Well, I agree, but it kind of sums up what a deconstruction is, in a way. To deconstruct a trope is essentially to play it perfectly straight, but bring all the shortcomings of said trope to our attention as well. Basically, showing us just how much this trope actually sucks were it to occur in Real Life. Again, we may need a new laconic, but it can be misinterpreted pretty easily.
Isn't Gasai Yuno from Mirai Nikki in The Anime & Manga section a different trope (Yandere) rather than an example of a deconstruction of the Shallow Love Interest?
Edited by 186.59.1.207
Okay, now correct me if I'm wrong but:
- Atlas Shrugged also deconstructs I Just Want to Be Loved with James Taggart's relationship with Cheryl. Instead of being loved for owning a company, for being skilled or for even being a nice person, he wants to be loved for what he is, and that's pretty much nothing.
Wouldn't "being a nice person" qualify as part of what you are? So why does this insist that it's something independent of who you are? Is it even deconstruction to just make confusing claims?
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James Taggart is not a nice person. But even if he were, he would not want to be loved for that. This is the point Rand is making; "unconditional love" or "selfless love" is "love for no reason," giving love to those unworthy of it.
This is certainly an example of deconstruction. Traditionally, unconditional (or selfless) love is seen as a beautiful and pure thing. Rand is simply showing exactly what genuinely unconditional love actually entails. It isn't nice, indeed it is rather insulting when you think about it.
What makes it a deconstruction of I Just Want to Be Loved is that it takes place from Taggart's perspective. He just wants to be loved... not for any of his personal qualities (none of which are actually good, but that is an irrelevant point). So he basically wants people to give him their highest tribute, their love, for absolutely no reason.
I think the Laconic entry needs changing; it directly contradicts a sentence in the main entry regarding the possibility of Lighter and Softer deconstructions. The current Laconic entry, "This trope would suck because..." implies all Deconstructions are Darker and Edgier.
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