Although I firmly belong to the group of fans who like their Loki dark and twisted (as opposed to 'misunderstood') I found this piece on him interesting.
When it comes to Loki I actually like him dark and twisted, but for me the 'misunderstood' part is more for people who don't understand themselves that he is dark and twisted. And its true he became like that because of his upbringing.
Personally I think both views tend towards being somewhat reductionist and ignore the complex interaction between freewill, experience, epigenetics, nurture and pre existing personality traits. Although, at least the dark and twisted side generally don't write soppy redemptionist narratives that give me diabetes. It is hard to find what I am looking for in characteristics though some days.
I think both of these views are based on a somewhat reductionist, less complex interpretation of Loki by Hiddleston. He did a great job, but in the end Loki is a cartoon villain, a comic figure. As such he is painted in stark block colours, like a Lichtenstein. His psyche seems maybe a little more complex than other Marvel characters because of Hiddleston's little trick to lend his character a certain vulnerability combined with his undeniable prettiness and his perfect cheekbones-something he does for almost all his roles though ;)
I just cannot understand why we must label Loki all the time and say "Loki is this" or "Loki is that" when it only leads to oversimplification and diminishes the true complexity of his character which makes his person such a thrilling experience on the big screen and off of it. His identity has been brutally crushed to dust and beyond - and yes, that can do an ugly turn on you. Yes, evil acts can be facilitated by sadness and anger and disappointment and saying so in not excusing you regardless. You can be lost and misunderstood and still know exactly when you are being an unforgivable motherfucker, and betraying people you love can hurt you even as you do it, even as you lie to yourself that it doesn't. If I absolutely have to call Loki something, I prefer to call him shattered - in the sense that the traits that made him "good" before (his love, his competence, his cleverness, etc) are still there, but it's a kaleidoscopic mirror-shard persona he has going on.
*steps off soapbox and pushes it discreetly under the bed*
I heard this view quite often, and understand where it comes from, however I don't think Loki is complex at all. Hiddleston does all he can to make him more complex, and wrings everything out of the few, often silly lines he is given. After all, it's a Marvel movie for kids. (Actually I think the article mirrors how you choose to interpret the character because rather than "labelling" him, it goes rather deeply into Loki's character ... so am not sure how you come to the conclusion that he is being labelled at all
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Ah, no, I wasn't about the article at all, just what I perceive to be a general fandom divide between those who think Loki is some woobie who needs kittens and those who are willing to take a more serious stand on him. (But then again, I might be wrong, but this is the impression I got over time spent at tumblr. Who knows, I might have been looking at all the wrong places.) Not to mention that side camp that believes that being traumatized means you are innocent by default
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Hahaha, I love Tumblr but I find at times it tends to simplify complex things to images and gifs and funny captions.
True, trauma doesn't make you innocent but all these issues like sociopathy, psychopathy, etc., raise interesting questions. How "guilty" is a serial killer, if he doesn't simply have the ability to emphasise? If there is a brain damage that prevents him from feeling love or connectedness?
Also, Loki wouldn't be half so interesting if John Goodman would have played him, so half of the excitement is about Hiddleston as well, really.
Yes, I adore him too ;) In case that wasn't clear :D
I have to admit I adore him because he is played by the ever beautiful, finely boned Hiddleston-he cries so prettily! Misunderstood yes, but he also constantly misunderstands himself and everyone else.
Hiddlestong *swoon* I think it was his expressions that sold me. He does cry so beautifully (feels evil saying it). But I also love his smile.
Yeah, for being so smart he doesn't really understand how people feel about it. I think he might be spot on with Odin, and he trusts Frigga, and I think he KNOWS that Thor loves him...but maybe he just can't accept that. Maybe he is just one of those people who is blinded when in rage.
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I think I can relate to "the reasons for his sociopathy are misunderstood" more than to "Loki the poor baby is misunderstood"
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:p
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*steps off soapbox and pushes it discreetly under the bed*
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True, trauma doesn't make you innocent but all these issues like sociopathy, psychopathy, etc., raise interesting questions. How "guilty" is a serial killer, if he doesn't simply have the ability to emphasise? If there is a brain damage that prevents him from feeling love or connectedness?
Also, Loki wouldn't be half so interesting if John Goodman would have played him, so half of the excitement is about Hiddleston as well, really.
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On another note I love all Loki's XD
Dark, twisted, misunderstood, misunderstood and yet still dark and twisted!
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I have to admit I adore him because he is played by the ever beautiful, finely boned Hiddleston-he cries so prettily! Misunderstood yes, but he also constantly misunderstands himself and everyone else.
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Yeah, for being so smart he doesn't really understand how people feel about it. I think he might be spot on with Odin, and he trusts Frigga, and I think he KNOWS that Thor loves him...but maybe he just can't accept that. Maybe he is just one of those people who is blinded when in rage.
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