fiction imitating life and vice versa. That’s why people cherish the stories mentioned in the comments and even Shrek. Really makes me wonder why there is a need to race swap characters. Not a fan. 😬🙌🏾
I think the most interesting stories have ugly heroes and beautiful villains. Like the movie Mean Girls. Regina George is beautiful but she uses her looks as a weapon in the way she controls and manipulates everyone around her. Cady is seen in the beginning as an ugly duckling and her friends are looked at as weird and ugly. But they end up becoming heroes when we see their authenticity and kindness and empathy. This is why I love Mean Girls and other movies like it! Thanks for doing a deep dive into this topic Idris Elijah!
Means Girls didn't come to mind while I was writing this issue, but I wish it did! You're so right! It really does represent beautiful villains and ugly heroes. The most interesting stories do implement this idea. Often times resulting in the audience falling head over heels for similar content. Great example Chloe! 🙂
One of my all time favorite movies dismantles the idea that being hot or popular means you’re a winner in life - Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion. Christy Masters (and her “A Group” friends) is the epitome of high school beauty and popularity but underneath it all is a shallow and insecure bully. Meanwhile, Romy was awkward and her best friend Michelle was “Back Brace Girl.” Romy and Michelle end up winning, not because they became more conventionally beautiful. They won because they own their style, their bond and their story. And viewers like me loved it! Beautiful villains and ugly heroes can make for some fascinating and compelling writing. Great work Idris!
A wonderful example of beautiful villans and ugly heroes. When done right you get great films like the one you mentioned. I'm familiar with it. Wasn't that movie released in the 90s? To think they had diversity of characters in mind as far back as then is wonderful. Proves modern storytellers realize its importance.
I started thinking about some of my favorite stories in TV and movies and realized several of them had ugly heroes and beautiful villains. Jane the Virgin, Wreck-It Ralph and of course Beauty and the Beast! I liked what you said about positive representation. We are living in a very filtered world right now and none of us are social media perfect! Often our scars and flaws are what makes us all the more beautiful. Like you said as long as it isn’t done in a way that panders and takes away from the authenticity of who the character is supposed to be. The more we show the “ugly heroes” the more real beauty we will see in the world. Very nice topic today Idris Elijah!
All wonderful examples of beautiful villains and ugly heroes! I also couldn't agree with you more. Our scars and flaws are what make us beautiful. It's the opposite of what most people think, but it's an important point to make often. Pleased you enjoyed the topic Brooke 🙃🙏🏾
This is a very powerful topic! Beautiful villain / Ugly Hero storytelling holds a mirror to how we judge people in real life. Movies like the wonderful Shrek wake us up and expose how people can get away with being cruel just because of their looks. It makes us ask ourselves the types of people we choose to listen to and elevate in our own lives. It shows us how charm and charisma aren’t always a good thing! Great examples in the comments about movies and tv shows with ugly heroes and beautiful villains. I enjoyed exploring this topic today Idris Elijah!!
You nailed it here, Jody! Fiction imitating life and vice versa. That’s why people cherish the stories mentioned in the comments and even Shrek. Really makes me wonder why there is a need to race swap characters. Not a fan. 😬🙌🏾