History Main / WANGST

The "wangst" equivalent for entire stories is when TooBleakStoppedCaring is caused by too much TrueArtIsAngsty. SillyRabbitCynicismIsForLosers is the philosophical equivalent. Compare DeusAngstMachina, which is about having too many ''sources'' of angst for WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief rather than too much ''response'' to sources of angst. For both in-universe ''and'' meta-examples, see MuseAbuse, a frequent RealLife and in-universe cause of wangst. Contrast AngstWhatAngst, UnintentionallySympathetic (In cases where the narrative and characters treats another character's sadness as this, but the audience thinks the angst is justified.), and StoicWoobie. Compare FirstWorldProblems and MiseryPoker.

The "wangst" equivalent for entire stories is when TooBleakStoppedCaring is caused by too much TrueArtIsAngsty. SillyRabbitCynicismIsForLosers is the philosophical equivalent. Compare DeusAngstMachina, which is about having too many ''sources'' of angst for WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief rather than too much ''response'' to sources of angst. For both in-universe ''and'' meta-examples, see MuseAbuse, a frequent RealLife and in-universe cause of wangst. Contrast AngstWhatAngst, UnitentionallySympathetic. (In cases where the narrative and characters treats another character's sadness as this, but the audience thinks the angst is justified.) and StoicWoobie. Compare FirstWorldProblems and MiseryPoker.

The "wangst" equivalent for entire stories is when TooBleakStoppedCaring is caused by too much TrueArtIsAngsty. SillyRabbitCynicismIsForLosers is the philosophical equivalent. Compare DeusAngstMachina, which is about having too many ''sources'' of angst for WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief rather than too much ''response'' to sources of angst. For both in-universe ''and'' meta-examples, see MuseAbuse, a frequent RealLife and in-universe cause of wangst. Contrast AngstWhatAngst, and StoicWoobie. Compare FirstWorldProblems and MiseryPoker.

'''Note:''' Though Wangst is most frequently associated with characters whining over petty "tragedies," the trope is not merely sadness or angst: it is poorly written sadness or angst that comes off as unjustified due to lack of an explanation, exaggeration of the problem, or otherwise not showing an appropriate level of sadness compared to the tragedy in question. It's not necessarily the scale of the tragedy that the character is reacting to that's the problem, but the way it's handled. Note that it can be intentional, and frequently is; when used correctly, it can create or aid and abet schadenfreude, establish a character's childlike or emotionally immature or unstable qualities, or otherwise reinforce the characterization of an inveterate whiner whose failure to place their problems into perspective or see their own role in them is a central flaw.

It all boils down to quality and [[AngstDissonance personal tolerance level]]; what is grating and unrealistic to one viewer can be genuinely heart-rending for another. There's an inherent DoubleStandard involving this trope -- people are much more likely to be crying "Wangst" to a male character than they are a female character. In heavily action-oriented works, it's expected for anyone who just pauses for a short time to feel a little angst to immediately get called out as wangsty: see also WhatMeasureIsANonBadass.

The "wangst" equivalent for entire stories is when TooBleakStoppedCaring is caused by too much TrueArtIsAngsty. SillyRabbitCynicismIsForLosers is the philosophical equivalent. Compare DeusAngstMachina, which is about having too many ''sources'' of angst for WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief rather than too much ''response'' to sources of angst. For both in-universe ''and'' meta-examples, see MuseAbuse, a frequent RealLife and in-universe cause of {{Wangst}}. Contrast AngstWhatAngst, and StoicWoobie. Compare FirstWorldProblems and MiseryPoker.

Wangst, a {{portmanteau}} of "whiny" and "angst," (or "wimpy" or "wah" or "whinging"... or possibly "wanker" or "wang" in especially irritating cases) is essentially angst gone wrong. The intended [[TheWoobie Woobie]]'s AppealToPity ends in an {{epic fail}}ure, and thus becomes a [[EmoTeen pathetically whiny character]] who insists on crying (often loudly and repeatedly) about a DarkAndTroubledPast instead of, you know, trying to move on with their life. This is made even more annoying when the character's "trauma" doesn't come across nearly as tragic as they seem to think it does, [[MiseryPoker compared with other people out there trying to endure yet still determined to solve the problem]], making the character's lamentations seem [[{{Narm}} way out of proportion.]]

Subtrope of {{Bathos}}, and may be called that [[LitClassTropes in literary circles]].

The "wangst" equivalent for entire stories is when DarknessInducedAudienceApathy is caused by too much TrueArtIsAngsty. SillyRabbitCynicismIsForLosers is the philosophical equivalent. Compare DeusAngstMachina, which is about having too many ''sources'' of angst for WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief rather than too much ''response'' to sources of angst. For both in-universe ''and'' meta-examples, see MuseAbuse, a frequent RealLife and in-universe cause of {{Wangst}}. Contrast AngstWhatAngst, and StoicWoobie. Compare FirstWorldProblems and MiseryPoker.

Seeing this in fiction may cause one to think of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd9OhYroLN0 these]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ7oqmikZDQ songs]].

Wangst is a favorite of {{Emo Teen}}s, {{Sympathetic Sue}}s and characters CursedWithAwesome. Any kind of DespairSpeech (especially by [[StrawNihilist nihilists]]) is also often considered as this. Often pointed out by playing the WorldsSmallestViolin. See also {{Emo}}, {{Narm}}, AngstDissonance, ProneToTears. To deal with the wangsty kind, people will usually say "GetAHoldOfYourselfMan!"

{{Angst}} can create [[EmotionalTorque compelling drama]], CharacterDevelopment, and interesting psychology when done well; [[TrueArtIsAngsty many acclaimed works of art use it to a degree]] and the appeal of TheWoobie is based on it. [[Administrivia/TropesAreNotGood But like all other good things, angst can be overdone or done poorly.]]

{{Angst}} can create [[EmotionalTorque compelling drama]], CharacterDevelopment, and interesting psychology when done well; [[TrueArtIsAngsty many acclaimed works of art use it to a degree]] and the appeal of TheWoobie is based on it. [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools But like all other good things, angst can be overdone or done poorly.]]

Wangst, a {{portmanteau}} of "whiny" and "angst," (or "wimpy" or "wah" or "whinging"... or possibly "wanker" or "wang" in especially irritating cases) is essentially angst gone wrong. The intended [[TheWoobie Woobie]]'s AppealToPity ends in an {{epic fail}}ure, and thus becomes a [[EmoTeen pathetically whiny character]] who insists on crying (often loudly and repeatedly) about a DarkAndTroubledPast instead of, you know, trying to move on with their life. People will end up abandoning their efforts to sympathize and just ask "Why haven't you killed yourself yet?" Especially if said "trauma" doesn't come across nearly as tragic as the character thinks it does, [[MiseryPoker compared with other people out there trying to endure yet still determined to solve the problem]], making the character's lamentations seem [[{{Narm}} way out of proportion.]]

Seeing this in fiction may cause one to think of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd9OhYroLN0 these]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ7oqmikZDQ songs]].

{{Angst}} can create [[EmotionalTorque compelling drama]], CharacterDevelopment, and interesting psychology when done well; [[TrueArtIsAngsty many acclaimed works of art use it to a degree]] and the appeal of TheWoobie is based on it, [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools but like all other good things, angst can be overdone or done poorly.]] Wangst, a {{portmanteau}} of "whiny" and "angst," (or "wimpy" or "wah" or "whinging"... or possibly "wanker" or "wang" in especially irritating cases) is essentially angst gone wrong. The intended [[TheWoobie Woobie]]'s AppealToPity ends in an {{epic fail}}ure, and thus becomes a [[EmoTeen pathetically whiny character]] who insists on crying (often loudly and repeatedly) about a DarkAndTroubledPast instead of, you know, trying to move on with their life. People will end up abandoning their efforts to sympathize and just ask "Why haven't you killed yourself yet?" Especially if said "trauma" doesn't come across nearly as tragic as the character thinks it does, [[MiseryPoker compared with other people out there trying to endure yet still determined to solve the problem]], making the character's lamentations seem [[{{Narm}} way out of proportion.]]

{{Angst}} can create [[EmotionalTorque compelling drama]], CharacterDevelopment, and interesting psychology when done well; [[TrueArtIsAngsty many acclaimed works of art use it to a degree]] and the appeal of TheWoobie is based on it, [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools but like all other good things, angst can be overdone or done poorly.]] Wangst, a {{portmanteau}} of "whiny" and "angst," (or "wimpy" or "wah" or "whinging"... or possibly "wanker" or "wang" in especially irritating cases) is essentially angst gone wrong. The intended [[TheWoobie Woobie]]'s AppealToPity ends in an {{epic fail}}ure, and thus becomes a [[EmoTeen pathetically whiny character]] who insists on crying (often loudly and repeatedly) about a DarkAndTroubledPast instead of, you know, trying to move on with their life. People will end up abandoning their efforts to sympathize and just ask "Why haven't you killed yourself yet?" Especially if said "trauma" doesn't come across nearly as tragic as the character thinks it does, [[MiseryPoker compared with other people trying to endure out there yet are still determined to solve the problem]], making the character's lamentations seem [[{{Narm}} way out of proportion.]]

{{Angst}} can create [[EmotionalTorque compelling drama]], CharacterDevelopment, and interesting psychology when done well; [[TrueArtIsAngsty many acclaimed works of art use it to a degree]] and the appeal of TheWoobie is based on it, [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools but like all other good things, angst can be overdone or done poorly.]] Wangst, a {{portmanteau}} of "whiny" and "angst," (or "wimpy" or "wah" or "whinging"... or possibly "wanker" or "wang" in especially irritating cases) is essentially angst gone wrong. The intended [[TheWoobie Woobie]]'s AppealToPity ends in an {{epic fail}}ure, and thus becomes a [[EmoTeen pathetically whiny character]] who insists on crying (often loudly and repeatedly) about a DarkAndTroubledPast instead of, you know, trying to move on with their life. People will end up surrendering in their efforts on sympathy and just question the wangsty character on "Why haven't you killed yourself yet?" Especially if said "trauma" doesn't come across nearly as tragic as the character thinks it does, [[MiseryPoker compared with other people trying to endure out there yet are still determined to solve the problem]], making his lamentations seem [[{{Narm}} way out of proportion.]]

'''Note:''' Though Wangst is most frequently associated with characters whining over petty "tragedies," the trope is not merely sadness or angst; it is poorly written sadness or angst that comes off as unjustified due to lack of an explanation, exaggeration of the problem, or otherwise not showing an appropriate level of sadness compared to the tragedy in question. It's not necessarily the scale of the tragedy that the character is reacting to that's the problem, but the way it's handled. Note that it can be intentional, and frequently is; when used correctly, it can create or aid and abet schadenfreude, establish a character's childlike or emotionally immature or unstable qualities, or otherwise reinforce the characterization of an inveterate whiner whose failure to place their problems into perspective or see their own role in them is a central flaw.

{{Angst}} can create [[EmotionalTorque compelling drama]], CharacterDevelopment, and interesting psychology when done well; [[TrueArtIsAngsty many acclaimed works of art use it to a degree]] and the appeal of TheWoobie is based on it, [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools but like all other good things, angst can be overdone or done poorly.]] Wangst, a {{portmanteau}} of "whiny" and "angst," (or "wimpy" or "wah" or "whinging"... or possibly "wanky" or "wang" in especially irritating cases) is essentially angst gone wrong. The intended [[TheWoobie Woobie]]'s AppealToPity ends in an {{epic fail}}ure, and thus becomes a [[EmoTeen pathetically whiny character]] who insists on crying (often loudly and repeatedly) about a DarkAndTroubledPast instead of, you know, trying to move on with their life. People will end up surrendering in their efforts on sympathy and just question the wangsty character on "Why haven't you killed yourself yet?" Especially if said "trauma" doesn't come across nearly as tragic as the character thinks it does, [[MiseryPoker compared with other people trying to endure out there yet are still determined to solve the problem]], making his lamentations seem [[{{Narm}} way out of proportion.]]