> I think what OC is saying above is that the adult version of reality is often unsatisfying

I'd quibble with your choice of words there, although I agree with the overall point - ultimately adult reality is the only thing that satisfies, warts and all, everything else is a waste of energy.

This is even true by proxy in more fantastic works, where the point is to communicate aspects of adult reality in less direct ways.

There is a very clear cultural divide here on this between the americans and everyone else, which is kind of funny given Girard was working in the US when he famously formulated it so clearly to a mainly american audience.