NaNo 4328 / 50,000
But isn't the narrative meaning of Slave to PR that it's a character flaw?
Big Catch, Sparkle Edition
It'd just be a Played With variant.
Current Project: Incorruptible Pure Pureness
What's the specific example?
I don't have a specific example. I was just using Slave to PR as a hypothetical because it's a trope that's universally considered a character flaw.
NaNo 4328 / 50,000
But the narrative impact isn't that they have a character flaw, it's that they are obsessed with their reputation and want to maintain a positive public face.
Link to TRS threads in project mode here.
The same character trait can have different impacts on the story depending on context. A trait can be both a weakness and a strength.
Yep, what they said — the trope is that they are obsessed with their reputation. It's listed as a character flaw because it's usually portrayed as such. You can have several ways of portraying a trope. To compare, take the similar trope Social Climber — the description notes that it's usually portrayed negatively, but there are idealistic, heroic versions; these portrayals are joined by the desire to rise up in society.
All tropes need to have some sort of domino effect "X exists therefore Y is the result," the result can be telling something about the story, characters, setting, genre or atmosphere, but it has to have a tangible impact that would be noticed if it was removed. The "Slave to PR is a character flaw" example is sort of like saying "Badass Longcoat is a fashion statement," it doesn't explain why it's different from other character flaws and fashion statements.
The idea behind a trope is that it conveys some narrative meaning. But what happens if a trope is used, but lacks its narrative meaning? For instance, Slave to PR is supposed to be a character flaw. However, what happens if Slave to PR isn't portrayed as a flaw? Would that hypothetical example still count as Slave to PR?