TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

Tropes Are Not Bad: An Experiment

Go To

MoeDantes cuter, cuddlier Edmond from the Land of Classics Since: Nov, 2010
cuter, cuddlier Edmond
#1: Nov 29th 2010 at 1:21:34 AM

Sorry if this should go in "Forum Games" instead (this really doesn't seem like a game to me, but if the mods feel otherwise), but here's an experiment I want to see performed:

Okay, some of us have tropes that we, on a personal level, think are Always Bad. Other times, there's a trope that (despite our philosophy) are implied in their description to be better off avoided. (A good example would be any of the Dead Horse Tropes).

So, here's the experiment:

Take a "bad" trope, and write a story that plays it straight (Deconstructions, aversions, subversions, and Lampshade Hanging are not allowed).

Post the results in this topic.

I shall be waiting.

visit my blog!
MoeDantes cuter, cuddlier Edmond from the Land of Classics Since: Nov, 2010
cuter, cuddlier Edmond
#2: Nov 29th 2010 at 6:03:14 PM

... So I guess Some Tropes Really Are Bad, then.

visit my blog!
Schitzo HIGH IMPACT SEXUAL VIOLENCE from Akumajou Dracula Since: May, 2009 Relationship Status: LA Woman, you're my woman
HIGH IMPACT SEXUAL VIOLENCE
#3: Nov 29th 2010 at 6:05:16 PM

It's only been 5 hours.

ALL CREATURE WILL DIE AND ALL THE THINGS WILL BE BROKEN. THAT'S THE LAW OF SAMURAI.
MidnightVelvet Since: Apr, 2014
#4: Nov 29th 2010 at 6:07:12 PM

This actually looks really interesting and I almost joined, but, yeah, it's probably best I don't. But, the experiment does look awesome. It can definitely work, trust me.

Sporkaganza I'm glasses. Since: May, 2009
I'm glasses.
#5: Nov 29th 2010 at 6:09:20 PM

You've kind of left it wide open, Edmond. It might be better to offer up a specific "bad" trope and challenge people to pull it off well in a story.

Always, somewhere, someone is fighting for you. As long as you remember them, you are not alone.
Schitzo HIGH IMPACT SEXUAL VIOLENCE from Akumajou Dracula Since: May, 2009 Relationship Status: LA Woman, you're my woman
HIGH IMPACT SEXUAL VIOLENCE
#7: Nov 29th 2010 at 6:12:08 PM

I'll probably join (but It'll take me a while to actually post anything. School, ya know?).

If Rape Is Love ever becomes a good trope, I'd sure like to see it.

ALL CREATURE WILL DIE AND ALL THE THINGS WILL BE BROKEN. THAT'S THE LAW OF SAMURAI.
Leradny Since: Jan, 2001
#8: Nov 29th 2010 at 6:20:33 PM

Joining up, once I work on suppressing my gag reflex whenever certain tropes come up.

Also this should go in Writer's Block.

Madrugada Since: Jan, 2001
#9: Nov 29th 2010 at 8:18:37 PM

I've moved this to the Writer's Block. I think it will get a better response there.

And I'll suggest the first trope to try: try to make Emphasise Everything work.

edited 29th Nov '10 8:18:57 PM by Madrugada

KingZeal Since: Oct, 2009
#10: Nov 29th 2010 at 10:03:41 PM

If Rape Is Love ever becomes a good trope, I'd sure like to see it.

Watchmen comes about as close to this as one possibly could without making out and out hentai.

If we're talking about outside of humans (I assume you're not), then several animal species reqular force intercourse as a means of procreation.

QQQQQ from Canada Since: Jul, 2011
#11: Nov 29th 2010 at 10:11:37 PM

^^ I have a character in mind who likes to add strange inflections to his words, in the off-beat hopes his words roll upon the ear with the impression that something has been said. Bolds, italics, underlines, strike-outs, font sizes, fonts and highlighting included.

edited 29th Nov '10 10:13:51 PM by QQQQQ

Slan Since: Nov, 2010
#12: Nov 29th 2010 at 10:14:24 PM

Emphasise Everything challenge taken! Written in about twenty minutes, so forgive me.


"It's just." Eos sighs and rubs at her eyes. Liam tries to be inconspicuous while he scans her face for tears or something, but before he can make out anything on her light skin she goes on, "I never thought I'd be doing this with five percent of the ammo—"

"I LOVE YOU!"

A shriek from their healer follows. Liam raises an eyebrow and looks at Eos, who has a frown that might as well be set in stone on her face. They ro-cham-bo for the honor about six times before Liam sighs and says, "Fine. You owe me one."

Eos shrugs, but he's never known her to stay in debt for long. As Liam leaves her to keep watch at the base of the large oak tree they'd been sitting on Bea's voice sounds again. "I was right bleeding next to you!"

Liam winces as he walks in on the scene, with their healer holding one hand to her left ear and flailing madly with the other at Cat, her recently recovered spouse. Cat who has had time to grow accustomed to Bea's already high-pitched voice. The redheaded woman elbows Liam, which is surprising as he hadn't made a sound.

The wince from Cat, whose arms aren't healed completely, completely goes under the radar of the shorter woman—so they probably won't be healed for one more night. "You couldn't have just told me you didn't like teasing?"

"But I did."

"What?!"

"I. Did!"

It has been three years since his own wife died, so Liam has an excuse for jumping into the middle of an argument at exactly the wrong time to say: "Let's all just calm down now, shall we?"

Bea glares at him, which is a first. Cat snickers, pale skin glowing in the last shafts of light from sunset. "A bit soon, mate. We're shouting but we're not mad."

"I most certainly am!"

Liam falters, then sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. "Should I leave?"

"No," Cat answers.

"Yes!" Bea shrills.

Cat starts laughing at the painfully high note, which Liam never ever forgot was always the wrong thing to do in a fight, and Bea stomps off into the forest. Well, she's too delicate for effective stomping—more like rustling whatever leaves and twigs are on the ground. With her black hair and lightly tanned skin, she would disappear in a few moments if it weren't for the long sleeves of her billowing white shirt.

"You know she's not even going to look in your direction for about a week, right?" Liam asks.

"Worth it." This is a surprise. But then, Cat is turning out to be one of those people who always has one in reserve. On the off chance that she's in too good of a mood to lie, Liam asks what happened. She flicks her hair behind an ear. "I hate being teased."

OOZE Don't feed the plants! from Transsexual,Transylvania Since: Dec, 1969
Don't feed the plants!
#13: Nov 30th 2010 at 4:51:06 PM

Does acknowledging that the whole affair is bad and hurts one of the participants make something a nonstraight usage of Rape Is Love?

I'm feeling strangely happy now, contented and serene. Oh don't you see, finally I'll be, somewhere that's green...
MoeDantes cuter, cuddlier Edmond from the Land of Classics Since: Nov, 2010
cuter, cuddlier Edmond
#14: Dec 1st 2010 at 4:32:43 AM

[up] Ummm... I'd have to see it in context to decide.

visit my blog!
Add Post

Total posts: 14
Top