More and more often, modern storytellers are shifting their attention away from those we consider to be the “good guys” and focusing on the “bad guys,” turning them from simple villains into the heroes of their own dark narratives. Antiheroes like Breaking Bad’s Walter White, There Will Be Blood’s Daniel Plainview, and rapper/producer Kanye West have become fixtures of American pop culture consciousness. As an audience, what attracts us to these characters? How do their stories differ from those of their traditionally heroic counterparts? How do we reconcile our attraction to their stories with our disapproval for their actions? And what does the recent proliferation of antihero stories have to say about the fabric of American culture? In this class, we will use readings, viewings, discussions, self-directed research, and creative work to investigate these questions and to gain a better understanding of the villains among us.