TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

Split: Death By Pragmatism

Go To

KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#1: Nov 2nd 2010 at 12:09:25 PM

This is something that's bothered me for a bit - Death by Pragmatism seems to have a bit a double-trope going on:

  • Death by Pragmatism: Death by being the pragmatic one of the group, often to the point of cold and compassionless, who gains the audience and the characters' ire by appearing to be a jerkass fully willing to throw his friends into the fire.
  • Death By Intelligence: Death by being the most intelligent and capable member of the team who, if they continue to live, will likely lead them away from any danger and stop the plot.

The article technically includes both, mainly due to strongly inherently associating being pragmatic with being intelligent and effective. However, it tries to play up "pragmatism marks you as death for being the selfish jerkass" while also trying to taut the "being pragmatic makes you the only smart person" bit as well, making the trope attempt an odd double meaning that doesn't work

DragonQuestZ The Other Troper from Somewhere in California Since: Jan, 2001
The Other Troper
#2: Nov 2nd 2010 at 12:18:34 PM

But pragmatism doesn't mean being a jerkass. So splitting means the first point has to have the jerkass element mentioned in the name.

I'm on the internet. My arguments are invalid.
Madrugada Since: Jan, 2001
#3: Nov 2nd 2010 at 12:33:54 PM

The first point is basically "If the pragmatist didn't die, the plot couldn't advance." The part about him being painted as a jerkass should go, or at least be changed to an "often he's painted as a jerk so that the audience doesn't think too much about how sensible his suggestions are." He has to die because he's being sensible; he's usually a jerk so that the audience's gut reaction is to want him gone.

The second version is "Pragmatism sets up 'I Did What I Had to Do'". Again, he's often written as a jerk to keep the audience from thinking about how stupid the rest of the characters are being.

KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#4: Nov 2nd 2010 at 12:41:15 PM

^ Exactly, and that's another part of the reason I want to split: I'm a little wary of how the article equates pragmatism to sensibility.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#5: Nov 2nd 2010 at 12:42:47 PM

In making this division, we have to be careful not to overlap too much with Death by Genre Savviness.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#6: Nov 2nd 2010 at 1:08:00 PM

True - but actually I'd see Death by Pragmatism and Death By Genre Savvy as being subtropes of sorts of Death By Sensibility

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#7: Nov 2nd 2010 at 1:27:11 PM

Sort of like Sister Tropes is what you're saying? Death by Pragmatism is when you're applying Real Life common sense, and die because that would make for a boring story; while Death by Genre Savviness is when you're anticipating the story itself, and die for being a smartass.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Madrugada Since: Jan, 2001
ExpiryBot Since: Dec, 1969
#9: Jan 12th 2011 at 11:04:10 AM

This thread expired after 60 days of inactivity.

Add Post

Total posts: 8
Top