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Are Idealistic Works Less Popular?

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Rainbow Pomeranian Lover from Central Illinois (Veteran)
Pomeranian Lover
#1: Mar 21st 2011 at 8:33:17 AM

It might just be this site, but is idealistic fiction less popular nowadays?

MajorTom Eye'm the cutest! Since: Dec, 2009 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Eye'm the cutest!
#2: Mar 21st 2011 at 8:41:54 AM

For some genres yes, some not. Children's books for example are far from succumbing to cynicism.

edited 21st Mar '11 8:42:14 AM by MajorTom

"Allah may guide their bullets, but Jesus helps those who aim down the sights."
Karkadinn Karkadinn from New Orleans, Louisiana Since: Jul, 2009
Karkadinn
#3: Mar 21st 2011 at 8:52:17 AM

-looks at Harry Potter, Twilight-

No, I think idealism is doing just fine in fiction, why d'you ask?

edited 21st Mar '11 8:53:10 AM by Karkadinn

Furthermore, I think Guantanamo must be destroyed.
breadloaf Since: Oct, 2010
#4: Mar 21st 2011 at 9:02:10 AM

I think it's just the natural pendulum swing. We've had a lot of idealistic fiction in the past few decades, so we're bored of it and wish literature that get past the many plot holes of it. Maybe a few decades from now, we go back to idealistic fiction again.

Rainbow Pomeranian Lover from Central Illinois (Veteran)
Pomeranian Lover
#5: Mar 21st 2011 at 9:07:48 AM

[up][up] I asked because I was reacting to the "Deconstructing Magical girls" thread and the seeming cult popularity of the Puella Madoka Magica anime on this site. It might just be a TV tropes thing, with deconstruction and realism being so popular here.

edited 21st Mar '11 9:08:47 AM by Rainbow

darksidevoid Anti-Gnosis Weapon from The Frontiers (Ancient one) Relationship Status: Robosexual
Anti-Gnosis Weapon
#6: Mar 21st 2011 at 9:37:44 AM

I'm not sure about popularity, but personally, I prefer stories that reconstruct idealistic viewpoints rather than deconstructing them straight into cynicism. At least here on TvTropes, I feel like unrealistic idealism in works is unpopular simply because we've seen it all, and our awareness of tropes tends to cheapen purely idealistic messages, unless it's So Bad It's Good.

edited 21st Mar '11 9:38:35 AM by darksidevoid

GM of AGOG S4: Frontiers RP; Sub-GM of TABA, SOTR, & UUA RPs
Aondeug Oh My from Our Dreams Since: Jun, 2009
Oh My
#7: Mar 21st 2011 at 10:10:23 AM

I've certainly noticed a trend towards cynicism here as well as those who greatly prefer idealism. I've seen more then a few arguments on the subject here. In fiction in general I think what Tom has said rings true. In some genres idealism is down and out for the most part while in others it is quite popular. Childrens books are a good place to find idealism and I often read them for that along with other reasons.

I myself like both and probably lean more towards "FRIENDSHIP AND COURAGE WILL SAVE THE WORLD MORE YELLING RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!". I mean...Sailor Moon is like my favorite thing in the whole world next to Tolkien (very depressing) and Dragon Quest (WHEE IDEALISM AND SIMPLE PLOTS). Puella Magi Madoka Magica is absolute love though. Which is nice. Most of the deconstructions and other so called Evangelions (Eva itself goes from being meh and boring to completely awesome for a few minutes) of their genres have frequently annoyed me in the realm of anime and manga...

-glares at Narutaru-

edited 21st Mar '11 10:10:46 AM by Aondeug

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah
Ekuran Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
#8: Mar 21st 2011 at 4:51:52 PM

What I enjoy most are realistic Reconstruction works, mostly because Deconstruction just feels like Rule of Drama: The Realistic Version. Constant bullshit being piled on characters is just as unrealistic as the fucking Teletubbies, It's just the former gets mistaken as art and wins awards.

So I guess I like works in the middle of that famous sliding scale. Probably because their the most realistic, but who the fuck knows.

edited 21st Mar '11 4:52:55 PM by Ekuran

G.G. Since: Dec, 1969
#9: Mar 21st 2011 at 8:41:37 PM

I tend to be cynical one minute while idealistic much late but nevetheless I agree. Real Life isn't a barel full of laughs but it isn't unnecesarily grimdark either, it simply just is.

Usht Lv. 3 Genasi Wizard from an arbitrary view point. Since: Feb, 2011
Lv. 3 Genasi Wizard
#10: Mar 21st 2011 at 8:44:42 PM

Four Words: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

But no, idealistic series are fun for kicks and laughs and feel good moments. Cynical series are good for drama, tension, and emotional yanking. However, the best series combine both to show true human nature, neither truly dark or 100% whimsical. People will always find something to laugh about while finding something to fight about.

edited 21st Mar '11 8:45:40 PM by Usht

The thing about making witty signature lines is that it first needs to actually be witty.
OnTheOtherHandle Since: Feb, 2010
#11: Mar 21st 2011 at 10:14:10 PM

The shows that truly have a broad audience base are a bit of both. Consider two of the most popular shows on the site: Avatar The Last Airbender and Firefly. Avatar leans heavily toward the idealistic side but has very depressing and desolate moments. Firefly is pretty cynical, but features noble characters who have honor among thieves.

"War doesn't prove who's right, only who's left." "Every saint has a past, every sinner has a future."
feotakahari Fuzzy Orange Doomsayer from Looking out at the city Since: Sep, 2009
Fuzzy Orange Doomsayer
#12: Mar 21st 2011 at 10:43:11 PM

Hmm . . . I can safely say that The Year's Best Science Fiction has a lot more cynical stories on average in recent years, but it's got a single editor, Gardner Dozois, so it might just be that he's going through a rough patch in his own life. The books on the shelf at the library vary pretty widely in terms of idealism and cynicism. The games on store shelves seem to be in the same state they've been in since I was old enough to play games—handhelds are primarily idealistic, everything else is primarily cynical.

That's Feo . . . He's a disgusting, mysoginistic, paedophilic asshat who moonlights as a shitty writer—Something Awful
FallenLegend Lucha Libre goddess from Navel Of The Moon. Since: Oct, 2010
Lucha Libre goddess
#13: Mar 21st 2011 at 11:06:12 PM

@Aondeug I agree.I love madoka too. And I really love it more than I ever liked evangelion. Homura FTW!!

To the OP it depends on the person. Mor example Dragonball Z ( a super idealistic work ) is still very popular nowdays.

Make your hearth shine through the darkest night; let it transform hate into kindness, evil into justice, and loneliness into love.
TheMightyAnonym PARTY HARD!!!! from Pony Chan Since: Jan, 2010
PARTY HARD!!!!
#14: Mar 21st 2011 at 11:12:25 PM

I genuinely believe in The Power of Friendship, The Power of Love, The Power of Trust, and all that jazz.

I don't see why it would be unpopular. Rather, deconstructions are just extra popular. Deconstructions can be very fun and even more idealistic than the item they deconstruct.

Deconstruction does not equal cynicism.

edited 21st Mar '11 11:25:26 PM by TheMightyAnonym

Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! ~ GOD
FallenLegend Lucha Libre goddess from Navel Of The Moon. Since: Oct, 2010
Lucha Libre goddess
#15: Mar 21st 2011 at 11:16:34 PM

[up]and Reconstuctions can be amazing too :)

Both idealism and cynism are forms of escapism acording to my research. They appeal to different kinds of people tough.

edited 21st Mar '11 11:16:47 PM by FallenLegend

Make your hearth shine through the darkest night; let it transform hate into kindness, evil into justice, and loneliness into love.
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