I don't see any need to elaborate much in the caption, myself. It might not be obvious at first glance, but if you read the headline, you'll put it together.
Jet-a-Reeno!As I said before, I had to carefully analyze the image before getting how it was a Temporal Paradox. People just glancing it over won't understand it.
You don't need to say "as I said before...". That is the entire reason anyone is talking about whether the caption should point out something that would take about 10 seconds of study for a "slow" person to get. I don't think it needs to be obvious at a glance.
edited 27th Jan '11 11:31:29 AM by rodneyAnonymous
Becky: Who are you? The Mysterious Stranger: An angel. Huck: What's your name? The Mysterious Stranger: Satan.What about the Futurama title caption from Bendless Love " Torn From Tomorrow's Headlines"? Not only does that place the focus back on the paper but the 'torn' serves as a double extendre for Taken From as well as Time Rip, which is why it's funny.
edited 27th Jan '11 6:04:00 PM by Mattonymy
You are displaying abnormally high compulsions to over-analyze works of fiction and media. Diagnosis: TV Tropes Addiction.I got the paradox, but via the fact that the image in the paper is the exact same as the girl currently reading the paper.
Edit: Voting for the newspaper one.
edited 27th Jan '11 5:48:08 PM by GeneralTommy
Still need More Dakka, and it's about time to start a real WAAAAAGH.
Diagonalizing The Matrix
I like Torn From Tomorrows headline better as well, since it cleverly addresses the paradox without having to literally tell the readers to "check the headline" while doubly supporting the Temporal Paradox joke the image set up. "Wait, what..." is pretty terrible and isn't completely clear on first glance without the asterisk.
But I can see The Pope and I are going to be the only ones voting for it.
edited 29th Jan '11 4:36:25 PM by Mattonymy
You are displaying abnormally high compulsions to over-analyze works of fiction and media. Diagnosis: TV Tropes Addiction.I like "Torn from tomorrow's headlines!" better than "Wait, what?" if it means no Captain Obvious pothole.
Becky: Who are you? The Mysterious Stranger: An angel. Huck: What's your name? The Mysterious Stranger: Satan.Bump.
I'm still in favor of "Tomorrow's Headlines" but maybe we should add a crowner or something for the captions? Or is that not necessary?
Either way we should finish this up as soon as possible.
You are displaying abnormally high compulsions to over-analyze works of fiction and media. Diagnosis: TV Tropes Addiction.There's still the problem that most people will not immediately notice the newspaper. People in this thread admit that.
Remember, the image is the first thing the person sees after the title. If it doesn't immediately invoke the trope, the person will just move on to reading the description, and the picture performs no function.
So, yes, the image has to be obvious at first glance or it is useless. The image must "clearly invoke the trope."
Everyone Has An Important Job To Do
Agreed. If I can't figure picture on first glance, I read caption. I belive that the rule is "Picture demonstrates trope", not "Picture can be figured out in first glance". If rule is former, we can close this thread right away since you can't show this trope in such way that you need to look deeper into picture to figure it out.
Crown Description:
Which caption to use with the newspaper picture?

I agree with The Pope on this one. Image is good but the caotion needs to be more indicative of the newspaper.
You are displaying abnormally high compulsions to over-analyze works of fiction and media. Diagnosis: TV Tropes Addiction.