Escapism

"Why should a man be scorned if, finding himself in prison, he tries to get out and go home? Or if, when he cannot do so, he thinks and talks about other topics than jailers and prison-walls?"

- JRR Tolkien, "On Fairy-Stories" lecture, 1939

Escapism is basically a mental diversion or "escape" from the perceived unpleasant or banal aspects of daily life. Everything that makes us escape from Real Life can be considered a form of Escapism. This trope is Truth in Television; common forms of Escapism are video games, drugs, Alcohol, Fiction, Facebook games, gambling, movies, and TvTropes.

This trope applies to fictional characters using escapism in order to escape from their problems and/or not having to face Real Life.

For an in-depth analysis of this trope, go to Escapism/Analysis.

Anime & Manga

 * Asuka relies on playing video games after her Mind Rape, in order to forget her childhood experiences and her past trauma. To a certain extent, striving to be the best pilot is a way of escaping her past too.
 * Opposing this trope is pretty much the entire point of Paranoia Agent.

Film

 * The main characters in Bridge to Terabithia create a fantasy world in order to escape their hardships at school.
 * Sidekicks is about a sickly and bullied kid who copes by having vivid daydreams -- bordering on hallucinations -- about teaming up with Chuck Norris.
 * Basically the underlying premise behind Sucker Punch.

Literature
""Memory, Agent Starling, is what I have instead of a view.""
 * In the Silence of the Lambs series it is said that, while in prison, Hannibal Lecter often lives in the memory palace he has built in his mind.


 * Rudyard Kipling's The Three Decker is a celebration of the escapist three-volume novel.

Live Action TV

 * In Smallville, it's implied that Clark is just a crazy person that created a fantasy world in order to escape reality..

Video Games

 * Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, and it's sequel Final Fantasy Tactics A2.

Web Original

 * This trope was referenced in Potter Puppet Pals in one of Harry Potter's nightmares. He dreamed that he was a Muggle that created a fantasy world in order to escape the guilt of seeing his wife die. Played for the lulz.

Western Animation

 * Gaz of Invader Zim is obsessed with video games. In her world humans are generally stupid, ignorant and repulsive and the world they live in is polluted and unclean. She uses video games and apathy to escape her reality.
 * This is referenced in a Phineas and Ferb commercial were Phineas tells the audience to turn off their computers and enjoy life outside
 * In the South Park episode "Make Love, Not Warcraft", there is a nerd that is depicted as completely obsessed with World of Warcraft and completely out of touch of reality. He is described as having "no life" by the characters.
 * In Chaotic, the heroes' best friend is constantly avoiding Real Life through a trading card game. Then this trope is subverted when Chaotic turns out to be real.
 * Moral Orel: . Very arguably one of the most positive portrayals of anti-escapism in television.