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Does "character uses a Zippo Lighter" have any special meaning that is not covered by other tropes? Because to me it seems no more tropeworthy than people sitting on chairs.
Edited by shadowblack
Mostly zippos are used because Rule of Cool, but aside from that, the use of one doesn't exactly convey a storytelling shorthand, which is what tropes are.
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Thanks to all above for the good points and feedback. I think shadowblack's People Sit On Chairs pretty much sums it up.
Would Zippo Lighter be a worthy trope? By this I'm referring to how often Zippo Lighters show up in film and television, when you likely don't really see them used that often in Real Life. We already have Reuseable Lighter Toss, where Zippo lighters figure heavily, but I'm referring to them just being used by characters, without the lighter toss involved. The Winchester brothers use them so often in Supernatural you'd think Zippo sponsored the show, in Platoon practically all the characters use them. Bunny even uses one to light a thatched hut on fire, then lights his cigarette with it. The distinctive click of the cover being opened and closed is iconic. I recall more than one movie when the hero held it over a smoke detector to trigger the alarm and the sprinklers.
Thoughts?
Edited by Traveler123