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Author: MartyD82

Jul 15th 2012 at 2:10:04 PM

I, too, think HollywoodBully would be a better title, since you're actually describing the core template Hollywood typically uses for bullying.

One thing you should also mention: Bullies, particularly in high school shows and movies, will always be star athletes (JerkJock). Football and basketball seem to be the two main sports in this respect, given that they're the most popular and significant sports at most real life high schools. Of course, the bullied protagonist will have zero athletic ability (even if the actor himself is quite athletic in real life). Once again, this is because it's a lot harder to create an interesting conflict with a more nerdy and/or athletically rudimentary bully than it would be with a ridiculously athletic bully.

I think the "Epic Schoolyard Fight" should maybe be a trope itself, given how common it is in kid and teen movies/shows and how heavily exaggerated it is compared to the generally clumsy and awkward schoolyard brawls in real life.

Lightly averted with Alan on ''FreaksAndGeeks'', who's neither athletic nor popular. He tends to use psychological torment more often than physical torment, only really resorting to physical torment when it's convenient (ie. after school).

Actually, TheKarateKid example tends to be truth in television... if you're in grade school. Maybe Junior High. But, once you're in high school and girls are on both your and your tormentor's minds, simply winning a fight against him won't stop him from bullying you. He'll just plot some kind of revenge scheme, since his own pride has now been damaged.