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* ''Dead Famous'' is a Radio 4 documentary strand tracing artists' posthumous careers backwards from their current fame to their death in obscurity, looking at the mechanisms that make this happen.



* ''Dead Famous'' is a Radio 4 documentary strand tracing artists' posthumous careers backwards from their current fame to their death in obscurity, looking at the mechanisms that make this happen.



* Timberlake Wertenbaker's play ''Three Birds Alighting on a Field'' invokes this trope repeatedly. One scene has an art dealer discussing the disappointing sales of a particular painter. The artist had died young, which the dealer mentions as a "good thing, from a marketing point of view".



* Timberlake Wertenbaker's play ''Theatre/ThreeBirdsAlightingOnAField'' invokes this trope repeatedly. One scene has an art dealer discussing the disappointing sales of a particular painter. The artist had died young, which the dealer mentions as a "good thing, from a marketing point of view".



* Subverted in ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'' where Torg's attempts to get his dead friend Bert's painting into a gallery are [[http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=021218 wildly unsuccessful.]]

to:

* Subverted Butch of ''Webcomic/ChoppingBlock'' takes advantage of this, [[http://choppingblock.keenspot.com/d/20010108.html buying paintings from artists before he kills them.]]
* Spoofed
in ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'' ''Webcomic/CyanideAndHappiness'', where Torg's attempts to get an artist insists he will be "more famous after he dies", then hangs himself with his dead friend Bert's painting into own intestinal tract. A subsequent newspaper headline still describes him as "pretty bad".
* Invoked by Amelia Travoria in ''Webcomic/DominicDeegan''. She used her enchantment magic to drive Michael Cao to produce darker pictures until he was DrivenToSuicide, so she could sell his last works at
a gallery are [[http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=021218 wildly unsuccessful.]]markup.



* Spoofed in ''Webcomic/CyanideAndHappiness'', where an artist insists he will be "more famous after he dies", then hangs himself with his own intestinal tract. A subsequent newspaper headline still describes him as "pretty bad".



* Butch of ''Webcomic/ChoppingBlock'' takes advantage of this, [[http://choppingblock.keenspot.com/d/20010108.html buying paintings from artists before he kills them.]]
* Invoked by Amelia Travoria in ''Webcomic/DominicDeegan''. She used her enchantment magic to drive Michael Cao to produce darker pictures until he was DrivenToSuicide, so she could sell his last works at a markup.

to:

* Butch of ''Webcomic/ChoppingBlock'' takes advantage of this, [[http://choppingblock.keenspot.com/d/20010108.html buying paintings from artists before he kills them.]]
* Invoked by Amelia Travoria
Subverted in ''Webcomic/DominicDeegan''. She used her enchantment magic ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'' where Torg's attempts to drive Michael Cao to produce darker pictures until he was DrivenToSuicide, so she could sell get his last works at dead friend Bert's painting into a markup.gallery are [[http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=021218 wildly unsuccessful.]]



* A ''WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain'' episode had Pinky become a hugely successful artist named "Pinkasso", with Brain collecting the money made from his paintings to fund his latest scheme. Naturally, Brain makes "Pinkasso's" popularity skyrocket by announcing his death, but it backfires when Pinky stupidly walks into the auction of the "deceased" artist's work.
* [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Lisa is outraged that a record of her deceased idol, Bleeding Gums Murphy, costs $250. When Comic Book Guy learns the man is dead, he immediately doubles the price to $500.
** In the show's parody of ''Film/{{Amadeus}}'', the dying Mozart (Bart) comments to his sister (Lisa, the Salieri figure) that he thought she was the more talented artist, but now that he is dying young he'll "be cool forever".
* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold'', Dino Spumoni tried to increase his popularity again by faking his death - he got the idea from a book he read about van Gogh. His plan backfired when an imitator took in all his business instead.



* In ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryInc'', Daphne describes Fred as "one of those geniuses who nobody understands until they're dead." Her description's debatable, though this incarnation of Fred is, at the least, definitely a CloudCuckooLander.

to:

* Used for a joke in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}''. Archer casually mentions that his long-suffering valet Woodhouse is a genius at what he does.
-->'''Woodhouse:''' Though like so many other geniuses; unappreciated in his time.
* In ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryInc'', Daphne describes Fred as "one of those geniuses who nobody understands until they're dead." Her description's debatable, though this incarnation of Fred is, the ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'' episode "Paint Misbehavin'" after Splatter Phoenix is splashed with turpentine and begins to [[ImMelting melt]] she comments that at the least, definitely a CloudCuckooLander.very least her paintings may now be worth something after she's dead.



* In the ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'' episode "Paint Misbehavin'" after Splatter Phoenix is splashed with turpentine and begins to [[ImMelting melt]] she comments that at the very least her paintings may now be worth something after she's dead.
* Used for a joke in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}''. Archer casually mentions that his long-suffering valet Woodhouse is a genius at what he does.
-->'''Woodhouse:''' Though like so many other geniuses; unappreciated in his time.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode "Out of the Picture", an art critic makes the mistake of informing [[MoneyFetish Mr. Krabs]] of this trope, prompting him to make repeated attempts at getting Squidward "[[DeadlyEuphemism out of the picture]]" so he can resell Squidward's worthless paintings for a huge profit.

to:

* In the ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'' episode "Paint Misbehavin'" after Splatter Phoenix is splashed with turpentine and begins to [[ImMelting melt]] she comments that at the very least her paintings may now be worth something after she's dead.
* Used for a joke in an
one episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}''. Archer casually mentions that ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold'', Dino Spumoni tried to increase his long-suffering valet Woodhouse is a genius at what he does.
-->'''Woodhouse:''' Though like so many other geniuses; unappreciated in
popularity again by faking his time.
* In
death - he got the ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode "Out of the Picture", idea from a book he read about van Gogh. His plan backfired when an art critic makes the mistake of informing [[MoneyFetish Mr. Krabs]] of this trope, prompting him to make repeated attempts at getting Squidward "[[DeadlyEuphemism out of the picture]]" so he can resell Squidward's worthless paintings for a huge profit.imitator took in all his business instead.


Added DiffLines:

* A ''WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain'' episode had Pinky become a hugely successful artist named "Pinkasso", with Brain collecting the money made from his paintings to fund his latest scheme. Naturally, Brain makes "Pinkasso's" popularity skyrocket by announcing his death, but it backfires when Pinky stupidly walks into the auction of the "deceased" artist's work.
* In ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryInc'', Daphne describes Fred as "one of those geniuses who nobody understands until they're dead." Her description's debatable, though this incarnation of Fred is, at the least, definitely a CloudCuckooLander.
* [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': Lisa is outraged that a record of her deceased idol, Bleeding Gums Murphy, costs $250. When Comic Book Guy learns the man is dead, he immediately doubles the price to $500.
** In the show's parody of ''Film/{{Amadeus}}'', the dying Mozart (Bart) comments to his sister (Lisa, the Salieri figure) that he thought she was the more talented artist, but now that he is dying young he'll "be cool forever".
* In the ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode "Out of the Picture", an art critic makes the mistake of informing [[MoneyFetish Mr. Krabs]] of this trope, prompting him to make repeated attempts at getting Squidward "[[DeadlyEuphemism out of the picture]]" so he can resell Squidward's worthless paintings for a huge profit.

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%% Real Life examples of Tear Jerker are not allowed. This also means no potholing to the page to emphasize how sad a real person's death is.



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%% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please add your example in the proper place. Thanks!
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%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1368840591044660100
%% Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread.
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%% Real Life examples of Tear Jerker are not allowed. This also means no potholing to the page to emphasize how sad a real person's death is.
%%



* Invoked in an episode of ''Anime/SorcererHunters'' where the VillainOfTheWeek tries to have an artist killed just to increase the value of his paintings.



* Invoked in an episode of ''Anime/SorcererHunters'' where the VillainOfTheWeek tries to have an artist killed just to increase the value of his paintings.



* In ''ComicBook/AdventureTimeMarcelineGoneAdrift'', an evil hipster takes advantage of Marceline's apparent death to appoint himself the keeper of her memory, produce unauthorised merch, and eventually loot her house for memorabilia.



* In ''ComicBook/AdventureTimeMarcelineGoneAdrift'', an evil hipster takes advantage of Marceline's apparent death to appoint himself the keeper of her memory, produce unauthorised merch, and eventually loot her house for memorabilia.



* In ''Fanfic/ClaroDeLuna'' it's mentioned that the famous cellist Colccherini wasn't well-recognized until after his death. This also foreshadows Octavia's own fate, as her lover Luna immortalizes her in history after her death.



* In ''Fanfic/ClaroDeLuna'' it's mentioned that the famous cellist Colccherini wasn't well-recognized until after his death. This also foreshadows Octavia's own fate, as her lover Luna immortalizes her in history after her death.



[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]

to:

[[folder:Films [[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]Live-Action]]
* The trope is the whole plot of the '60s movie ''Film/TheArtOfLove'', which has Dick Van Dyke staging his own death to increase the value of his paintings.



* The trope is the whole plot of the '60s movie ''Film/TheArtOfLove'', which has Dick Van Dyke staging his own death to increase the value of his paintings.



* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novel ''Literature/SoulMusic'', Music With Rocks In requires the early death of its first host (the singer Buddy) in order to spread further. "Everyone will remember the songs he never had a chance to sing. And they would be the greatest songs of all." See the quote page.
* OlderThanRadio: In one of Creator/MarkTwain's short stories, two starving artists manufacture a great deal of art... and then manufacture a story about how the artist who painted these things is fatally ill. Naturally, the artist in question eventually "dies", and his paintings become valuable overnight. Note that said dead artist is François Millet.
* ''[[Literature/LordPeterWimsey Strong Poison]]'' by Creator/DorothyLSayers is a murder mystery in which the victim and the prime suspect are both authors. The publicity from the trial substantially helps both their sales; the detective discusses this as a possible motive for the murder but doesn't pursue it because he's in love with the suspect and trying to clear her. As it turns out, she's innocent, and his murder had nothing to do with him being an author.
* In Margaret Atwood's ''Literature/ResourcesOfTheIkarians'', the inhabitants of a barren island devoid of sources of income start cultivating dead artists.

to:

* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novel ''Literature/SoulMusic'', Music With Rocks In requires the early death ''The Book of its first host (the singer Buddy) in order to spread further. "Everyone will remember the songs he never had a chance to sing. And they would be the greatest songs of all." See the quote page.
* OlderThanRadio: In one of Creator/MarkTwain's short stories, two starving artists manufacture a great deal of art... and then manufacture a story about how the artist who painted these things is fatally ill. Naturally, the artist in question eventually "dies", and his paintings become valuable overnight. Note that said dead artist is François Millet.
* ''[[Literature/LordPeterWimsey Strong Poison]]'' by Creator/DorothyLSayers is a murder mystery in which the victim and the prime suspect are both authors. The publicity from the trial substantially helps both their sales; the detective
Basketball'', Creator/TheSportsGuy discusses this as how Usefulnotes/MichaelJordan's unretirement years were a possible motive blemish to a great career by comparing it to Music/KurtCobain: he says part of why Music/{{Nirvana}} attained legendary status was that their frontman killed himself at the band's peak. The last memory Cobain left was ''Music/MTVUnpluggedInNewYork'', but Jordan's wasn't sinking a last-minute 20-footer to win his sixth title in 8 years. Simmons even states Cobain could've outright ruined his legacy had he instead just sunk into drugs and insanity, leading to a tribulated personal life and albums of incoherent music that would make him be called just a wasted career rather than the father of alternative music. (he also points out Music/MichaelJackson was in 1987 considered the most talented pop artist ever, and then became OvershadowedByControversy enough that it took him dying for the murder but doesn't pursue it because he's in love with the suspect and trying people to clear her. As it turns out, she's innocent, and just focus on his murder had nothing to do with him being an author.
* In Margaret Atwood's ''Literature/ResourcesOfTheIkarians'', the inhabitants of a barren island devoid of sources of income start cultivating dead artists.
music again).



* ''Literature/TheSecondDeadlySin'' (1977) by Lawrence Sanders uses this trope. The artist with the terminal illness has stockpiled paintings to provide for his family and agent. But he lives longer than expected and keeps on producing more paintings...
* This was the entire motive of the killer in Literature/PhryneFisher novel ''Murder in Montparnasse''.
* The first case Creator/KevinJAnderson's [[Literature/DanShambleZombiePI Dan Shamble]] is shown working on in ''Death Warmed Over'' is that of a ghost artist, who's having a feud with his heirs: they don't want him to start painting again, because his pre-mortem paintings' value will plummet if they ''aren't'' his "last work" anymore.

to:

* ''Literature/TheSecondDeadlySin'' (1977) by Lawrence Sanders uses this trope. The artist with the terminal illness has stockpiled paintings to provide for his family and agent. But he lives longer than expected and keeps on producing more paintings...
* This was the entire motive of the killer in Literature/PhryneFisher novel ''Murder in Montparnasse''.
* The first case Creator/KevinJAnderson's [[Literature/DanShambleZombiePI ''[[Literature/DanShambleZombiePI Dan Shamble]] Shamble]]'' is shown working on in ''Death Warmed Over'' is that of a ghost artist, who's having a feud with his heirs: they don't want him to start painting again, because his pre-mortem paintings' value will plummet if they ''aren't'' his "last work" anymore.



* ''Literature/TheHike2023'': While Joni certainly wasn't unsuccessful as a musician when she was alive, it's mentioned that following her death her last album stays at the top of the charts for seven weeks, Helena's video of Joni's final live performance gets 20 million views and Joni's ex-boyfriend/manager Kai seems to forget all the problems they had (including threatening to sue her for breach of contract when she walked out on him) and gives interviews where he bangs on about Joni being the love of his life, with the implication it's because in death she's making him even more money.



* In ''The Book of Basketball'', Creator/TheSportsGuy discusses how Usefulnotes/MichaelJordan's unretirement years were a blemish to a great career by comparing it to Music/KurtCobain: he says part of why Music/{{Nirvana}} attained legendary status was that their frontman killed himself at the band's peak. The last memory Cobain left was ''Music/MTVUnpluggedInNewYork'', but Jordan's wasn't sinking a last-minute 20-footer to win his sixth title in 8 years. Simmons even states Cobain could've outright ruined his legacy had he instead just sunk into drugs and insanity, leading to a tribulated personal life and albums of incoherent music that would make him be called just a wasted career rather than the father of alternative music. (he also points out Music/MichaelJackson was in 1987 considered the most talented pop artist ever, and then became OvershadowedByControversy enough that it took him dying for people to just focus on his music again).
* ''Literature/TheHike2023'': While Joni certainly wasn't unsuccessful as a musician when she was alive, it's mentioned that following her death her last album stays at the top of the charts for seven weeks, Helena's video of Joni's final live performance gets 20 million views and Joni's ex-boyfriend/manager Kai seems to forget all the problems they had (including threatening to sue her for breach of contract when she walked out on him) and gives interviews where he bangs on about Joni being the love of his life, with the implication it's because in death she's making him even more money.

to:

* This was the entire motive of the killer in''Literature/PhryneFisher'' novel ''Murder in Montparnasse''.
* In ''The Book Margaret Atwood's ''Literature/ResourcesOfTheIkarians'', the inhabitants of Basketball'', Creator/TheSportsGuy a barren island devoid of sources of income start cultivating dead artists.
* ''Literature/TheSecondDeadlySin'' (1977) by Lawrence Sanders uses this trope. The artist with the terminal illness has stockpiled paintings to provide for his family and agent. But he lives longer than expected and keeps on producing more paintings...
* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novel ''Literature/SoulMusic'', Music With Rocks In requires the early death of its first host (the singer Buddy) in order to spread further. "Everyone will remember the songs he never had a chance to sing. And they would be the greatest songs of all." See the quote page.
* ''[[Literature/LordPeterWimsey Strong Poison]]'' by Creator/DorothyLSayers is a murder mystery in which the victim and the prime suspect are both authors. The publicity from the trial substantially helps both their sales; the detective
discusses how Usefulnotes/MichaelJordan's unretirement years were a blemish to a great career by comparing it to Music/KurtCobain: he says part of why Music/{{Nirvana}} attained legendary status was that their frontman killed himself at the band's peak. The last memory Cobain left was ''Music/MTVUnpluggedInNewYork'', but Jordan's wasn't sinking a last-minute 20-footer to win his sixth title in 8 years. Simmons even states Cobain could've outright ruined his legacy had he instead just sunk into drugs and insanity, leading to a tribulated personal life and albums of incoherent music that would make him be called just a wasted career rather than the father of alternative music. (he also points out Music/MichaelJackson was in 1987 considered the most talented pop artist ever, and then became OvershadowedByControversy enough that it took him dying for people to just focus on his music again).
* ''Literature/TheHike2023'': While Joni certainly wasn't unsuccessful
this as a musician when she was alive, it's mentioned that following her death her last album stays at possible motive for the top of the charts for seven weeks, Helena's video of Joni's final live performance gets 20 million views and Joni's ex-boyfriend/manager Kai seems to forget all the problems they had (including threatening to sue her for breach of contract when she walked out on him) and gives interviews where he bangs on about Joni being the murder but doesn't pursue it because he's in love of his life, with the implication it's because in death suspect and trying to clear her. As it turns out, she's making innocent, and his murder had nothing to do with him even more money.being an author.
* OlderThanRadio: In one of Creator/MarkTwain's short stories, two starving artists manufacture a great deal of art... and then manufacture a story about how the artist who painted these things is fatally ill. Naturally, the artist in question eventually "dies", and his paintings become valuable overnight. Note that said dead artist is François Millet.



* On ''Series/ThirtyRock'', Jenna's BioPic about Music/JanisJoplin is getting terrible advance reviews, so Jack decides to fake her death to take advantage of this effect. Jenna ends up [[AttendingYourOwnFuneral blowing the whole thing in the middle of a live televised tribute]] because of a banner showing her birth and death year: "It has the year I was born on it. The real year, not the actress year."



* ''Series/TheDukesOfHazzard'': Season 6's "Dead and Alive," where Boss Hogg declares Hazzard County artist Artie Bender dead...shortly after he witnesses two crooks rob an armored car. While Boss is anticipating selling Artie's paintings at grossly inflated prices, Bo and Luke are trying to have their alibi credited to hard-nosed Sheriff Little, who has fingered them as the suspects.

to:

* ''Series/TheDukesOfHazzard'': Season 6's "Dead and Alive," where Boss Hogg declares Hazzard County artist Artie Bender dead...shortly after he witnesses two crooks rob an armored car. While Boss is anticipating selling Artie's paintings at grossly inflated prices, Bo and Luke are trying to have their alibi credited to hard-nosed Sheriff Little, who has fingered them as In the suspects.''Series/{{Bones}}'' episode "The Skull in the Sculpture" the murderer turned out to be banking on this trope.



* In ''Series/SabrinaTheTeenageWitch'' Hilda sells Salem's paintings, passing them off as her own. When he changes his art style, the new paintings don't sell as well. His solution? Tell the newspapers Hilda died, hoping the paintings sell better. Unfortunately for her, the man she was dating reads the obituary and runs out of the house in terror when she comes into the room.
--> '''Hilda:''' That's just great. I meet the man of my dreams. And then I die.
* In ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'', George buys a crappy painting from an artist who he expects to die soon, hoping that his death will cause the painting to go up in price. Instead, the artist recovers from his illness, [[{{Irony}} crediting George with saving his life because somebody finally buying one of his paintings had restored his will to live]].

to:

* In ''Series/SabrinaTheTeenageWitch'' Hilda sells Salem's ''Series/CriminalMinds'': The unsub in "Magnum Opus" dies of SuicideByCop for this reason.
* ''Series/DeathInParadise'':
** The motive for murder in "Music of Murder".
** When an aging rock star is murdered in "Swimming in Murder", the killer arranges for him to die in the most rock-n-roll way possible: [[ElectrifiedBathtub being electrocuted in a swimming pool]]. The killer hopes this will make him a legend and ensure the band's comeback is successful.
* The ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E10VincentAndTheDoctor "Vincent and the Doctor"]] plays with the most famous real-life example by transporting Creator/VincentVanGogh to the present day; his
paintings, passing them off as her own. When he changes which were worthless in his time, are the subject of a major art style, expo, and the new man running it gushes about how Van Gogh is the greatest artist of all time. But seeing this apparently isn't enough to prevent his suicide.
* ''Series/TheDukesOfHazzard'': Season 6's "Dead and Alive," where Boss Hogg declares Hazzard County artist Artie Bender dead...shortly after he witnesses two crooks rob an armored car. While Boss is anticipating selling Artie's
paintings don't sell at grossly inflated prices, Bo and Luke are trying to have their alibi credited to hard-nosed Sheriff Little, who has fingered them as well. His solution? Tell the newspapers Hilda died, hoping the paintings sell better. Unfortunately for her, the man she was dating reads the obituary and runs out of the house in terror when she comes into the room.
--> '''Hilda:''' That's just great. I meet the man of my dreams. And then I die.
* In ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'', George buys a crappy painting from an artist who he expects to die soon, hoping that his death will cause the painting to go up in price. Instead, the artist recovers from his illness, [[{{Irony}} crediting George with saving his life because somebody finally buying one of his paintings had restored his will to live]].
suspects.



* In the ''Series/{{Bones}}'' episode "The Skull in the Sculpture" the murderer turned out to be banking on this trope.
* On ''Series/TheMuppetShow'', Gonzo once gave Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge his autograph under the assumption that it would be believed that his last act had rendered him dead, and his autograph would be worth a lot more.
* On ''Series/{{Taxi}}'', the Sunshine Cab Company employees bid on a painting by an artist Elaine knows is at death's door. He's announced dead right after the painting is sold to someone else, causing a priceless breakdown from Louie.
* In a ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' sketch, a marketing consultant advises a past-his-peak rock star that this trope is the best way to increase his popularity. When the performer proves reluctant to take this route, the consultant shows him a line graph comparing Peter Frampton's and [[Music/TheDoors Jim Morrison's]] album sales for the same time period.
* Parodied on an episode of ''Series/ICarly'': when Spencer (an amateur artist) is incorrectly reported dead in the newspaper for some unexplained reason, he (along with sister Carly) exploits this by milking thousands of dollars off of customers for his {{sculptures}}.



* ''Series/CriminalMinds'': The unsub in "Magnum Opus" dies of SuicideByCop for this reason.
* ''Series/MidsomerMurders'': After an artist is murdered in "The Dagger Club", her dealer immediately triples the price of all of her artworks.

to:

* ''Series/CriminalMinds'': The unsub Parodied on an episode of ''Series/ICarly'': when Spencer (an amateur artist) is incorrectly reported dead in "Magnum Opus" dies of SuicideByCop the newspaper for some unexplained reason, he (along with sister Carly) exploits this reason.
* ''Series/MidsomerMurders'': After an artist is murdered in "The Dagger Club", her dealer immediately triples the price
by milking thousands of all dollars off of her artworks.customers for his {{sculptures}}.



* On ''Series/ThirtyRock'', Jenna's BioPic about Music/JanisJoplin is getting terrible advance reviews, so Jack decides to fake her death to take advantage of this effect. Jenna ends up [[AttendingYourOwnFuneral blowing the whole thing in the middle of a live televised tribute]] because of a banner showing her birth and death year: "It has the year I was born on it. The real year, not the actress year."

to:

* On ''Series/ThirtyRock'', Jenna's BioPic about Music/JanisJoplin is getting terrible advance reviews, so Jack decides to fake her death to take advantage The pilot episode of ''Series/Lucifer2016'' has this effect. Jenna ends up [[AttendingYourOwnFuneral blowing turn out to be the whole thing in motive behind the middle of a live televised tribute]] because of a banner showing her birth and death year: "It has the year I was born on it. The real year, not the actress year."pop star's murder.



* ''Series/DeathInParadise'':
** The motive for murder in "Music of Murder".
** When an aging rock star is murdered in "Swimming in Murder", the killer arranges for him to die in the most rock-n-roll way possible: [[ElectrifiedBathtub being electrocuted in a swimming pool]]. The killer hopes this will make him a legend and ensure the band's comeback is successful.
* ''Series/MurderSheWrote'': In "Angel of Death", when it is thought that a famous playwright has been murdered, his director remarks that his final, unpublished play will have a sellout season.

to:

* ''Series/DeathInParadise'':
** The motive for murder in "Music of Murder".
** When
''Series/MidsomerMurders'': After an aging rock star artist is murdered in "Swimming in Murder", "[[Recap/MidsomerMurdersS17E1 The Dagger Club]]", her dealer immediately triples the killer arranges for him to die in the most rock-n-roll way possible: [[ElectrifiedBathtub being electrocuted in a swimming pool]]. The killer hopes this will make him a legend and ensure the band's comeback is successful.
* ''Series/MurderSheWrote'': In "Angel
price of Death", when it is thought that a famous playwright has been murdered, his director remarks that his final, unpublished play will have a sellout season.all of her artworks.



* The ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E10VincentAndTheDoctor "Vincent and the Doctor"]] plays with the most famous real-life example by transporting Creator/VincentVanGogh to the present day; his paintings, which were worthless in his time, are the subject of a major art expo, and the man running it gushes about how Van Gogh is the greatest artist of all time. But seeing this apparently isn't enough to prevent his suicide.
* The pilot episode of ''Series/Lucifer2016'' has this turn out to be the motive behind the pop star's murder.

to:

* The ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E10VincentAndTheDoctor "Vincent On ''Series/TheMuppetShow'', Gonzo once gave Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge his autograph under the Doctor"]] plays with the most assumption that it would be believed that his last act had rendered him dead, and his autograph would be worth a lot more.
* ''Series/MurderSheWrote'': In "Angel of Death", when it is thought that a
famous real-life example by transporting Creator/VincentVanGogh to the present day; playwright has been murdered, his director remarks that his final, unpublished play will have a sellout season.
* In ''Series/SabrinaTheTeenageWitch'' Hilda sells Salem's
paintings, which were worthless in passing them off as her own. When he changes his time, are art style, the subject of a major art expo, and new paintings don't sell as well. His solution? Tell the newspapers Hilda died, hoping the paintings sell better. Unfortunately for her, the man running it gushes about how Van Gogh she was dating reads the obituary and runs out of the house in terror when she comes into the room.
--> '''Hilda:''' That's just great. I meet the man of my dreams. And then I die.
* In a ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' sketch, a marketing consultant advises a past-his-peak rock star that this trope
is the greatest best way to increase his popularity. When the performer proves reluctant to take this route, the consultant shows him a line graph comparing Peter Frampton's and [[Music/TheDoors Jim Morrison's]] album sales for the same time period.
* In ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'', George buys a crappy painting from an
artist of all time. But seeing this apparently isn't enough who he expects to prevent die soon, hoping that his suicide.
* The pilot episode of ''Series/Lucifer2016'' has this turn out to be
death will cause the motive behind painting to go up in price. Instead, the pop star's murder.artist recovers from his illness, [[{{Irony}} crediting George with saving his life because somebody finally buying one of his paintings had restored his will to live]].
* On ''Series/{{Taxi}}'', the Sunshine Cab Company employees bid on a painting by an artist Elaine knows is at death's door. He's announced dead right after the painting is sold to someone else, causing a priceless breakdown from Louie.



* Bill Drummond (later a member of Music/TheKLF) wrote a song that appeared on his solo album ''The Man'' dealing with just this. The title: "Julian Cope Is Dead". During the song, Julian Cope dies in order to make his band, The Teardrop Explodes, famous. Bill used to be the manager of the band and the song is a parody of Cope's own solo song "Bill Drummond Said". Drummond's frustration with the music industry (and Cope in particular) is quite well known.
* The Music/DireStraits song "In the Gallery" relates the story of an artist driven to create but never gaining recognition, until... "I've got to say he passed away in obscurity / And now all the vultures are coming down from the tree / So he's going to be in the gallery"
* The title of the Music/{{Nightwish|Band}} song "Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan" translates to "Death Makes an Artist". They also have "The Poet and the Pendulum", which is basically a 14-minute EpicRocking song about Tuomas dying, which was written by Tuomas himself.
* The whole point of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZXzMDKEwqI "Self Suicide"]] by ''Goldie Lookin Chain'', the band sing about killing themselves to improve record sales and say how it worked for other celebrities.



* Music/TheSmiths song "Paint A Vulgar Picture" is about the record industry's tendency to do this with dead musicians.
-->''At the record company meeting, on their hands a dead star.''
* The ChristianRock band Dead Artist's Syndrome is named for this trope.


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* The ChristianRock band Dead Artist's Syndrome is named for this trope.
* The Music/DireStraits song "In the Gallery" relates the story of an artist driven to create but never gaining recognition, until... "I've got to say he passed away in obscurity / And now all the vultures are coming down from the tree / So he's going to be in the gallery"
* Bill Drummond (later a member of Music/TheKLF) wrote a song that appeared on his solo album ''The Man'' dealing with just this. The title: "Julian Cope Is Dead". During the song, Julian Cope dies in order to make his band, The Teardrop Explodes, famous. Bill used to be the manager of the band and the song is a parody of Cope's own solo song "Bill Drummond Said". Drummond's frustration with the music industry (and Cope in particular) is quite well known.
* The whole point of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZXzMDKEwqI "Self Suicide"]] by ''Goldie Lookin Chain'', the band sing about killing themselves to improve record sales and say how it worked for other celebrities.
* The title of the Music/{{Nightwish|Band}} song "Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan" translates to "Death Makes an Artist". They also have "The Poet and the Pendulum", which is basically a 14-minute EpicRocking song about Tuomas dying, which was written by Tuomas himself.


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* Music/TheSmiths song "Paint A Vulgar Picture" is about the record industry's tendency to do this with dead musicians.
-->''At the record company meeting, on their hands a dead star.''
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* ''Literature/TheHike2023'': While Joni certainly wasn't unsuccessful as a musician when she was alive, it's mentioned that following her death her last album stays at the top of the charts for seven weeks, Helena's video of Joni's final live performance gets 20 million views and Joni's ex-boyfriend/manager Kai seems to forget all the problems they had (including threatening to sue her for breach of contract when she walked out on him) and gives interviews where he bangs on about Joni being the love of his life, with the implication it's because in death she's making him even more money]].

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* ''Literature/TheHike2023'': While Joni certainly wasn't unsuccessful as a musician when she was alive, it's mentioned that following her death her last album stays at the top of the charts for seven weeks, Helena's video of Joni's final live performance gets 20 million views and Joni's ex-boyfriend/manager Kai seems to forget all the problems they had (including threatening to sue her for breach of contract when she walked out on him) and gives interviews where he bangs on about Joni being the love of his life, with the implication it's because in death she's making him even more money]].money.

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* In ''The Book of Basketball'', Creator/TheSportsGuy discusses how Usefulnotes/MichaelJordan's unretirement years were a blemish to a great career by comparing it to Music/KurtCobain: he says part of why Music/{{Nirvana}} attained legendary status was that their frontman killed himself at the band's peak. The last memory Cobain left was ''Music/MTVUnpluggedInNewYork'', but Jordan's wasn't sinking a last-minute 20-footer to win his sixth title in 8 years. Simmons even states Cobain could've outright ruined his legacy had he instead just sunk into drugs and insanity, leading to a tribulated personal life and albums of incoherent music that would make him be called just a wasted career rather than the father of alternative music. (he also points out Music/MichaelJackson was in 1987 considered the most talented pop artist ever, and then became OvershadowedByControversy enough that it took him dying for people to just focus on his music again)

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* In ''The Book of Basketball'', Creator/TheSportsGuy discusses how Usefulnotes/MichaelJordan's unretirement years were a blemish to a great career by comparing it to Music/KurtCobain: he says part of why Music/{{Nirvana}} attained legendary status was that their frontman killed himself at the band's peak. The last memory Cobain left was ''Music/MTVUnpluggedInNewYork'', but Jordan's wasn't sinking a last-minute 20-footer to win his sixth title in 8 years. Simmons even states Cobain could've outright ruined his legacy had he instead just sunk into drugs and insanity, leading to a tribulated personal life and albums of incoherent music that would make him be called just a wasted career rather than the father of alternative music. (he also points out Music/MichaelJackson was in 1987 considered the most talented pop artist ever, and then became OvershadowedByControversy enough that it took him dying for people to just focus on his music again)again).
* ''Literature/TheHike2023'': While Joni certainly wasn't unsuccessful as a musician when she was alive, it's mentioned that following her death her last album stays at the top of the charts for seven weeks, Helena's video of Joni's final live performance gets 20 million views and Joni's ex-boyfriend/manager Kai seems to forget all the problems they had (including threatening to sue her for breach of contract when she walked out on him) and gives interviews where he bangs on about Joni being the love of his life, with the implication it's because in death she's making him even more money]].
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* ''Dead Famous'' is a Radio 4 documentary strand tracing artists' posthumous careers backwards from their current fame to their death in obscurity, looking at the mechanisms that make this happen.

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* [[http://www.engrish.com/2003/09/get-noticed/ This shirt]] explains it rather bluntly.

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* ''Literature/TheDayTheMusicDied'': The ''Carverquest'' fandom quickly turns on author Damon Lars Eldrich after finding out about the ending of the last book. As soon as his death is reported, they instantly reverse their opinions and make numerous tributes to him.
* [[http://www.engrish.com/2003/09/get-noticed/ This shirt]] explains it rather bluntly.bluntly by saying "GET KILLED GET NOTICED".
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* ''Film/{{Titanic 1997}}'': "It's a pity we couldn't hold on to that drawing. It'll be worth a lot more in the morning." Ironically, he's kind of right -- the painting is found in a safe and restored, and given that it's a memento that was brought up from the ''Titanic'' it's now a priceless historical artefact. And the artist dies in the sinking, so bonus.

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* ''Film/{{Titanic 1997}}'': Cal taunts Rose by saying "It's a pity we couldn't hold on to I didn't keep that drawing. It'll be worth a lot more in the morning." Ironically, by morning". Unfortunately he's kind of quite right -- Jack dies despite Rose making every effort to rescue him. Furthermore by the painting is found time of the film's modern-day FramingDevice, the drawing has been preserved in a safe on the wreck, and restored, and given that it's being a memento that was brought up from the ''Titanic'' artefact combined with the fact that the artist died in the sinking, it's now a priceless historical artefact. And the artist dies in the sinking, so bonus.treasure.



* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'': [[InvokedTrope Invoked]] by Edriss 562 in setting up [[{{Cult}} The Sharing]], though not involving an artist. She infested a charismatic real estate salesman named Lawrence Alter, changed his name to Lore David Altman, and when the group was large enough, killed him. She'd learned from human media that people will revere a dead leader, but living leaders could have their reputations ruined.

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* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'': [[InvokedTrope Invoked]] {{Invoked|Trope}} by Edriss 562 in setting up [[{{Cult}} The Sharing]], though not involving an artist. She infested a charismatic real estate salesman named Lawrence Alter, changed his name to Lore David Altman, and when the group was large enough, killed him. She'd learned from human media that people will revere a dead leader, but living leaders could have their reputations ruined.
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using he/him as gender-neutral pronouns is outdated


The vast majority of shows that mention {{paintings}} will mention this trope at one point: Artists are never recognized until after they're dead. Though this [[TruthInTelevision has happened in many cases]], there have also been a lot of {{painters}} that were celebrated while still alive. Nor has the deceased gained fame immediately after his corpse hits the ground, as seems to happen when this trope is in effect. But nonetheless, it is a law of fiction-land that if your art is scorned and ignored while you live, it will be hung next to Picasso's or played along Mozart's when you die.

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The vast majority of shows that mention {{paintings}} will mention this trope at one point: Artists are never recognized until after they're dead. Though this [[TruthInTelevision has happened in many cases]], there have also been a lot of {{painters}} that were celebrated while still alive. Nor has the deceased gained fame immediately after his their corpse hits the ground, as seems to happen when this trope is in effect. But nonetheless, it is a law of fiction-land that if your art is scorned and ignored while you live, it will be hung next to Picasso's or played along Mozart's when you die.

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* The price of a painting in ''VideoGame/TheSims'' skyrockets after the sim who painted it dies.

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* The price title character of ''VideoGame/AlanWake'' was already a painting in ''VideoGame/TheSims'' skyrockets after best-selling crime novelist before the sim who painted events of the game, but by the time the events of ''VideoGame/{{Control}}'' roll around, his disappearance seems to have sparked renewed interest in his work, so much so that his latest published novel, ''The Sudden Stop'', was adapted into a film, implied to be the most recent in a series, as indicated by this line from Langston:
-->'''Langston:''' ''The Sudden Stop'' hits theaters tonight. Can't believe I'm missing an Alex Casey movie for this.
* In Creator/WadjetEyeGames' ''[[VideoGame/TheBlackwellSeries The Blackwell Convergence]]'', the antagonist of the story is using a power he doesn't fully understand to strategically kill people in ways that will help his investments do well. At a couple of points, he kills an actor so the movie he stars in will get more promotion, and he kills an artist on the opening night of his art show. The movie becomes a smash success for the small company that produced
it dies.and the artist's paintings all sell immediately for a lot more than the original asking prices.
* One of the newspaper clippings you can get at the end of ''Dyscourse'', [[MultipleEndings depending on your choices]]:
-->ISLAND VICTIM, GEORGE HATFIELD, RECEIVES CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR RECENTLY DISCOVERED LOVE NOTES AND POEMS\\
"I liked his work BEFORE he died." - Radek Smektala



* Details during one of the mission briefings in ''VideoGame/Hitman2016'' reveal that after Agent 47's assassination of fashion mogul Viktor Novikov during one of his fashion shows, his clothing brand Sanguine has actually risen in popularity. The game's [[VideoGame/Hitman2 sequel]] also reveals that 47's murder of the famed author Craig Black has heavily increased the popularity of his popular franchise of fiction novels, Cassandra Snow (ironic, considering Black held such deep hatred for the franchise that he joined in on a doomsday cult's bioterrorism plot just to make sure he wouldn't be remembered for it).
* Played with in ''VideoGame/Left4Dead2''. It is initially believed by some wall writers that the Midnight Riders have been overwhelmed by the horde, as evidenced by various writings mourning their deaths. When it is announced that the band is still alive, the wall is then filled with bashings and criticisms of their work.
* In ''VideoGame/NoUmbrellasAllowed'', artwork made by deceased artists ([[LegallyDead including Fixies]] due to their EmotionSuppression) is seen as highly valuable, adding 1,500V to its base price.
* The price of a painting in ''VideoGame/TheSims'' skyrockets after the sim who painted it dies.



* In Creator/WadjetEyeGames' ''[[VideoGame/TheBlackwellSeries The Blackwell Convergence]]'', the antagonist of the story is using a power he doesn't fully understand to strategically kill people in ways that will help his investments do well. At a couple of points, he kills an actor so the movie he stars in will get more promotion, and he kills an artist on the opening night of his art show. The movie becomes a smash success for the small company that produced it and the artist's paintings all sell immediately for a lot more than the original asking prices.
* Played with in ''VideoGame/Left4Dead2''. It is initially believed by some wall writers that the Midnight Riders have been overwhelmed by the horde, as evidenced by various writings mourning their deaths. When it is announced that the band is still alive, the wall is then filled with bashings and criticisms of their work.
* One of the newspaper clippings you can get at the end of ''Dyscourse'', [[MultipleEndings depending on your choices]]:
-->ISLAND VICTIM, GEORGE HATFIELD, RECEIVES CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR RECENTLY DISCOVERED LOVE NOTES AND POEMS\\
"I liked his work BEFORE he died." - Radek Smektala
* Details during one of the mission briefings in ''VideoGame/Hitman2016'' reveal that after Agent 47's assassination of fashion mogul Viktor Novikov during one of his fashion shows, his clothing brand Sanguine has actually risen in popularity. The game's [[VideoGame/Hitman2 sequel]] also reveals that 47's murder of the famed author Craig Black has heavily increased the popularity of his popular franchise of fiction novels, Cassandra Snow (ironic, considering Black held such deep hatred for the franchise that he joined in on a doomsday cult's bioterrorism plot just to make sure he wouldn't be remembered for it).
* In ''VideoGame/NoUmbrellasAllowed'', artwork made by deceased artists ([[LegallyDead including Fixies]] due to their EmotionSuppression) is seen as highly valuable, adding 1,500V to its base price.



* The title character of ''VideoGame/AlanWake'' was already a best-selling crime novelist before the events of the game, but by the time the events of ''VideoGame/{{Control}}'' roll around, his disappearance seems to have sparked renewed interest in his work, so much so that his latest published novel, ''The Sudden Stop'', was adapted into a film, implied to be the most recent in a series, as indicated by this line from Langston:
-->'''Langston:''' ''The Sudden Stop'' hits theaters tonight. Can't believe I'm missing an Alex Casey movie for this.
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* Invoked in an episode of ''[[Anime/SorcererHunters]]'' where the VillainOfTheWeek tries to have an artist killed just to increase the value of his paintings.

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* Invoked in an episode of ''[[Anime/SorcererHunters]]'' ''Anime/SorcererHunters'' where the VillainOfTheWeek tries to have an artist killed just to increase the value of his paintings.
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None


The vast majority of shows that mention {{paintings}} will mention this trope at one point: Artists are never recognized until after they're dead. Though this [[TruthInTelevision has happened in many cases]], there have also been a lot of painters that were celebrated while still alive. Nor has the deceased gained fame immediately after his corpse hits the ground, as seems to happen when this trope is in effect. But nonetheless, it is a law of fiction-land that if your art is scorned and ignored while you live, it will be hung next to Picasso's or played along Mozart's when you die.

to:

The vast majority of shows that mention {{paintings}} will mention this trope at one point: Artists are never recognized until after they're dead. Though this [[TruthInTelevision has happened in many cases]], there have also been a lot of painters {{painters}} that were celebrated while still alive. Nor has the deceased gained fame immediately after his corpse hits the ground, as seems to happen when this trope is in effect. But nonetheless, it is a law of fiction-land that if your art is scorned and ignored while you live, it will be hung next to Picasso's or played along Mozart's when you die.



* Parodied on an episode of ''Series/ICarly'': when Spencer (an amateur artist) is incorrectly reported dead in the newspaper for some unexplained reason, he (along with sister Carly) exploits this by milking thousands of dollars off of customers for his sculptures.

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* Parodied on an episode of ''Series/ICarly'': when Spencer (an amateur artist) is incorrectly reported dead in the newspaper for some unexplained reason, he (along with sister Carly) exploits this by milking thousands of dollars off of customers for his sculptures.{{sculptures}}.
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* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Invincible|2021}}'', after Omni-Man leaves Earth at the end of Season One, Cecil tells his wife Debbie that the official story for his civilian identity Nolan Grayson is that [[GasLeakCoverup he died in a gas leak explosion]] and that the travel books he wrote will see a significant rise in purchases, ensuring that she and Mark will be financially secure for the future.
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* In ''VideoGame/NoUmbrellasAllowed'', artwork made by deceased artists ([[LegallyDead including Fixies]] due to their EmotionSuppression]]) is seen as highly valuable, adding 1,500V to its base price.

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* In ''VideoGame/NoUmbrellasAllowed'', artwork made by deceased artists ([[LegallyDead including Fixies]] due to their EmotionSuppression]]) EmotionSuppression) is seen as highly valuable, adding 1,500V to its base price.
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* In ''VideoGame/NoUmbrellasAllowed'', artwork made by deceased artists is seen as highly valuable, adding 1,500V to its base value.

to:

* In ''VideoGame/NoUmbrellasAllowed'', artwork made by deceased artists ([[LegallyDead including Fixies]] due to their EmotionSuppression]]) is seen as highly valuable, adding 1,500V to its base value.price.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


The vast majority of shows that mention paintings will mention this trope at one point: Artists are never recognized until after they're dead. Though this [[TruthInTelevision has happened in many cases]], there have also been a lot of painters that were celebrated while still alive. Nor has the deceased gained fame immediately after his corpse hits the ground, as seems to happen when this trope is in effect. But nonetheless, it is a law of fiction-land that if your art is scorned and ignored while you live, it will be hung next to Picasso's or played along Mozart's when you die.

to:

The vast majority of shows that mention paintings {{paintings}} will mention this trope at one point: Artists are never recognized until after they're dead. Though this [[TruthInTelevision has happened in many cases]], there have also been a lot of painters that were celebrated while still alive. Nor has the deceased gained fame immediately after his corpse hits the ground, as seems to happen when this trope is in effect. But nonetheless, it is a law of fiction-land that if your art is scorned and ignored while you live, it will be hung next to Picasso's or played along Mozart's when you die.
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I know it doesn't have a page yet, but still

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* In ''VideoGame/NoUmbrellasAllowed'', artwork made by deceased artists is seen as highly valuable, adding 1,500V to its base value.
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* In Margaret Atwood's ''Resources of the Ikarians'', the inhabitants of a barren island devoid of sources of income start cultivating dead artists.

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* In Margaret Atwood's ''Resources of the Ikarians'', ''Literature/ResourcesOfTheIkarians'', the inhabitants of a barren island devoid of sources of income start cultivating dead artists.



* ''The Second Deadly Sin'' (1977) by Lawrence Sanders uses this trope. The artist with the terminal illness has stockpiled paintings to provide for his family and agent. But he lives longer than expected and keeps on producing more paintings...

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* ''The Second Deadly Sin'' ''Literature/TheSecondDeadlySin'' (1977) by Lawrence Sanders uses this trope. The artist with the terminal illness has stockpiled paintings to provide for his family and agent. But he lives longer than expected and keeps on producing more paintings...



* {{Averted| trope}} in Max Beerbohm's Victorian Era short story ''Literature/EnochSoames''. The titular obscure poet is convinced that his reputation will soar after his death, so he [[DealWithTheDevil sells his soul]] to travel 100 years into the future and bask in his posthumous glory. An afternoon spent in the Reading Room of the British Museum teaches him the bitter truth. Not only is he considered a mediocre poet; he's also believed to be a fictional character created by Beerbohm.

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* {{Averted| trope}} in Max Beerbohm's Victorian Era short story ''Literature/EnochSoames''."Literature/EnochSoames". The titular obscure poet is convinced that his reputation will soar after his death, so he [[DealWithTheDevil sells his soul]] to travel 100 years into the future and bask in his posthumous glory. An afternoon spent in the Reading Room of the British Museum teaches him the bitter truth. Not only is he considered a mediocre poet; he's also believed to be a fictional character created by Beerbohm.



* In the novella "Getting Even" by Ray Brown, an entire extraterrestrial race (sometime before the story starts) got wiped out by a bomb dropped into their sun, causing a solar flare to wash over their planet; and the art of that race suddenly became quite valuable as a result.

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* In the novella "Getting Even" ''Getting Even'' by Ray Brown, an entire extraterrestrial race (sometime before the story starts) got wiped out by a bomb dropped into their sun, causing a solar flare to wash over their planet; and the art of that race suddenly became quite valuable as a result.
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* In ''Bring Me the Head of Mavis Davis'', a struggling record producer plots to invoke this trope by murdering his one remaining artist in order to boost flagging sales of her work. It... [[HilarityEnsues doesn't go]] [[BlackComedy according to plan]].

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* In ''Bring Me the Head of Mavis Davis'', ''Film/BringMeTheHeadOfMavisDavis'', a struggling record producer plots to invoke this trope by murdering his one remaining artist in order to boost flagging sales of her work. It... [[HilarityEnsues doesn't go]] [[BlackComedy according to plan]].
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* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11126195/6/No-Competition No Competition]]'' Ally consoles an eight-year-old Harry for his poor grade in art.

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* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11126195/6/No-Competition No Competition]]'' ''Fanfic/NoCompetition'' Ally consoles an eight-year-old Harry for his poor grade in art.
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* The title character of ''VideoGame/AlanWake'' was already a best-selling crime novelist before the events of the game, but by the time the events of ''VideoGame/{{Control}}'' roll around, his disappearance seems to have sparked renewed interest in his work, so much so that his latest published novel, ''The Sudden Stop'', was adapted into a film, implied to be the most recent in a series, as indicated by this line from Langston:
-->'''Langston:''' ''The Sudden Stop'' hits theaters tonight. Can't believe I'm missing an Alex Casey movie for this.
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None

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* Invoked in an episode of ''[[Anime/SorcererHunters]]'' where the VillainOfTheWeek tries to have an artist killed just to increase the value of his paintings.
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* The Music/TwentyOnePilots song "Neon Gravestones" is about how we should stop doing this, especially in regards to romanticizing an artist's suicide.

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* The Music/TwentyOnePilots song "Neon Gravestones" is about how we people should stop doing this, especially in regards to romanticizing an artist's suicide.
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'''As a DeathTrope, all spoilers will be unmarked ahead. Beware.'''

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'''As !!As this is a DeathTrope, all {{Death Trope|s}}, [[Administrivia/SpoilersOff unmarked spoilers will be unmarked ahead. Beware.'''
abound]]. [[Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned Beware]].
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* The Hotblack Desiato story arc in ''Radio/TheHitchHikersGuideToTheGalaxy'' has the universe-famous rock star spend a year dead for "tax reasons". It doesn't do his music sales any harm, either.

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* The Hotblack Desiato story arc in ''Radio/TheHitchHikersGuideToTheGalaxy'' ''Radio/TheHitchHikersGuideToTheGalaxy1978'' has the universe-famous rock star spend a year dead for "tax reasons". It doesn't do his music sales any harm, either.



[[folder:Web Comics]]

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[[folder:Web Comics]][[folder:Webcomics]]



* In the ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode "Out of the Picture", an art critic makes the mistake of informing [[MoneyFetish Mr. Krabs]] of this trope, prompting him to make repeated attempts at getting Squidward "[[{{DeadlyEuphemism}} out of the picture]]" so he can resell Squidward's worthless paintings for a huge profit.

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* In the ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode "Out of the Picture", an art critic makes the mistake of informing [[MoneyFetish Mr. Krabs]] of this trope, prompting him to make repeated attempts at getting Squidward "[[{{DeadlyEuphemism}} "[[DeadlyEuphemism out of the picture]]" so he can resell Squidward's worthless paintings for a huge profit.

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The vast majority of shows that mention paintings will mention this trope at one point: Artists are never recognized until after they're dead. Though this [[TruthInTelevision has happened in many cases]], there have also been a lot of painters that were celebrated while still alive. Nor has the deceased been recognized immediately after his corpse hits the ground, as seems to happen when this trope is in effect. But nonetheless, it is a law of fiction-land that if your art is scorned and ignored while you live, it will be hung next to Picasso's or played alongside Mozart's when you die.

In theory, the idea that dead artists are better may result from them dying at their peak: they will be forever associated with their "magnum opus" rather than having to suffer ToughActToFollow. They don't have time to get into an AudienceAlienatingEra of divisive or low-quality work. A dead artist also can't get into more [[OvershadowedByControversy scandals or controversies]], and NeverSpeakIllOfTheDead brings a moratorium on harsh criticism of them. And in a more general sense, an artist's death induces scarcity; since there will definitely not be any more works produced by that artist, existing ones become more precious.

to:

The vast majority of shows that mention paintings will mention this trope at one point: Artists are never recognized until after they're dead. Though this [[TruthInTelevision has happened in many cases]], there have also been a lot of painters that were celebrated while still alive. Nor has the deceased been recognized gained fame immediately after his corpse hits the ground, as seems to happen when this trope is in effect. But nonetheless, it is a law of fiction-land that if your art is scorned and ignored while you live, it will be hung next to Picasso's or played alongside along Mozart's when you die.

In theory, the idea that dead artists are better may result from them dying at their peak: they will be forever associated with their "magnum opus" rather than having to suffer ToughActToFollow. They don't have time to get into an AudienceAlienatingEra of divisive or low-quality work. A dead artist also can't get into more [[OvershadowedByControversy scandals or controversies]], and NeverSpeakIllOfTheDead brings a moratorium on harsh criticism of them. And in a more general sense, an artist's death induces scarcity; scarcity: since there will they definitely not be won't produce any more works produced by that artist, works, their existing ones become more precious.



The modern-day sentiment is probably "Dead Musicians Are Better", music being arguably the second most personal media form. Technology has also amplified this trope's effects, with streams of a freshly-deceased artist's songs skyrocketing and social media making people's opinions more apparent. (2016 was a good [[Music/DavidBowie year]]-[[Music/{{Prince}} long]] [[Music/GeorgeMichael example]], although it was mostly seen about already-famous musicians getting even more popularity after death.) PosthumousPopularityPotential is the version of this trope in real-life.

Historically, this trope has affected most artists far less than people assume. Shakespeare was very successful in life, so was Beethoven. After all, only a few people would continue doing something for a long time without some kind of success. This is glaringly obvious for composers - of the top tier, only Bach and Tchaikovsky come even remotely close to this trope, and they were still far from starving during their lifetimes.

See also VindicatedByHistory, TrueArtIsAncient, and ShortLivedBigImpact. When a dead artist is celebrated (through song), it's a CelebrityElegy. Such celebrities are good candidates to [[CelebritiesHangOutInHeaven hang out in heaven]]. Many examples below also fall under NeverSpeakIllOfTheDead, in that some artists who became greatly celebrated after their death lived miserable and/or ridiculed lives.

'''As a DeathTrope, all Spoilers will be unmarked ahead. Beware.'''

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The modern-day sentiment is probably "Dead Musicians Are Better", music being arguably the second most personal media form. Technology has also amplified this trope's effects, with streams Better". Streams of a freshly-deceased artist's songs skyrocketing usually skyrocket and social media making can make people's opinions more very apparent. (2016 was a good [[Music/DavidBowie year]]-[[Music/{{Prince}} long]] [[Music/GeorgeMichael example]], although it was mostly seen about already-famous musicians getting even more popularity after death.) PosthumousPopularityPotential is the version of this trope in real-life.

Historically, this trope has affected most artists far less than people assume. Shakespeare was very successful in life, so was Beethoven. After all, only a few people would continue doing something for a long time without some kind of success. This is glaringly obvious for composers - of the top tier, only Bach and Tchaikovsky come even remotely close to this trope, and they were still far from starving during their lifetimes.

in life.

See also VindicatedByHistory, TrueArtIsAncient, and ShortLivedBigImpact. When a dead artist is celebrated (through song), through song, it's a CelebrityElegy. Such celebrities are good candidates to [[CelebritiesHangOutInHeaven hang out in heaven]]. Many examples below also fall under NeverSpeakIllOfTheDead, in that some artists who became greatly celebrated after their death lived miserable and/or were hated or ridiculed lives.

in life.

'''As a DeathTrope, all Spoilers spoilers will be unmarked ahead. Beware.'''


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[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* In one of the MultipleEndings for the ''TabletopGame/Cyberpunk2020'' module ''Eurotour'', the [[CorruptCorporateExecutive record label]] of rockstar Jack Entropy tries to invoke this trope by assassinating him before his [[SexDrugsAndRockAndRoll self-destructive lifestyle]] can make him stop being profitable. The module even comments, "There's no better way to make an artist popular than to have him die."
[[/folder]]

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Merging the two TF 2 writings + proper painting name


[[caption-width-right:325:...not ''[[LiteralMinded quite]]'' what we meant.[[note]]James Ensor, ''The Painting Skeleton''[[/note]]]]

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[[caption-width-right:325:...not ''[[LiteralMinded quite]]'' what we meant.[[note]]James Ensor, ''The Painting Skeleton''[[/note]]]]
Painter Skeleton'', 1896[[/note]]]]



* In one chapter of ''Manga/PetShopOfHorrors'', a has-been actor whose only success was a small role in a cult-classic sci-fi film dies of suicide by basilisk. At his funeral, people are already starting to speak of him as if he were a great actor whose immense talent was too quickly robbed from the world.

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* In one chapter of ''Manga/PetShopOfHorrors'', a has-been actor whose only success was a small role in a cult-classic sci-fi film dies of suicide by basilisk. At his funeral, people are already starting to speak of him as if he were a great actor whose immense talent was gone too quickly robbed soon from the world.



** Another Creator/ValveSoftware game, ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'', also plays with this. In the official comic ''Unhappy Returns'', it's revealed that Scout spent his entire life savings on Music/TomJones merchandise. Spy points out how illogical this is -- he's one of the most virile men on the planet, he's in his twenties (note that the game takes place in the late '60s-early '70s), he has virtually no enemies...Scout merely replies that it's a "Get-rich-slow" scheme. Of course, this being an AlternateUniverse from our own, Soldier murders Tom Jones out of jealousy a short time later (He was living with Soldier's former roommate. ItsALongStory.)



* Minor details during one of the mission briefings in ''VideoGame/Hitman2016'' reveal that after Agent 47's assassination of fashion mogul Viktor Novikov during one of his fashion shows, his clothing brand Sanguine has actually risen in popularity. The game's [[VideoGame/Hitman2 sequel]] also reveals that 47's murder of the famed author Craig Black has heavily increased the popularity of his popular franchise of fiction novels, Cassandra Snow (ironic, considering Black held such deep hatred for the franchise that he joined in on a doomsday cult's bioterrorism plot just to make sure he wouldn't be remembered for it).
* In the supplementary material for ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'', Scout spends all of his and his mother's savings on 12 cubic-yards of Music/TomJones memorabilia since he's banking on them becoming extremely valuable after his death, causing Spy to scold him for this since he's in his twenties, in perfect health and has no enemies, making him virtually immortal for the foreseeable future. Five and a half months later, [[ItMakesSenseInContext Tom Jones gets killed by the Soldier while in a squabble with his ex-roommate Merasmus]].

to:

* Minor details Details during one of the mission briefings in ''VideoGame/Hitman2016'' reveal that after Agent 47's assassination of fashion mogul Viktor Novikov during one of his fashion shows, his clothing brand Sanguine has actually risen in popularity. The game's [[VideoGame/Hitman2 sequel]] also reveals that 47's murder of the famed author Craig Black has heavily increased the popularity of his popular franchise of fiction novels, Cassandra Snow (ironic, considering Black held such deep hatred for the franchise that he joined in on a doomsday cult's bioterrorism plot just to make sure he wouldn't be remembered for it).
* In the supplementary material comic ''Unhappy Returns'' for ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'', Scout spends all of his and his mother's savings on 12 cubic-yards of Music/TomJones memorabilia since he's banking on with plans to resell them becoming extremely valuable after his death, causing Jones dies. Spy to scold him for points out how idiotic this since he's is: Jones is in his twenties, twenties (the game being set in the '60s), in perfect health and has no enemies, making him virtually immortal for dying soon extremely unlikely. Scout says that the foreseeable future. plan is "a get-rich-slow scheme". Five and a half months later, [[ItMakesSenseInContext Tom Jones gets killed by the Soldier while in a squabble with his ex-roommate Merasmus]].



* Lampshaded in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}''. Archer casually mentions that his long-suffering valet Woodhouse is a genius at what he does.

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* Lampshaded Used for a joke in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}''. Archer casually mentions that his long-suffering valet Woodhouse is a genius at what he does.



* In the ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode "Out of the Picture", an art critic makes the mistake of informing [[{{MoneyFetish}} Mr. Krabs]] of this trope, prompting him to make repeated attempts at getting Squidward "[[{{DeadlyEuphemism}} out of the picture]]" so he can resell Squidward's worthless paintings for a huge profit.

to:

* In the ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' episode "Out of the Picture", an art critic makes the mistake of informing [[{{MoneyFetish}} [[MoneyFetish Mr. Krabs]] of this trope, prompting him to make repeated attempts at getting Squidward "[[{{DeadlyEuphemism}} out of the picture]]" so he can resell Squidward's worthless paintings for a huge profit.
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Added DiffLines:

* In the supplementary material for ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'', Scout spends all of his and his mother's savings on 12 cubic-yards of Music/TomJones memorabilia since he's banking on them becoming extremely valuable after his death, causing Spy to scold him for this since he's in his twenties, in perfect health and has no enemies, making him virtually immortal for the foreseeable future. Five and a half months later, [[ItMakesSenseInContext Tom Jones gets killed by the Soldier while in a squabble with his ex-roommate Merasmus]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


The vast majority of shows that mention paintings will mention this trope at one point: Artists are never recognized until after they're dead. Though this [[TruthInTelevision has happened in many cases]], there have also been a lot of painters, modern and classic, that have been recognized while still alive. Nor has the deceased been recognized immediately after his corpse hits the ground, as seems to happen when this trope is in effect. But nonetheless, it is a law of fiction-land that if your art is scorned and ignored while you live, it will be hung next to Picasso's or played alongside Mozart's when you die.

In theory, the idea that dead artists are better may result from them dying at their peak: They will be forever associated with their "magnum opus" rather than having to suffer ToughActToFollow. They don't have time to get into an AudienceAlienatingEra of divisive or poor-quality work. A dead artist can't get into any more scandals or controversies, and NeverSpeakIllOfTheDead brings a temporary moratorium on harsh criticism of them. And in a more general sense, an artist's death introduces scarcity; since there will definitely not be any more works produced by that artist, existing ones become more precious.

In 99% of the cases where this trope is mentioned, one character, either the artist or an associate, will come up with the "brilliant" idea of spreading rumors of the artist's death, which immediately causes said artist's work to magically get the recognition that eluded it all these years. Of course, something inevitably goes wrong, [[ReportsOfMyDeathWereGreatlyExaggerated the artist is found to be alive]], and the [[StatusQuoIsGod status quo is restored]]. Fraud accusations are seldom made.

The modern-day sentiment is probably "Dead Musicians Are Better", music being arguably the second most personal media form. Technology has also amplified this trope's effects, with streams of a freshly-deceased artist's songs skyrocketing and social media making people's opinions more apparent. (2016 was a good [[Music/DavidBowie year]]-[[Music/{{Prince}} long]] [[Music/GeorgeMichael example]].)

Historically, this trope has affected most artists far less than people assume. Shakespeare was very successful during his life, so was Beethoven. It stands to reason - only a few people would continue doing something for a long time without some kind of success. This is glaringly obvious for composers - of the top tier, only Bach and Tchaikovsky comes even remotely close to this trope, and they were still far from starving during their lifetimes.

See also VindicatedByHistory, TrueArtIsAncient, and ShortLivedBigImpact. When a musician's death or departure leads to their group doing better than before, it's an aversion of TheBandMinusTheFace. When a dead artist is celebrated (through song), it's a CelebrityElegy. Such celebrities are good candidates to [[CelebritiesHangOutInHeaven hang out in heaven]]. Many examples below also fall under NeverSpeakIllOfTheDead, in that some artists who became greatly celebrated after their death lived miserable and/or ridiculed lives before dying. Compare PosthumousPopularityPotential, which entails real-life artists seeing a boost in popularity/recognition after their death.

to:

The vast majority of shows that mention paintings will mention this trope at one point: Artists are never recognized until after they're dead. Though this [[TruthInTelevision has happened in many cases]], there have also been a lot of painters, modern and classic, painters that have been recognized were celebrated while still alive. Nor has the deceased been recognized immediately after his corpse hits the ground, as seems to happen when this trope is in effect. But nonetheless, it is a law of fiction-land that if your art is scorned and ignored while you live, it will be hung next to Picasso's or played alongside Mozart's when you die.

In theory, the idea that dead artists are better may result from them dying at their peak: They they will be forever associated with their "magnum opus" rather than having to suffer ToughActToFollow. They don't have time to get into an AudienceAlienatingEra of divisive or poor-quality low-quality work. A dead artist also can't get into any more [[OvershadowedByControversy scandals or controversies, controversies]], and NeverSpeakIllOfTheDead brings a temporary moratorium on harsh criticism of them. And in a more general sense, an artist's death introduces induces scarcity; since there will definitely not be any more works produced by that artist, existing ones become more precious.

In 99% of the cases where this trope is mentioned, one character, either the artist or an associate, will come up with the "brilliant" idea of spreading rumors of the artist's death, which immediately causes said artist's work to magically get the recognition that eluded it all these years. skyrocket in popularity and sell like hotcakes. Of course, something inevitably goes wrong, [[ReportsOfMyDeathWereGreatlyExaggerated the artist is found to be alive]], and the [[StatusQuoIsGod the status quo is restored]]. Fraud accusations are seldom made.

The modern-day sentiment is probably "Dead Musicians Are Better", music being arguably the second most personal media form. Technology has also amplified this trope's effects, with streams of a freshly-deceased artist's songs skyrocketing and social media making people's opinions more apparent. (2016 was a good [[Music/DavidBowie year]]-[[Music/{{Prince}} long]] [[Music/GeorgeMichael example]].)

example]], although it was mostly seen about already-famous musicians getting even more popularity after death.) PosthumousPopularityPotential is the version of this trope in real-life.

Historically, this trope has affected most artists far less than people assume. Shakespeare was very successful during his in life, so was Beethoven. It stands to reason - After all, only a few people would continue doing something for a long time without some kind of success. This is glaringly obvious for composers - of the top tier, only Bach and Tchaikovsky comes come even remotely close to this trope, and they were still far from starving during their lifetimes.

See also VindicatedByHistory, TrueArtIsAncient, and ShortLivedBigImpact. When a musician's death or departure leads to their group doing better than before, it's an aversion of TheBandMinusTheFace. When a dead artist is celebrated (through song), it's a CelebrityElegy. Such celebrities are good candidates to [[CelebritiesHangOutInHeaven hang out in heaven]]. Many examples below also fall under NeverSpeakIllOfTheDead, in that some artists who became greatly celebrated after their death lived miserable and/or ridiculed lives before dying. Compare PosthumousPopularityPotential, which entails real-life artists seeing a boost in popularity/recognition after their death.
lives.

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