History Main / AngstAversion

Angst aversion is likely the number two reason for ExecutiveMeddling, behind the belief that ViewersAreMorons. People like [[MoneyDearBoy (and will pay for)]] [[HappilyEverBefore happy endings]], and executives know it- though, granted, [[TropesAreTools sometimes authors do need to be held back by calmer minds]] from throwing in a CruelTwistEnding that will [[AudienceAlienatingEnding alienate their audience]] or suddenly making their work [[CerebusSyndrome far darker]] just because they were [[CreatorBreakdown going through a rough patch lately]].

Angst aversion is likely the number two reason for ExecutiveMeddling, behind the belief that ViewersAreMorons. People like [[MoneyDearBoy (and will pay for)]] [[HappilyEverBefore happy endings]], and executives know it- though, granted, [[TropesAreTools sometimes authors do need to be held back by calmer minds]] from throwing in a CruelTwistEnding or suddenly making their work [[CerebusSyndrome far darker]] just because they were [[CreatorBreakdown going through a rough patch lately]].

However, art is also seen as {{Escapism}}, and rightfully so. Everyone agrees that people have their own tastes in the media they consume, and have their own particular limits in [[AngstDissonance how much fictional sadness and "interesting" conflict they are willing to put up with]], simply because everyone has their own real life problems to consider; some more than others. It is not too much to ask for entertainment to be, you know, ''entertaining''. If someone prefers a SugarWiki/WarmAndFuzzyFeeling over how the realism and catharsis of a tragedy or Current Events-based {{dystopia}}n literature that allegedly gets you to "think" (or enjoys either one depending on their mood), then more power to them. Only a very few want a world where everyone believes that "SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids" and that the only TrueArtIsAngsty, and anyone who thinks happy art cannot be good art is certainly not understanding enough.

However, art is also seen as {{Escapism}}, and rightfully so. Everyone agrees that people have their own tastes in the media they consume, and have their own particular limits in [[AngstDissonance how much fictional sadness and "interesting" conflict they are willing to put up with]], simply because how everyone has their own real life problems to consider. It is not too much to ask for entertainment to be, you know, ''entertaining''. If someone prefers a SugarWiki/WarmAndFuzzyFeeling over how the realism and catharsis of a tragedy or Current Events-based {{dystopia}}n literature that allegedly gets you to "think" (or enjoys either one depending on their mood), then more power to them. Only a very few want a world where everyone believes that "SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids" and that the only TrueArtIsAngsty, and anyone who thinks happy art cannot be good art is certainly not understanding enough.

Angst aversion, then, is the situation occurring when these two conceptions collide: the personal tendency for a person to avoid a work once they hear it has a DownerEnding, or is generally filled with sympathetic characters that will be put through hell [[ShaggyDogStory for nothing]]. This can easily happen when a normally lighthearted work is made DarkerAndEdgier, or undergoes CerebusSyndrome -- even people who normally have nothing against not-so-lighthearted fiction may lose interest if they had previously enjoyed the work for its lighter tone.

Angst aversion is likely the number two reason for ExecutiveMeddling, behind the belief that ViewersAreMorons. People like [[MoneyDearBoy (and will pay for)]] [[HappilyEverBefore happy endings]], and executives know it- though, granted, [[TropesAreTools sometimes authors do need to be held back]] by calmer minds from throwing in a CruelTwistEnding or suddenly making their work [[CerebusSyndrome far darker]] just because they are [[CreatorBreakdown going through a rough patch lately]].

However, art is also seen as {{Escapism}}, and rightfully so. Everyone agrees that people have their own tastes in the media they consume, and have their own particular limits in [[AngstDissonance how much fictional sadness and "interesting" conflict they are willing to put up with]], simply because how everyone has their own real life problems to consider. It is not too much to ask for entertainment to be, you know, ''entertaining''. If someone prefers a SugarWiki/WarmAndFuzzyFeeling over how the realism and catharsis of a tragedy or Current Events-based {{dystopia}}n literature that allegedly gets you to "think" (or enjoys either one depending on their mood), then more power to them. Only a very few want a world where everyone believes that "SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids" and that the only TrueArtIsAngsty, and anyone who thinks happy art cannot be good art is certainly not understanding enough. Angst aversion, then, is the situation occurring when these two conceptions collide: The personal tendency for a person to avoid a work once they hear it has a DownerEnding, or is generally filled with sympathetic characters that will be put through hell [[ShaggyDogStory for nothing.]] This can easily happen when a normally lighthearted work is made DarkerAndEdgier, or undergoes CerebusSyndrome -- even people who normally have nothing against not-so-lighthearted fiction may lose interest if they had previously enjoyed the work for its lighter tone.

-->-- '''Amethyst''', ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', "Reformed"

Angst aversion is likely the number two reason for ExecutiveMeddling, behind the belief that ViewersAreMorons. People like [[MoneyDearBoy (and will pay for)]] [[HappilyEverBefore happy endings]], and executives know it- though, granted, [[TropesAreTools sometimes authors do need to held back]] from throwing in a CruelTwistEnding or suddenly making their work [[CerebusSyndrome far darker]] just because they are [[CreatorBreakdown going through a rough patch lately]].

Angst aversion is likely the number two reason for ExecutiveMeddling, behind the belief that ViewersAreMorons. People like [[MoneyDearBoy (and will pay for)]] [[HappilyEverBefore happy endings]], and executives know it- though, granted, [[TropesAreTools sometimes authors do need to held back]] from throwing in a CruelTwistEnding or suddenly making their work [[CerebusSyndrome far darker]] just because they were[[CreatorBreakdown going through a rough patch]].

However, art is also seen as {{Escapism}}, and rightfully so. Everyone agrees that people have their own tastes in the media they consume, and have their own particular limits in [[AngstDissonance how much fictional sadness and "interesting" conflict they are willing to put up with]], simply because how everyone has their own real life problems to consider. It is not too much to ask for entertainment to be, you know, ''entertaining''. If someone prefers a SugarWiki/WarmAndFuzzyFeeling over how the realism and catharsis of a tragedy or Current Events-based {{dystopia}}n literature allegedly gets you to "think" (or enjoys either one depending on their mood), then more power to them. Only a very few want a world where everyone believes that "SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids" and that the only TrueArtIsAngsty, and anyone who thinks happy art cannot be good art is certainly not understanding enough. Angst aversion, then, is the situation occurring when these two conceptions collide: The personal tendency for a person to avoid a work once they hear it has a DownerEnding, or is generally filled with sympathetic characters that will be put through hell [[ShaggyDogStory for nothing.]] This can easily happen when a normally lighthearted work is made DarkerAndEdgier, or undergoes CerebusSyndrome -- even people who normally have nothing against not-so-lighthearted fiction may lose interest if they had previously enjoyed the work for its lighter tone.