Literally Me

Becoming the ‘Sigma’ You Want to Be

A. W. J. Stock

IN RECENT YEARS, A NEW FILM GENRE HAS EMERGED OUT OF THE CHAOS OF OUR CULTURE, and what is weird is that it’s not made up of entirely new movies. Whether you’ve watched Fight Club (1999) for the third time, or seen yet another ‘sigma’ edit of Ryan Gosling on your For You Page, you’ve definitely noticed (and even resonated with) the inundation of comments claiming whatever character taking the spotlight to be “Literally me”.

Many individuals, predominantly men, gravitate towards these characters – archetypal, composed, and sharp-witted personas who defy societal norms – finding them “relatable.” However, is this connection rooted in irony, or does it serve as a means to uncover a deeper, more genuine truth?

Characters like Travis Bickle, Patrick Bateman, and Tyler Durden in cinema represent traditional masculine ideals but end up feeling disconnected from modern life. On the other hand, “Literally me” characters typically start from a place of existential emptiness and mental struggles but undergo a journey toward self-awareness and acceptance, ultimately finding true fulfilment.

This type of character is used to convey criticisms and a social commentary on the human condition and contemporary society, yet it seems to have been subverted as a role model for the younger generations.

Me thinking I look tough on public transport.

“Literally me” characters can come from all walks of life, from Wall Street bankers to local mobsters. They share some dissatisfaction with the world, something that we all have – but unlike us, they do something about it, whether for good or bad. These characters do not lay restless but act as they think they should, defying social norms through some form of cathartic release. As viewers, we associate with them. We are them, yet we do not act as they do.

These characters represent an outlet through which frustrated men can express cathartic pleasure in associating with their aesthetics, ideals, frustrations, social and societal apathy, and so on. It is not the fault of the writers and philosophers who postulate these ideas and characters, but rather, what the attraction of these characters has to do with symptomatic structural problems within our society. Popular media does not only represent a cultural reality but highlights a material one – a reality that explains the ‘Literally Me’ characters’ popularity.