TV Tropes Are Terrible | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

TV Tropes Are Terrible

A terrible site with terrible ideas.

3050
TV Tropes Are Terrible
TV Tropes

There appears to be no word more invasive in both critical and creative thought than the word "trope". It's a word I despise, a word that the users use with such regularity that it means nothing but cliche. The huge issue, I believe, that this word has is baggage. Mainly the baggage of the site that published it.

TV Tropes, as a website, is a piece of garbage. For proof, look at any of the real life tropes. Did you know that on the Trope page for Pistol Whipping, Matthew Sheppard is listed there? For more proof, look at their regular pages. Did you know that under a page about poorly written morals was "Twelve Years A Slave" with the caption "we get it, slavery is bad"? Really, that entire Tumblr is a good resource, immortalizing all the asininity of the site.

A different issue, entirely, is that there are too many pages with obscure Japanese names. It doesn't help the layman looking for examples on your Wiki if they need to know words like "Tsundere" and "Yandere". You do, however, get a chuckle if you're in the know- which is absurd (and this is coming from the guy who wrote about Yugioh characters).

The secondary, and more annoying, issue for me is the complacency the site breeds in writing. While the site refuses to be truly critical of any piece of media, swinging easy softballs and edgy pool tubes in the place of thought, TV Tropes by its very nature encourages the legoizing of writing. No longer do your characters need to serve a narrative purpose, they only need to fill a role and accomplish a checklist.

I've seen this myself in my time assisting people who are lesser at writing. It is far easier to make a checklist than it is a story. It is far easier to try and break down a singular work of fiction you enjoyed to constituent blocks than it is to expose yourself to new fiction that takes creative risks. It is far easier to try and fail to interrogate concepts any writer with any practice would find "elementary" than it is to practice.

Unfortunately for me, that's what I think whenever I see the word "trope". A connotation of laziness that emphasizes talent over skill follows the word. Which is what makes it so annoying to see in critical thought. How can amateurs write well if their starting source is a pile of garbage? The answer: They can't.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
nothing on to-do list

Winter break is a cherished time for many after enduring a grueling fall semester. It’s a time of relaxation and time spent with loved ones over the holidays. However, once the new year rolls around, we’re all ready to go back to school. Here are thoughts every college student has during winter break.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

10 Facts All People In A Large Family Can Confirm During The Holiday Season

The holiday season can be the best and most stressful time of the year, especially when more people are involved.

2418
kids jumping

The holidays are full of lights, sweets, sweaters, and your favorite movies. There's nothing quite like this period from the beginning of December through January. Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Years. The fun of it all.

I don't know about you but with my large Italian family something is always going on during this season. It can be the most wonderful time of the year while also being the most hectic. These are a few things you know if your family is anything like mine during this time.

Keep Reading...Show less
10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over
reference.com

To those who celebrate, you just spent an entire day cooking an elaborate meal with all of your favorite foods. You probably ate your body weight in pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. What happens now? Oh yea, Christmas. It’s time to take out all of the decorations and Christmas themed things that have been sitting in the attic since last year; it’s time to make a reappearance. So, here are 10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

5153
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

3188
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments