Rick and Morty is plausibly a deconstruction or critique of the kinds of media it itself represents. It’s weird, but Rick and Morty could be simultaneously seen as both a creation and product of a certain kind of nerdy masculinity, as well as a satirical deconstruction of that same kind of cultural product.
Unfortunately, Ready Player One doesn’t quite work on those levels. It’s basically just older male nerd fantasy and wish fulfillment. Which, to a poststructuralist like myself, means it’s even more ripe for analysis and critique than a “winking” piece of media like Rick and Morty.
I should note that I’m not trying to credit Rick and Morty with being subversive, only self-consciously postmodern, and I’m not trying to malign Ready Player One for being shallow, only pointing out that it seems sincere, like, this is really clearly fantasy wish-fulfillment.
Rick and Morty is plausibly a deconstruction or critique of the kinds of media it itself represents. It’s weird, but Rick and Morty could be simultaneously seen as both a creation and product of a certain kind of nerdy masculinity, as well as a satirical deconstruction of that same kind of cultural product.
Unfortunately, Ready Player One doesn’t quite work on those levels. It’s basically just older male nerd fantasy and wish fulfillment. Which, to a poststructuralist like myself, means it’s even more ripe for analysis and critique than a “winking” piece of media like Rick and Morty.
I should note that I’m not trying to credit Rick and Morty with being subversive, only self-consciously postmodern, and I’m not trying to malign Ready Player One for being shallow, only pointing out that it seems sincere, like, this is really clearly fantasy wish-fulfillment.