edgelords

The edgelord is a trope or character archetype that originated in the fantasy and science fiction genres of fiction. It is characterized by a propensity for melodrama, grandiose declarations, and a general air of superiority or pretentiousness.

Typically, the edgelord is a protagonist or supporting character who interprets their own emotional pain or existential crises as being on a heroic level of significance. This can manifest in various ways, such as a tendency to overreact to events or comically exaggerated declarations of angst or intensity.

Critics have accused edgelords of being exploitative or manipulative, since they often rely on the audience's emotional investment in their plight in order to illicit a strong emotional response. Conversely, some fans and writers have argued that the edgelord archetype offers a healthy release valve for exploring darker emotional themes or commenting on societal issues.

The term edgelord gained widespread usage in online communities around the mid-2010s, particularly in the context of fanfiction and social media discussions surrounding comic books and video games. Since then, the concept has been referenced and parodied in various forms of media, often as a way to poke fun at melodramatic or over-the-top protagonists.

In terms of its broader cultural and literary significance, the edgelord trope has been seen as an example of the ways in which postmodernism and self-aware irony can complicate or subvert traditional notions of heroism and storytelling. The character archetype itself exists simultaneously as a criticism of certain narrative tropes and a product of those very same tropes.