What does Self-insert mean to you?

[Anemic_Vampire]

Honestly, when I think about “self-inserting”, the first thing that comes to mind is some younglings trying to be Patrick Bateman, or someone like the Bay Harbor Butcher. There is Light with his death note too.

Coincidentally, most of these characters are rebels, the odd one out, in some way. Or... criminals.

I guess it's a rite of passage for the teens growing up and hormones messing around, but is that all to the phenomenon of self-inserting?

I mean, many authors and readers both do it to some degree at one point.

I know I'm going in circles (this thread sounded more intellectual in my head ), but I could understand people imagining themselves as a good-natured fairytale hero, or heroine, that everyone loves and adores.

It makez sense. Obviously, feels nice to be adored.

But why would a reader/viewer self-insert themselves as American Psycho type guy? I'm not even talking about teens, I know some grownups do that too.

I mean, almost all of these baddie characters are either going to get arrested or worse. No happy ending for them. Then what's the appeal of becoming them? On that note, what does self-insert even mean?

(By the way, this isn't a hate thread against the characters mentioned above, I think most of them are fun shows. Speaking of hate threads, there is also Solo Leveling's MC kind of self-inserting, but I could do a separate ragebait rant for that. Thank you. Peace! )

 

[Macha]

The appeal is that you can experience their actions without consequences. Hoshino will get arrested or executed if he started doing all the things Kobayashi Akihito does in real life.

 

[Sylver]

Never seen myself in fictional media or literature, but that's fine. Maybe in personality their are similarities but personally I think I prefer reading into new or different characters

 

[Tetrahedron]

Honestly, when I think about “self-inserting”, the first thing that comes to mind is some younglings trying to be Patrick Bateman, or someone like the Bay Harbor Butcher. There is Light with his death note too.

I had to think twice or even thrice to respond on this statement, but my best response is that this isn't inherently a self-insert. Patrick Bateman and Light Yagami are fixed characters with clear characteristics respectively.

Self-insert characters are generally something like a blank slate character, which you may find them in modern Isekai anime/manga. The epitome of self-insert characters are when the character (mostly the protagonist) does what the readers love the most i.e having massive harem or able to carry onslaught solo with cool skills. Touya from Isekai Smartphone (was it his name?) sometimes considered as one if I get it right, and Shin whatever-his-name from Kenja no Mago is also a self-insert protagonist albeit without harem.

Coincidentally, most of these characters are rebels, the odd one out, in some way. Or... criminals.

EDIT: I missed this point completely ?. Anyways, yes, some self-insert characters can be done this way.

I know I'm going in circles (this thread sounded more intellectual in my head ), but I could understand people imagining themselves as a good-natured fairytale hero, or heroine, that everyone loves and adores.

Absolutely true, though your examples are a bit off by a degree if I may.

Though, I say this from my perspective and experience on exploring and reading Japanese manga/novel

PS: the most defining self-insert trope in fiction is that the character came unchallenged throughout the series, aka the Mary Sue trait.

But why would a reader/viewer self-insert themselves as American Psycho type guy? I'm not even talking about teens, I know some grownups do that too.

Well, I'd say this isn't a full self-insert kind, they're more like immersing themselves in the characters Christian Bale deliver. Take it when the characters like Patrick Bateman, Light Yagami, and certainly Ayanokouji Kiyotaka had a striking personality, the viewers take them as an exemplary figure these folks must follow and imitate in real life, which... yeah.

 

[Woolen_Monkey]

I have no idea what your talking about

 

[Eldoria]

There is Light with his death note too.

I don't know if Light can fit into this category or not, considering the definition of Self-Insert is ambiguous.

From the beginning, he was a character intended as a narrative experiment: what if a genius high school student was given the power to determine death through the Death Note?

The result... a god complex, thinking he is right, and the world must follow his will. Light is that type of character. The entire Death Note series is structured to prove that scenario. And the author is consistent with his premise.

In fact, Light can be said to be a character who was 'killed' because of his arrogance. Light's death is a consequence of his behaviour. The author never justified Light's behaviour from the beginning.

If you define self-insert as how the author narrates their experiences, thoughts, and feelings through a fictional character and examines them through the narrative, then perhaps Light fits the definition of self-insert.

However, if self-insert is interpreted as how the author creates a character that fulfils their desires (of the author and readers), hopes, and escapes (Wish Fulfilment), then Light clearly does not fall into this category.

Personally, I prefer to call Light a narrative experiment character.

Critical note:
If self-insert is defined as how the author narrates his/her experiences, thoughts, and feelings through a fictional character, isn't that what most authors are like?

 

[Anemic_Vampire]

Take it when the characters like Patrick Bateman, Light Yagami, and certainly Ayanokouji Kiyotaka had a striking personality, the viewers take them as an exemplary figure these folks must follow and imitate in real life, which... yeah.

I see.

I have no idea what your talking about

Neither do I. You're literally me for real!

 

[SouthernMaiden]

I think "self insert" has kind of a cringe connotation. Like a super OP protag that loves Rage Against the Machine and is a sick snowboarder or something.

Its fine to relate to how characters feel and act though. And of course its impossible for writers not to put a little bit of themselves into their characters.

 

[Macha]

I have no idea what your talking about

Neither do I. You're literally me for real!

The two of you are the same person.

 

[Hoshino]

The two of you are the same person.

What are talking about? Everyone is the same Person.

 

[NotaNuffian]

It means fucking myself.

 

[laccoff_mawning]

When I think about self-insert, I specifically think about self-insert wish fulfilment.

I know what the wish fulfilment part looks like, but I don't know what the self- insert part looks like. Huh.

 

[Terrate]

I've said "That guy is literally me for real!" but only ironically because that character in question was by no means anywhere similar to me.

 

[Macha]

It means fucking myself.

Without getting pregnant and paying for years of child support.

 

[L1aei]

When I think of a self-insert, this character is what comes to mind.

 

[Doken]

Self-insert is something a storyteller or other kind of artist does on a work they produce. The official and well supported meaning of this phrase "is a literary device in which the author writes themselves into the story"
I've never heard of "self insert" being used as something a reader does before this. Please don't add further confusion to the English language by creating new meanings to well known phrases. I know that's how language changes over time, but let's try to do it in a less confusing way. I assume this phrase is probably the most direct translation of many different languages expressing different but similar ideas, but this phrase already means something specific.

 

[AliceMoonvale]

When I think of self-inserts, I think of unimaginable cringe.

The only time I think 'self-inserting' is valid, is when you create and write characters that have bits of your own personality or experiences to make them feel more relatable. And I say this because I give all my characters a fragment of my personality or habits. lol