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The Y is still up for debate, but it’s occurring .
(lemmy.world)
Broadely , I would attribute it to things getting worse. And the increased awareness and reaction to things getting worse.
Sliding it neatly in with the rest of the modern pantheon of stories where, they don’t contest things are bad. It’s just that the villains want to solve the problems in a way that’s worse.
The trope is named Kick the Dog, and it's really old. Viewers need to hate the villains so that it is satisfying when they become the victims of violence, harassment, or karmic justice. But audiences like compelling, sympathetic villains. A villain who sees themself as the hero gives the storyteller license to challenge conventional thinking and make the counter-argument without alienating people who like the status quo.
And the inverse is Save the Cat, where a character does something that makes the audience like them.
Don't forget about the third trope in this triangle: Boof the Hamster.
Lemmiwinks! Lemmi, Lemmiwinks! Lemmiwinks!