Line #186 Main/AbsurdityAscendant


1	[[quoteright:330:[[Pinball/Gottliebs2001 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/2001_pinball_backglass.jpg]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:330:Art from Gottlieb's ''2001'' {{pinball}} machine.\
3	[[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext No, it doesn't make sense.]]]]
4
5	->''"Wacky is filling your car's gas tank with 3-octane gasoline. Absurd is filling your car's gas tank with a ferret."''
6	-->-- ''Webcomic/TriangleAndRobert''
7
8	These tropes are here to screw with your mind. These are tropes about the absurd, MediaNotes/{{dada}}ism, nonsense, {{non sequitur}}s, the surreal, and the bizarre.[[note]]But not the [[BazaarOfTheBizarre Bazaar]]; that's something else.[[/note]]
9
10	----
11	[floatboxright:
12	Categories:
13	+ MadnessTropes
14	]
15
16	'''Tropes:'''
17	[[index]]
18	* AbstractScale\
19	To measure the immeasurable.
20	* {{Absurdism}}\
21	Life itself is the absurdity.
22	* AcidTripDimension\
23	A space-time rift that looks like an LSD trip.
24	* AdDissonance\
25	An advertisement in a work is ironic or otherwise inappropriate to the action.
26	* AlienGeometries \
27	Spatial arrangements that cannot be explained by the ordinary laws of physics.
28	* AppealToAudacity \
29	Something is declared true because nobody in their right mind would make up such a ridiculous story if it were false.
30	* AreYouPonderingWhatImPondering \
31	A non-sequitur answer when a more obvious solution is expected.
32	* {{Bathos}} \
33	The lofty or serious juxtaposed with the ludicrous or commonplace.
34	* BigLippedAlligatorMoment \
35	A totally random event is inserted into a serious story, then never referred to again.
36	* {{Bizarrchitecture}} \
37	Buildings built in impossible or nonsensical ways.
38	* BizarroApocalypse \
39	The apocalypse is strange and/or surreal.
40	* BizarroElements \
41	ElementalPowers out of the ordinary.
42	* BizarroEpisode \
43	A BigLippedAlligatorMoment that takes up a whole episode, though the episode itself is internally consistent.
44	* BizarroFiction \
45	Literary genre known for high weirdness, shock horror and gross and surreal narratives.
46	* BizarroUniverse \
47	An AlternateUniverse where everything is the opposite.
48	* BreathlessNonSequitur \
49	A change in subject with no time to react to the previous topic. [[Advertising/TheManYourManCouldSmellLike I'm on a horse.]]
50	* {{Calvinball}} \
51	The game's rules are whatever you feel like.
52	* {{Camp}} \
53	Completely tasteless, over-exaggerated, theatrical style, usually SoBadItsGood.
54	* ChewbaccaDefense \
55	You pretend you can win the argument if you get the other guy to shut up by any means.
56	* {{Cloudcuckooland}} \
57	A strange and obscure place with strange people and customs.
58	* {{Cloudcuckoolander}} \
59	A character who is just plain out there.
60	* ContemplatingYourHands \
61	Fascination with hands while on drug trips.
62	* CollectorOfTheStrange \
63	Collecting the weirdest and most bizarre stuff possible.
64	* CrazyPrepared \
65	Prepared for any and all situations.
66	* CueTheFlyingPigs \
67	If something impossible is said to only happen if X will happen.
68	* CutawayGag \
69	Non sequitur humor tossed in.
70	* MediaNotes/{{Dada}} \
71	Confusing anti-art movement.
72	* DadaAd \
73	A strange and/or frightening ad that doesn't even make sense when the product is revealed.
74	* DadaComics \
75	Comics consisting of surreal, non-sequitur humor.
76	* DerangedAnimation \
77	It's animated and [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial totally not made]] [[QuirkyWork on drugs]], we swear.
78	* DiggingToChina \
79	Tunneling straight through molten core? Seems like a good idea.
80	* DisneyAcidSequence \
81	A music sequence in a strait-laced film passes through a sudden ArtShift into DerangedAnimation territory.
82	* DreamLand \
83	A world comprised of dreams..
84	* DropTheCow \
85	Breaking a lull in the plot with a spontaneously silly event, a.k.a. a deliberate BigLippedAlligatorMoment.
86	* EerilyOutOfPlaceObject \
87	An otherwise ordinary object made unsettling by being found somewhere impossible.
88	* LeFilmArtistique \
89	Indie TrueArt film that most people don't bother even trying to understand.
90	* TheFreakshow \
91	A show that involves people with odd physical deformities or features and people with strange or dangerous talents.
92	* GainaxEnding \
93	A deliberately hyper-symbolic, surreal or nonsensical ending.
94	* GiantFootOfStomping \
95	A big foot comes out of nowhere and stomps someone to death.
96	* GivingUpOnLogic \
97	The situation has become so strange, surreal, or stupid that someone gives up trying to make sense of things.
98	* TheGrotesque \
99	A super-ugly/deformed character that induces fear, pity and curiosity in others.
100	* GrotesqueGallery \
101	A group of creatures who appear ugly or gross, arranged in a way to unsettle even more.
102	* HappyPlace \
103	Troubled people curl up and go away in their heads to a place where everything is warm and fuzzy.[[/index]]
104	* A hat... wait. \
105	https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hat_blue_bros_flock.png[[index]][[hardline]]
106	* HitlerAteSugar \
107	Just because someone evil did something doesn't make that thing evil -- but people treat it like it was.
108	* ImplausibleDeniability \
109	A character consistently denies doing something, even despite incontrovertible evidence.
110	* IncomprehensibleEntranceExam\
111	An exam to qualify for membership makes no sense to anyone except the examiners.
112	* IndecisiveMedium\
113	A work in a certain medium behaves as if it was in another medium.
114	* InsaneTrollLogic \
115	A line of rationale so illogical and demented that it defies attempts to rationally argue against it.
116	* IsItAlwaysLikeThis \
117	A normal person wanders into a crazy place.
118	* ItRunsOnNonsensoleum \
119	A "scientific" device that runs on something impossible or nonsensical.
120	* LittlePeopleAreSurreal \
121	Little people are used as part of a surreal scene, because they're relatively rare and unfamiliar in real life.
122	* MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext \
123	It doesn't. The EpilepticTrees remain epileptic unless you possess FridgeBrilliance.
124	* MindScrew \
125	Something that relies too heavily on symbolism/surrealism/absurdism/metaphors to be understood in a conventional matter and lacks a clear-cut explanation (on purpose).
126	* MuseumOfTheStrangeAndUnusual \
127	Find here what you can't find in any other museum.
128	* MushroomSamba \
129	Ingesting something hallucinogenic results in trippy visions.
130	* NightmareFuelStationAttendant \
131	An innocent character who constantly creeps out those around them.
132	* NonSequitur \
133	The conclusion doesn't follow from the premises.
134	* NonSequiturEnvironment\
135	A new area suddenly appears with no logical transition or source.
136	* NonSequiturThud \
137	Saying something random after being clobbered.
138	* NonsenseClassification \
139	A classification that doesn't make any sense at all.
140	* NoodleIncident \
141	An event in the past that's referenced but never explained. Usually PlayedForLaughs.
142	* NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer \
143	This is/was real. Really.
144	* OddballDoppelganger \
145	An unholy dead ringer of an often sane character.
146	* OurMonstersAreWeird\
147	Monster may or not be terrifying, but is definitely surreal.
148	* OxymoronicBeing \
149	Someone or something that is innately self-contradictory.
150	* ParadoxPerson \
151	This person should not be possible to exist by the laws of the setting but somehow still does.
152	* PersonalDictionary \
153	Changing the definition of a word to suit your purposes.
154	* PuffOfLogic \
155	When a convincing argument causes something to stop existing.
156	* QuirkyWork \
157	A work that audiences don't think makes much sense. There's no way someone could have come up with it unless they were high -- oh wait, they did?
158	* RealityIsOutToLunch \
159	An area where the laws of physics or reality just stop applying.
160	* RefugeInAudacity \
161	Do something outrageous enough and everyone will be too dumbfounded to interfere or punish you.
162	* ReminderOfImpossibility\
163	Tell somebody that they are unable to do what they are doing, and they will experience reality as they stop.
164	* RunsOnIgnorance \
165	For when things only work when you don't understand them.
166	* SaharanShipwreck \
167	A shipwreck is found in the Sahara. Isn't that weird?
168	* ScaledUp \
169	Turning into something reptilian.
170	* SerialEscalation \
171	A consistent escalation in whatever the heck a work is doing.
172	* ShaggyFrogStory \
173	An anecdote or fable with the point that is has absolutely no point.
174	* SpringtimeForHitler \
175	There's nothing just as crazy as failing at failing.
176	* StillFightingTheCivilWar \
177	Some people just can't get over the fact that "their side" lost some conflict long ago.
178	* SuccessThroughInsanity\
179	A crazy character is more effective and/or awesome ''because'' of their craziness.
180	* SurrealHorror \
181	It's scary ''and'' it makes no sense.
182	* SurrealHumor \
183	RuleOfFunny meets MediaNotes/{{Dada}}.
184	* {{Surrealism}} \
185	Art movement which wanted to release the creative potential of the unconscious mind, by irrational juxtaposition of images, illogical scenes, dream logic or pure MindScrew.
186	* SurrealMusicVideo \
187	MindScrew. Music video edition.
188	* SurrealThemeTune \
189	A theme tune with random lyrics that has little connection to the show.
190	* TakenFromADream: \
191	A character brings something from a literal dreamworld into reality.
192	* TestosteronePoisoning \
193	RatedMForManly exaggerated to absurd levels.
194	* ThoughtAversionFailure \
195	Ordering someone to not think about something is impossible and inherently paradoxical.
196	* TheTreacheryOfImages \
197	This is an image. ''But it doesn't exist.''
198	* TrippyFinaleSyndrome \
199	The grande finale takes place in some trippy and abstract realm.
200	* TrueArtIsIncomprehensible \
201	Anyone can understand this tripe, it can't possibly be artistic!
202	* TheTysonZone \
203	Some celebrities allow their reputation to become so bizarre that any story about them is believable.
204	* ViolationOfCommonSense \
205	Do something stupid enough, and you'll be rewarded.
206	* {{Wackyland}}\
207	A place where the laws of physics and logic no longer apply.
208	* WakingNonSequitur \
209	A strange outburst from someone whose mouth is awake and functioning a split second before their brain is.
210	* TheWalrusWasPaul \
211	The creator of a work outright admits it was deliberately made to confuse the audience and poke fun at their attempts to find meaning in it.
212	* WaveOfBabies \
213	A wave comprised of infants. What else?
214	* WeirdAside \
215	A person mentions something utterly weird in passing as if it were quite normal.
216	* WeirdnessCoupon \
217	If someone is "weird", it's acceptable that they do things that normal people couldn't get away with.
218	* WhereTheHellIsSpringfield \
219	A city or place about which the work gives conflicting clues where it is located.
220	* TheWonderland \
221	An alternate world that is indistinguishable from dream reality.
222	* WordSaladHorror \
223	A random string of disturbing, ominous but ultimately meaningless phrases can indicate that something really creepy is going on.
224	* WordSaladHumor \
225	Take InherentlyFunnyWords and try and combine them to make a funny sentence.
226	* WordSaladPhilosophy \
227	"I believe in MeaninglessMeaningfulWords."
228	* WorldGoneMad \
229	Nothing makes sense in this place.
230	* WorldOfChaos \
231	WorldGoneMad doesn't ''begin'' to describe this place.
232	* WorldOfWeirdness \
233	A world where real-life elements co-exist with various fantastical elements and the weirdest stuff imaginable.
234	[[/index]]

Context Main / AbsurdityAscendant