Biweekly Discussion Thread #5: Tropes

Summary:

tropical tropes

Biweekly Discussion Thread #5: Tropes

Rounderhouse 02 Sep 2022 19:39

Hello!

Continued from our last thread, we're doing biweekly discussions on anything and everything related to the Library and the authors that comprise it (that's you guys!). This week, our prompt is:

What writing tropes just butter your biscuit? Or, what clichés find themselves on your list of guilty pleasures?

—submitted by NotAnOligarch

Discuss! And remember: if you have an idea for a discussion prompt, submit it here and it may be used in future threads!

Last edited on 02 Sep 2022 19:45 by Rounderhouse Show more

Re: Biweekly Discussion Thread #5: Tropes

(account deleted) 02 Sep 2022 21:56

I love a good "Tinkerbell," that is, some sort of companion that's subhuman, or like Tinkerbell. I don't like Tinkerbell at all, but that's what I would call the trope. The trope could be described as some type of creature that's attached (in what way varies) to one of the main characters. They often help the main character or keep them company. Oftentimes, the trope just becomes obnoxious in a story, you know, feels intrusive and cheesy, and it often does not contribute anything to the story at all. I really like the Daemons in His Dark Materials, and the Spren that become attached to some of the characters in The Stormlight Archive, although I would say the former is of a lesser quality.

Edit: this should have been a post not a reply. Sorry.

Last edited on 02 Sep 2022 21:57 by (account deleted) Show more

Re: Biweekly Discussion Thread #5: Tropes

Rounderhouse 02 Sep 2022 19:43

I'll share mine to start — this isn't specific to the Library, but generally I like reading/watching/otherwise consuming media with a strong focus on morally ambiguous characters. I can definitely respect that fiction can work as a way to make clear, unambiguous declarations on right and wrong but I find it a lot more fun to read about characters that match reality — not clearly good or evil, maybe doing the wrong thing for the right reasons or vice-versa.

I also have a soft spot for story arcs that have a lot to do with like, gradual decay and decline, whether that be of the world, mentalities, characters, or something else. Characters brought down by their own hubris, characters struggling with cognitive dissonance, that sort of thing. I love Mad Men for a reason, lol.

I realize this post makes me sound like a serial killer but I promise these are just some of my tastes, lmao

Re: Biweekly Discussion Thread #5: Tropes

Draven Addams 02 Sep 2022 19:57

I generally just love recognizing tropes in fiction, when I can clearly pinpoint that "oh, I saw that in this or that, I can't wait to see what direction will the author take that in." Especially if the trope is cleverly inverted. One example would be from the Sandman (spoilers for episode 6 if someone cares!), with Hob Gadling gaining immortality not out of greed or selfishness but like… just because, cause he decided not to die, and then loving life even at his lowest, which is a very rare thing in stories about immortality; they usually end in the immortal actually wanting to die. Basically my favorite trope ever is inverting tropes lol (as long as they're not trying too hard to be edgy, like the dreaded "this cute cartoon character is actually IN A COMA and their magical friends are DEMONS who want to EAT THEIR SOUL").

As for more specific tropes that I like, I'm particularly fond of stuff like "it was a dark and stormy night," where the story maybe isn't the next Nobel Prize candidate, but the writer focuses on the Vibes rather than trying to be super original or outstanding. This sounds like I like reading bad literature, but like… I just really appreciate when writers Get It™. Like they Get The Vibes. You know? I'd rather read a campy spooky story than a psychological horror, essentially.

Re: Biweekly Discussion Thread #5: Tropes

Nils Severin 03 Sep 2022 08:03

I like all tropes! I love the way authors seem to find new ways to convey old tropes. There's a reason for their existence. In this regard, I agree with Draven above. In particular I am a fan of stories using "the chosen one" for their protagonist.

Re: Biweekly Discussion Thread #5: Tropes

NotAnOligarch 03 Sep 2022 14:07

I absolutely fall over myself when there's some kind of war-games academy, like that of Ender's Game or Red Rising. The hero (who is usually young, which adds that extra bit of 'holy shit, what sort of deranged lunatic forces a child into this' aspect into it) goes through these brutal tests against their peers, and have to be just that much more cunning to win

The Titanfall trope is another one I enjoy. Having killing machines fall from the sky is quite enjoyable.

---

Fires rage just below the surface of the ice.

Re: Biweekly Discussion Thread #5: Tropes

Rigen 03 Sep 2022 16:08

A satisfying screen-shake and dust cloud! Cracked grounds!

I love all kinds of things dropping from the sky, including superhero landing (despite how remarkably unsafe it is) and drop pods—the Space Marine faction in Warhammer 40K Dawn of War has all their building dropped from their Battle Barges and it's so satisfying to watch.

Re: Biweekly Discussion Thread #5: Tropes

Crow-Cat 07 Sep 2022 19:22

Tropes and cliches, hmmm. I find myself attracted to stories about benevolent A.I. Something about nonhuman computer intelligences being good people is just very interesting to me, especially since most depictions of artificial intelligence in media (that I've seen) have them always trying to exterminate the human race, so it's a breath of fresh air. Here's a lovely video about a benevelont A.I.

I'm somewhat of a sucker for "darkness/beings of darkness that are good natured/misunderstood." Ever since I was a kid, I always thought the villains and monsters looked cooler than the good guys, so I'm a big fan of when those aesthetics are applied to the heros. Also I think it's similar to the A.I. thing, where it's "thing that seems evil but isn't actually."

Re: Biweekly Discussion Thread #5: Tropes

LAN 2D 10 Sep 2022 03:55

I'm a simple man. I love dialogue, so most of my tropes and cliche preferences are character based.

One of my favourite things is when the climax to two characters' relationship-conflict arc is not a battle or a massive large-scale plot event, but a simple conversation. I love when authors force their characters into situations where they have to talk to each other, especially when those characters don't want to or have conflicting philosophies/interests.

Another thing I love is when people interrupt villain monologues. Nothing is more badass to me than when a protagonist just doesn't care about what they have to say, either stopping them by violence or just exiting the conversation.

Another another thing unrelated to dialogue is my love for alien and ghost cliché stories that completely nail the feeling those clichés were originally meant to capture. For ghosts, I mean the tropes of crosses and superstition, revenants and spectres and poltergeists and all those arbitrary categories. Ghost hunters equipped with silver and iron filings, ghost capturing devices and rudimentary recording equipment. Themes of nostalgia, regret and the past. For aliens, I mean the tropes of abduction, driving along a rural highway late at night to see a light in the distance. Weird dreams not of this world. Little green men. That kind of thing.