ME3200 Tropes--Assignment 1

[Erika]

How do we define tropes? How do we differentiate between tropes and sterotypes? What are some examples of tropes that can be used successfully, and some examples of tropes that are harmful and should be avoided?

This is a short answer assignment.

[Twitch]

To the causal reader, a trope is a plot with a defined course. However, the term original meant a literary device with a metaphorical meaning. Example: Dragons in most old stories demand virgin sacrifices or they'll raze the kingdom. The message is that evil will let you 'live' if you willing destroy your own purity/innocence.

Stereotypes are oversimplifications of a concept/person. The term cliche is a more accurate term for what most people call tropes.
Cliches can be used successfully in stories - Underdog wins against all odds. The boaster is humiliated. What makes a cliche/trope harmful is when the author mixes in stereotypes to cover a lack of 'world-building.' The captain of the guard is a fat, greedy white man. Black superhero grew up in the ghetto and fights the 'man.'

When I see a writer using cliches poorly - magic girl sacrifices herself (Aerith much?) - I can excuse it as inexperience. Using stereotypes on the other hand is a much more serious problem. The author of the Uncle Remus Tales used tropes very well in all his work (who doesn't like the story of Ber Rabbit and the Brier Patch?); however, his stereotypes of the Deep South have gotten his work 'banned' from libraries.

Edit: 2 damsels in distress

[rypperd0c]

A Trope is an often used plot device. It has some value to the over-all structure of the story, and does not need to be forced into the awareness of the audience. (( She was so near-sighted without her glasses that she was practically blind, but she hated wearing them. When she finally had a chance to meet her hero, of whom she had been a long time fan, she was forced to choose between looking her best, and being able to finally get a good, up-close look at him. )) With this trope established, we can continue the story. (( Because of someone's thoughtlessness, she had been jostled hard to the side, making her stumble and sending her glasses tumbling from her face. Desperate no to lose them, she tried in vain to catch them, but because she was already off balance, her actions send her falling off the sidewalk and into traffic.)) We revisit the trope without going into how badly the glasses are needed.

If we were to revisit this as a stereotype, then every character would be blind without their glasses.

As a cliche, every time the character with the glasses lost them, even for a moment, we would hear her complain about how blind she is without her glasses, to the point that her dependence on them would be a major factor of her existence.

A story can have a lot of tropes, and have them work well together, or be independent of each other, and the story can be good and detailed. The use of stereotypes shows lazy thinking, not only in a story but in real life. This gives everything a lack of depth, and a story can suffer because of it. A dependence on cliches quickly reduces story's value from entertaining to a simple distraction, useful for putting together a kids' TV show.

Cliche, the incompetent villain that keeps failing. Stereotype, the villain that just cannot accept that failure is his own fault and is always out for revenge. Trope, Villain that does not fit in with society, so decides to stop trying, even if it does make him a bad guy. This last one has room for character depth and growth as the story progresses. The Stereotype is just a plot device to justify having Heroes.

Grade: 1 box of disposable contacts

[Erika]

So examples aside, what would you say is the difference in the definitions of tropes and stereotypes? Is it a stereotype that villains can never accept their own failures and are always out for revenge?

[Twitch]

Aug 7, 2014 13:53:15 GMT -5 Erika said:

So examples aside, what would you say is the difference in the definitions of tropes and stereotypes? Is it a stereotype that villains can never accept their own failures and are always out for revenge?

Yes, that statement is stereotype. It's an oversimplification of the villain motivation. While some villains are like that, not all are. Where things get murky is that sort of villain is a real (an usable) trope/cliche. However using this trope to define all villains is simply stereotyping.

[Kashiro]

A tropes is a device of fiction that defines and categorises conventions. It originally referred to metaphorical devices such as metonymy, metaphor etc. but in a modern context it refers to thematic and story-telling device conventions. I.e. the wise kung-fu master, the femme fatale, Chekhov's gun are all tropes. The first example I gave, the wise kung-fu master, is also a stereotype. In my opinion, stereotypes are just one, if offensive, subset of tropes. These are the types of tropes that should usually be avoided if possible, as they ascribe to cast a group in a single character, and in doing so reduce the importance or impact of those who are stereotyped. However, some tropes can be used successfully, and one particularly skilful act is to subvert or invert a trope. This is usually used to subvert the audience's expectations and to make characters more three-dimensional (i.e. the blonde ditz is actually rather smart, but embarrassed that they're smart and hides it), although ironically these subversions gradually become tropes and cliches in themselves (i.e. gay jock). So, at the end of the day, what does this mean? As long as it's not too offensive, you're probably okay.

[Erika]

So is it a stereotype that kung-fu masters are wise? The notion of wise mentor-figures is certainly a trope, and they play a vital role in the Hero's Journey that forms the basis for a lot of stories. But is it a stereotype? Maybe... OR is it a stereotype that the wise mentor figure is often an old non-white guy that gives guidance to the protagonist?