In my last post, I highlighted some of the pitfalls of clout chasing and perfectionism exhibited in the character of Marty Mauser in the film Marty Supreme. Marty’s self-importance and lack of empathy are evident throughout. Yet, despite this, I found myself rooting for him.

In part, Marty represented my own delusions of grandeur, reflecting my sense of eternal hope. In him, I saw all of the possibilities of relentlessness and felt compelled to criticize, justifiably, his and my blindness to others while held captive by that trait. Marty undoubtedly exhibited some of the traits of an addict: the escapism, the glorification of some external fix, the obsessiveness, the thoughtlessness, the impulsivity, and the inability to feel satisfied.

With that said, it’s only part of the story, which makes the character so frustrating; you can’t neatly categorize him. Marty is an exemplar of his type, the dreamer. While corroded by perfectionism and grandiosity, he also embodied the quality many gifted kids want to have: authenticity. Attached to self-importance is the sense of importance; Marty’s pursuit was meaningful to........

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