Compelling Characters: The Contrarian

The Contrarian Spirit: Rebels, Intellectuals & Mavericks

What is a contrarian? 

5 to 6 min read

Contrarian characters exist across most forms of recorded media, from folklore to Hollywood. I love them. We might see them as trickster-like characters like with the Joker, and his anarchist ramblings, to Marvels Loki, it's Jungs Jester archetype, that maverick characteristic. For better or worse, they test the status quo; often debasing established norms. The have to take a stand against someone or something, oppositional, adversarial even, always striving. 

Comedians and Jokers... 

The Fool isn't completely a contrarian archetype, but often can be. It's that oddball who pops up in Shakespeare's plays, those humorous jesters, who'd hit near the mark with the most powerful people in the king's court, even the king himself! The Jester eventually became a valued advisor to the Monarch!

Renegades, Rebels and Noncomformists! 

My favourite contrarian is to be found in the rebel; a soul driven by a strong will to overthrow what they see as some kind of oppressor or evil. The Rebel Alliance vs the Galactic Empire, but then, there are real people like Erin Brockovich in the world who will take on powerful corporations: even I challenged my own local authority and for something my family needed and we got it, the directors written admission of guilt and apology was the cherry on top. The fight was very consuming, making victory itself feel glorious; indeed, contrarians are quite relatable from my position. 

In reality, the rebel contrarian is also personified by the female emergency worker who exposes the oppressive toxic masculinity or chauvinism in the workplace. Campaigners, protesters and grass roots political petitioners, those who utilise power are rebel contrarians. 

Iconoclasts, Thinkers, Whistleblowers and Skeptics... 

Intellectual contrarians might also be rebellious, but they are key at spreading the narrative, directing and educating; instead of simply opposing the status quo, they seek to expose faults, or illustrate the corruption of its religions and it's failing systems. In the pursuit of knowledge for the sake of improvement, almost like the Wizard, mystic or Sorceress, these intellectuals hone their discipline through rigorous deep thinking and/or academic illumination. I find them fascinating. 

Look at the anti-religious arguments of Christopher Hitchens, he was a brutal polemicist, but fair, and he inspired thought; people enjoyed having their minds opened by him. Jordan Peterson is a similar type of contrarian who would not conform to over the top political correctness or left wing Marxism, as he called it. The world has witnessed the sheer grit and determination of Greta Thunburg, despite harsh press she has not budged from her climate activism. The spirit of these people is that of champions of their causes. They stand in contast to their opposition. 

Contrarian for the sake of being the contrarian...

Some contrarian people are motivated by a desire to define themselves; they might challenge conventional ideas but only for the sake of their club, purpose, brand or simply to be a unique sheep. 

After contributing my thoughts in a pseudo-religious esoteric facebook group, I was told: 'if you want to keep any street cred, you should take down that post,' simply because it contained science, which was not welcome in that discordianism group. I felt no need to explain how science enabled their silly esoteric Facebook group, so I simply left; curious how science could possibly be considered offensive.

Rule abiders of contrarian clubs... 

Like my Facebook discordian  many oof these strange people present as non-conformist, such as the raving lunatic party, Church of Satan types, parody religions, or flat earth enthusiasts for that matter; who uphold their own club law and may expect people will follow suit. The pseudo-science of the flat earth theory is pushed by its community. 

Contrarians are motivated to oppose something significant. They might independently gather resources, practice critical thinking, as well as keep up-to-date on the latest research to meet challenges. 

The contrarian spirit is defined by that defiant front, which inexorably strives for change or subverting what's wrong with the conventional; defined by the individual struggles they take, they can be harbingers. 

Who is your favourite Contrarian character?