Ambiguous Name: Face Fault

I know what this trope is, and I've seen it quite often in anime, but usually with someone falling over backwards (or perhaps sideways), not a faceplant as described. That's how it happens in Dragon Ball, at least. Perhaps we should rename or list some variants?

Why?

And how would you fall backwards onto your face?

edited 28th Mar '12 5:25:39 PM by rodneyAnonymous

Becky: Who are you? The Mysterious Stranger: An angel. Huck: What's your name? The Mysterious Stranger: Satan.

They don't fall on their face, that's the thing. From what I've seen, they fall over backwards, like a Pratfall, only used in the same way as a Face Fault.

edited 29th Mar '12 11:21:49 AM by Robotnik

Different trope, then. Unless we want to completely redefine to broaden.

edited 28th Mar '12 5:54:00 PM by lebrel

Calling someone a pedant is an automatic Insult Backfire. Real pedants will be flattered.

Would it be too much trouble to rename/redefine? I'm not entirely sure of how much effort it would be to do so, so I can't judge, but to make two separate tropes out of a single, individual form of slapstick purely on the basis of what position the characters land in seems like splitting hairs. Some examples from Dragon Ball are listed on the page, even though the characters fall over backwards, as I mentioned.

Changing the name is unlikely, even if the definition is broadened to include backflips, unless there is a good reason (and "name suggests trope is more narrow than it is" is not a good reason, unless that is demonstrably causing readers to use it wrong); see Trope Renaming Guidelines. Seems possible that such a definition-broadening is warranted, though.

edited 28th Mar '12 11:09:27 PM by rodneyAnonymous

Becky: Who are you? The Mysterious Stranger: An angel. Huck: What's your name? The Mysterious Stranger: Satan.

The term Face Fault is not exclusive to TV Tropes, and is even older than the site as far as I know.

Also, OP has no proof of misuse to warrant a rename.

edited 28th Mar '12 10:40:56 PM by Feather7603

The Internet misuses, abuses, and overuses everything.

Yes I think a rename is out. Redefine, though? If a slightly different action is used by writers to communicate exactly the same message, even a splitter would say that is the same trope I think. What would "a good case to redefine" look like? Examples?

edited 28th Mar '12 11:21:16 PM by rodneyAnonymous

Becky: Who are you? The Mysterious Stranger: An angel. Huck: What's your name? The Mysterious Stranger: Satan.

Well there are a few ways this reaction can play out.

A true Face forward fall, a fall backwards usually Knees are the only things still in camera view, a big flip like the page picture, a slide, a collapse into smoke [1]◊ generally it is a super exaggerated instant reaction to something shocking or stupid, Instant recovery from it is really common (Usually with an Instant Bandages in a cross on their nose.) but optional.

All are called a Face Fault though.

There is the instant switch to a really odd pose [2]◊[3]◊ which is a Dead Horse Trope as no one uses it anymore, I believe this dates back to Kabuki theater, but has been replaced by the now really common Face Fault.

EDIT: Kabuki did not go to where I thought it would....

edited 28th Mar '12 11:33:40 PM by Raso

Sparkling and glittering! Jan-Ken-Pon!

Well, quickly looking at the examples, they already cover several variations. The Ranma intro has good examples of several less extreme variations. All that would need done is a slight tweak to the description to match that. It can be falling down either direction, or in minor cases just a sudden slump. Generally speaking, it's about a full-body reaction to something, unlike a sweatdrop or facepalm, but often for similar reasons.

I've also heard the term Face Vault for those specifically with the head on the ground and feet in the air.

edited 29th Mar '12 4:45:38 AM by Feather7603

The Internet misuses, abuses, and overuses everything.

The general face impacting the ground thing is called a Face Plant. (A Staple of the Dojikkos [1]◊)

It's not a Face Fault till its Shock collapse thing (in the various ways.)

edited 29th Mar '12 4:52:49 AM by Raso

Sparkling and glittering! Jan-Ken-Pon!

James Lileks discusses the "character is knocked off their feet and flies backwards" variety of this, and its use in comicstrips from the 20s. He calls it the "flip-take".

edited 29th Mar '12 9:19:17 AM by MetaFour

I didn't write any of that.

I don't see how a collapse is necessary. Just because the trope has evolved doesn't mean the older examples are a different trope. It's the same kind of expression, for the same kind of reaction, for the same purpose. As far as I know, the name comes from the face failing to make a coherent expression, which is an expression all of its own.

The Internet misuses, abuses, and overuses everything.

Clocking due to lack of activity.

Waiting on a TRS slot? Finishing off one of these cleaning efforts will usually open one up.

Although it’s not as common as I remembered Face Fault has been misinterpreted in the past to mean Facial Markings (face fault lines maybe?) if that helps.

Sounds like Dull Surprise to me. if it's the "shock/surprise" face, then that's already Jaw Drop.

Anyway, I'm with the rename thing, I'm sure the average viewer wouldn't likely know it's called "Face Fault" *

. though i've gotta ask where "Givney flip" came from.

NINJA EDIT: missed an arrow...

edited 6th May '12 10:01:47 PM by ShanghaiSlave

Is dast der Zerstorer? Odar die Schopfer?

I think Jaw Drop is a subtrope of Face Fault.

Also, failing to make a coherent expression is different from failing to make an expression (which is what Dull Surprise is).

The Internet misuses, abuses, and overuses everything.

eh... how?

Dull Surprise (unclear expression)

A vague, wispy look of emptiness given by a character that's supposed to convey intense emotional shock, horror, or revelation, but really looks like they've been binging on every single narcotic known to man for their entire lives.

Frozen Face (no expression)

Nerve damage or scars prevent him from showing any expression. Nothing, from abject terror to astounded delight to overwhelming fury to soul-shaking grief, can change his face. (Tears may be possible.)

NINJA EDIT: formatting blues.

If I'm Completely Missing The Point here, I won't push the issue.

edited 7th May '12 5:56:27 PM by ShanghaiSlave

Is dast der Zerstorer? Odar die Schopfer?

How... what? What is it a response to?

The Internet misuses, abuses, and overuses everything.

Clock has long expired. Locking.

"If you aren't him, then you apparently got your brain from the same discount retailer, so..." - Fighteer