This is discussion archived from a time before the current discussion method was installed.
Tzintzuntzan: I like this page, but I don't see how it's different from Contemplate Our Navels. Both are about wasting the audience's time with pseudo-mystical BS, and both even single out the narration in Heroes.
Mister Six: Well, psuedo-philosophical narration is definitely a recurring trope. I think it's important enough to warrant an entry.
Travis Wells: The Beast of Yucca Flats description is not right. The movie was filmed from the start without audio, intending to dub it in later (people talk & weapons are fired off screen so that sound sync isn't a problem). It's also not just narration, many characters in the movie (all 5 of them) have lines. Not sure how to phrase that in the entry though
Kilyle: How does this (obviously bad) narration differ from the philosophic narration on Criminal Minds? 'Cuz I enjoy that narration and it usually does add some perspective to the topic at hand or to the criminal's motivation. I think it works well and makes the series better, so I'm trying to figure out how it differs from this trope.
Fast Eddie: The cogency of the narration, most likely. I'll try to find a transcript from each to contrast. Ooh, goodie! A Google Quest!
//later: Step one:
- JASON GIDEON: (v.o.) Nietzsche once said, "When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks into you."
CM, "Pilot"
Step Two:
- MOHINDER: (v.o.) This quest.MOHINDER: (v.o.) This need to solve life's mysteries. In the end, what does it matter when the human heart can only find meaning in the smallest of moments?MOHINDER: (v.o.) They're here. Among us. In the shadows. In the light. Everywhere. Do they even know yet?
Heroes, "GENESIS" (Pilot)
Both are closing voice-overs, both from pilots. Fairly even, then, for comparison purposes.
The CM bit delineates, it states a thesis which will be explored — staying humane while dealing with inhumanity.
The Heroes bit poses some questions with the same intent, sort of. The implication is that the series is about plumbing mysteries, with a side-trip to the effect that doing so may be futile. Then it does another thing. Stating the series premise — there be superpowerfuls among us, which may be a mystery even to them.
The CM bit is punchy and directly on point. The Heroes bit wanders a bit and is thereby a bit wordy.
So... uhm. Cogency.
(BTW: The Heroes v.o.'s don't bother me as much as they seem to do others. They give it a dream-like feeling that seems apt, to me.)
Earnest: Props to Zeta for working in the Endless from The Sandman.
Dreamoflife: I don't know if I'd group Suzumiya Haruhi No Yuutsu under this— Kyon's narration is more sarcastic than philosophical.
Elihu: The bit about Oz seems pretty exaggerated. The Augustus Hill monologues were designed to be the equivalent of the Greek Chorus, going over the plot themes and discussing the thoughts of the prisoners through the eyes of an omniscient voice. They often mused on the human condition, but definitely not enough to be fauxlosophic.
Banshou: some of material listed here seems a bit subjective...
Unknown Troper: Extremely subjective, in some cases. The trope itself is definitely bait for Complaining About Shows You Dont Like, too.
VVK: It seems that the article as it is is written to be "self-demonstrating" of Department of Redundancy Department. What's with that?
girlyboy: I thought the same thing. The trope is about characters getting all philosophical to pad a work, but there's nothing like that in the trope. It's not self-demonstrating, and the redundancy is confusing more than... amusing. You're just sitting there going, "wait... why are you repeating that? I know what you're trying to do, but it doesn't make sense!"
Unknown Troper: Is it just me, or are some of the examples on here less to do with "irrelevant philosphical content" and more to do with "complaining about philosophical content you don't like"?
