Line #37 Main/Emo - TV Tropes


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5	[[quoteright:350:[[Film/EmoTheMusical https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/emothemusical.png]]]]
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8	->''"And I don't know God\
9	And I don't know anyone\
10	And I don't know God\
11	And I don't know if anything at all will be all right."''
12	-->-- The Promise Ring, "Nothing Feels Good"
13
14	Originally short for [[EmoMusic Emotive Hardcore]], a SubGenre of HardcorePunk originating in the mid '80s and developing into a PopPunk[=/=]AlternativeRock movement generally referred to purely as "emo" in the '90s. Notable for distancing itself from the anti-authority, anarchic aggression of standard PunkRock, "Emotive Hardcore" sought to express a more varied, emotionally-aware, contemplative and introspective range of ideas via the stripped down, DIY punk mentality. In the '90s and onwards, this philosophy turned itself to expressions of heart-on-sleeve feelings, often pertaining to unrequited love, heartbreak, and feelings of insecurity and alienation. The TurnOfTheMillennium saw the genre rise in popularity. It also saw the term take on a quite different meaning, with the emergence of 'Emo Pop' bands.
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16	These genres' fanbases came to be known as "Emo Kids," or just "Emos." Due to the reflective and melancholic nature of the music, the idea of "being emo" came to suggest sensitivity, introspection, low self-esteem, a bent towards the artistic/literary, and a tendency to taking issues more seriously and personally than considered "normal". Due to media misrepresentation, pejorative stereotyping and general ignorance, emo has since undergone considerable {{Flanderization}}, and has become a victim of CowboyBebopAtHisComputer, particularly since the mid 2000's when the term gained traction in the [[PublicMediumIgnorance mainstream media]]. As a result, "emo" is now a catch-all term for a rather ill-defined mish-mash of alternative music and subcultures, as well as entering the public lexicon as a noun or adjective suggesting excessive angst or emotionality.
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18	Ultimately a person might mean any one of these when using the term "emo":
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20	# [[EmoMusic Post-hardcore or emo music]].
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22	# A fan of the above. Stereotypically characterised as an introverted, overly-introspective misfit, although some may just be fans of the music and not exhibit these traits.
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24	# Personality. A person may or may not be a fan of the music genre or scene, but may be called "emo" if they posses some of the personality traits listed above. A person may also describe their or others' moods as "emo". When a character in fiction is deemed "emo," it is usually based in this definition, which naturally is highly open to subjective interpretation. Terming someone as "emo" can run the gamut from in-the-moment behaviour to an assessment of their general personality.
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26	# A trend-hopping teenager affecting angst or melancholy because it's fashionable. This definition doesn't actually possess any actual "emo" personality traits nor are they particularly interested in [[EmoMusic the music]], yet ironically the idea of "emo" as the insincere, superficial affectations of [[AttentionWhore attention-seeking teenagers]] is for many their [[PublicMediumIgnorance default understanding]] of the term.
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28	# A [[CowboyBebopAtHisComputer catch-all]] [[PublicMediumIgnorance term]] for a number of subcultures with a slightly dark, moody bent. [[BerserkButton Emo isn't Goth and Goth isn't Emo!]]
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31	Due to the moody, melancholic nature of the music and the feelings it inspires, as well as the general vibe of the modern "emo image", [[GothsHaveItHard self-harm, depression and suicide are associated with emo]]. Nowhere in actual emo subculture are these things encouraged; indeed for many the music is a form of [[CatharsisFactor therapy]] and is often why such people seek out the music. Some young people in the AttentionWhore category may affect these for image purposes, but they should not be indulged by handing them the term they covet.
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33	With regards to tropes, "emo" is generally associated with sensitivity, angst, moodiness and an excessive preoccupation with ones own feelings and woes. Emo contrasts with TheStoic in that TheStoic maintains their calm and composure where the emo types wear their angst writ over their very being. Can be NotSoStoic as they ''attempt'' to be TheStoic and fail. PerpetualFrowner, TroubledButCute, DarkAndTroubledPast, ByronicHero (which makes the trope OlderThanSteam) could all be considered "emo" characterisations, a Woobie often gets a healthy dose of emo, and there's {{Wangst}} when one feels the angst is excessive - although [[NoSympathy some will term it that regardless]]. The EmoTeen page details the reductive stereotype [[PublicMediumIgnorance commonly associated with the term]].
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36	Not to be confused with comedian Creator/EmoPhillips, nor with Emo, County Laois, Ireland. And especially not to be confused with {{Goth}}s.
37	----
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39	[[AC:Professional Wrestling]]

Context Main / Emo