NSFW/Image Macro: Antiquated Linguistics

It appears that Someone has taken the Libertie of putting one of thoſe Charming, but Dreadfully Unſofiſticated Captioned Pictures known as Image Macroes upon this Article. I reccomend that we do away with It and ſeek out a Replacement forthwith.

Does any-one have any Suggeſtions?

edited 23rd Sep '12 1:23:13 PM by TropeEater

I regret to confeß þat I am lacking in Ideas at þis preſente Moment in time. I have removed þe Image, it being baſed on such a Þing knowne commonly as a "meme".

Joseph Ducreux kindly requests that you drop it like it is hot.

edited 23rd Sep '12 1:28:55 PM by Telcontar

I decline to make this a self-demonstrating thread.

I actually rather prefer the image removed. Here's why.

In general, I accept that image macros are bad page images. They tend to rely on the text to demonstrate the trope, with the image being totally random. Furthermore, many if not most tropes do not require text to adequately illustrate them. However, this trope is about language—the text itself of necessity determines the applicability of the trope, with the image serving to reinforce it. That's why I find the macro being used—Ducreux pointing and laughing with the archaic translation of rap lyrics—just perfect. Specifically, this image is good because this particular meme is actually based on the trope: you laugh at the words because of the clash between the faux-archaic language and the actual meaning of the phrase ("drop it like it's hot"). Then you laugh at the image for a similar reason—Ducreux is pointing and laughing, but is dressed in period-appropriate clothing, so the clash between what he's doing and our conceptions of the era in which he lived is what makes the image funny by itself. Together, the elements of the image show us one of the ways in which this trope is used, and very effectively.

I think we can all accept that page image should above all be an illustration of the trope rather than an explanation—that is, it should use the trope. In other words, the image is an example. This particular image is not only an example, it is a good example—it deploys the trope effectively. The image and the text work together at least as well as any comic strip in which a character uses this kind of language. Arguably, this is a comic strip, after a fashion, since the finger-pointing (let's face it) inevitably leads you imagine that Ducreux is telling you "Release it from your grasp..." rather than it being commentary on the subject of the image.

I also fail to see how this is NSFW, except in the general and over-literal sense that viewing image macros in general is considered improper at the workplace (but then, so is being on TV Tropes if your boss cares at all about productivity...). Even the "translated" lyric—"drop it like it's hot"—couldn't be seen as truly NSFW: although the song might have had a clean edit (two of them, in fact), neither removed the specific line.

To summarize: While macros in general are bad page images, this one is not, because the image reinforces the text, and the text is a good example. It is also not NSFW.

You could argue, I suppose, that no image should be there. Perhaps true. But given that this is—I contend—a good image, why not put one there?

edited 27th Sep '12 6:24:25 PM by karstovich2

From How To Pick A Good Image: "Memes: They're verboten unless, of course, the page is about a meme."

re: the NSFW thing, that's just how the tags in IP work. NSFW and Image Macro have one tag together.

...in this case, the meme is about the page.

Text tacked onto a picture is tacky.

I also don't really see how it even illustrates the trope. It's not using modern rapper slang, but I don't see how it's antiquated. It sounds more formal and odd than anything else.

I've got an idea, but I'm out of time to research it...tonight if I get a chance.

I do not mind leaving this Article without Image, but I do wiſh to find one if at all poſsible. Let us continue to look for a Replacement. Has anyone seen a Panel of one of those new-fangled Media known as "Comicks" in which this Literary Concept is diſplayed?

edited 29th Sep '12 9:19:31 AM by TropeEater

Verily, the hindmoſt panel of this Queſtionable Content strip could poſsibly be the very thing to satiſfy our peruſal.

Apparently, the character code doth not function in our persnickety ticktock language. Fuck.

edited 28th Sep '12 7:32:40 AM by Willbyr

Verily I sayeth that thine offering doth satisfy.

edited 28th Sep '12 7:28:47 AM by tdgoodrich1

That's lovely.

Nice.

@9: Totes rad, dudebro.

I had to play around with different versions to get a sizing on the speech balloons that was legible, but I think this works well enough.

Fine with me; his expression is great.

That Panel is Good, but I fear it does border on Ye Olde Butcherede Englishe.

edited 29th Sep '12 9:22:06 AM by TropeEater

It's close, but I think the contrast between her and him makes the trope clear enough. Also, the pic on Ye Olde Butcherede Englishe is fantastic as is. I think we've got enough consensus to run with the pic, so I'll put it up.

EDIT: And done...locking up.

edited 29th Sep '12 9:27:16 AM by Willbyr