History Administrivia / NotADeconstruction

Simultaneously, deconstructing a trope that's inherently dark can cause it to become {{Lighter and Softer}}, demonstrating that in reality, the impact of the trope would not be as severe as it is in fiction, if it would even work at all. The result might even be PlayedForLaughs; see DeconstructiveParody. Deconstructing a SlasherMovie could involve the victims fighting back and actually inflicting significant injuries to the murderer, and end with the slasher being overpowered and arrested by the police. That's nowhere near as dark as the standard formula of helpless victims being slain one by one by an InvincibleVillain, but it deconstructs the genre by showing how such a plot would likely play out in reality. The trope DystopiaIsHard deconstructs the {{dystopia}} by showing that realistically, an oppressive tyrant will almost certainly be toppled and replaced by a better form of government eventually.

There are a lot of tropes out there that are [[AcceptableBreaksFromReality necessary to some kinds of fiction]]. When a woman in a bodice ripper gets kidnapped by pirates and ends up falling in love with her lusty, bearded, Byronic hero, you'll probably notice that she's surrounded by ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything.

An inverted trope is one that's turned on its head, played back to front. A HighHeelFaceTurn might be inverted by TheChick of the FiveManBand being seduced to evil, or the lone man working with a group of female villains might come to the side of good.

The loose usage of the term "{{deconstruction}}". This usage typically because of fans plastering it on to their favourite work to make it seem deeper than it actually is.

There are a lot of tropes out there that are [[NecessaryWeasel necessary to some kinds of fiction]]. When a woman in a bodice ripper gets kidnapped by pirates and ends up falling in love with her lusty, bearded, Byronic hero, you'll probably notice that she's surrounded by ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything.

Simultaneously, deconstructing a trope that's inherently dark can cause it to become {{Lighter and Softer}}, demonstrating that in reality, the impact of the trope would not be as severe as it is in fiction. Or in using PlayedForLaughs it points out the ridiculousness of darker tropes even in a realistic setting. Or even PlayedForLaughs by pointing out why these dark tropes and ideas would fail in the reality of that universe. For example, deconstructing a SlasherMovie could involve the victims fighting back and actually inflicting significant injuries to the murderer, and end with the slasher being overpowered and arrested by the police. That's nowhere near as dark as the standard formula of helpless victims being murdered one by one by an InvincibleVillain, but it deconstructs the genre by showing how such a movie would likely play out in reality. The trope DystopiaIsHard deconstructs the {{dystopia}} by showing that if played realistically, an oppressive tyrant will almost certainly be toppled and replaced by a better form of government eventually.

Though this is mostly limited to pages in the PlayingWith namespace, some Tropers think that audiences reacting negatively to a trope can count as a deconstruction. Deconstructing a trope means showing its realistic consequences ''in the story'', not outside of it. Deconstructing NintendoHard could involve showing the game's setting gradually turning into a CrapsackWorld as the characters InUniverse struggle to survive the challenges of the world. Everyone {{Rage Quit}}ting after becoming frustrated, though, is not deconstructing the trope.

Simultaneously, deconstruction can come about by making something {{Lighter and Softer}}, demonstrating that playing theoretically dark tropes in a lighter manner doesn't diminish the impact they can have on the story. Or in using PlayedForLaughs it points out the ridiculousness of darker tropes even in a realistic setting. Or even PlayedForLaughs by pointing out why these dark tropes and ideas would fail in the reality of that universe. For example, deconstructing a SlasherMovie could involve the victims fighting back and actually inflicting significant injuries to the murderer, and end with the slasher being overpowered and arrested by the police. That's nowhere near as dark as the standard formula of helpless victims being murdered one by one by an InvincibleVillain, but it deconstructs the genre by showing how such a movie would likely play out in reality.

!! Administrivia/TropesAreNotGood vs. Deconstruction

Simultaneously, deconstruction can come about by making something {{Lighter and Softer}}, demonstrating that playing theoretically dark tropes in a lighter manner doesn't diminish the impact they can have on the story. Or in using PlayedForLaughs it points out the ridiculousness of darker tropes even in a realistic setting. Or even PlayedForLaughs by pointing out why these dark tropes and ideas would fail in the reality of that universe.

Deconstructivism architecture is a form of architecture that had its naming due to being opposite of architectural style called ''Constructivism'' that emerged from Constructivist movement in art and was in favor in the '30s, especially in the Soviet Union. Constructivism attempts to purge dedicated decorative elements and builds aesthetics around structural and utilitarian elements, aiming to build forms around function. Deconstructivism, in opposition, spits at function and builds forms that purposefully defy engineering needs. While some architects of that movement made architectural works that could be classified as a deconstruction, the movement in and of itself is not. Mark Wigley, [=PhD=] in deconstuctivist philosophy and its relation to architecture, noted that it had nothing to do with Deconstructions. So if you feel that an architectural work should be on here for deconstructing architecture, think twice.

Some tropes hold up certain genres (a story set in a court that isn't [[DeadlyDecadentCourt full of deadly intrigue]] probably won't be interesting), others are [[AppliedPhlebotinum handwaves]] or {{Plot Hole}}s that we accept for the sake of the story. A genre deconstruction, by making the story more realistic, will tear these tropes to pieces or simply abandon them. Thus a genre deconstruction may often entail averting some tropes typical to the genre.

Again, these two aren't mutually inclusive. When a trope is deconstructed, its ''consequences'' are subverted by playing them true to life rather than going with the conventional depiction, but not all subversions are deconstructions.

The loose usage of the term "{{deconstruction}}".

The [[YouKeepUsingThatWord loose usage]] of the term "{{deconstruction}}".

However, deconstructing a trope by itself doesn't entail averting the trope. Quite the opposite; deconstructing a trope means the trope is played even straighter than normal and its consequences or cause are explored in detail, usually for the purpose of irony, satire, or straight up horror.

Deconstructivism architecture is a form of architecture that had its naming due to being opposite of architectural style called ''Constructivism'' that emerged from Constructivist movement in art and was in favor in 30s in Soviet Union. Constructivism attempts to purge dedicated decorative elements and builds aesthetics around structural and utilitarian elements, aiming to build forms around function. Deconstructivism, in opposition, spits at function and builds forms that purposefully defy engineering needs. While some architects of that movement made architectural works that could be classified as a deconstruction, the movement in and of itself is not. Mark Wigley, who made a [=PhD=] about deconstuctivism in philosophy and relation to architecture annotated that it had nothing to do with Deconstructions. So if you feel that an architectural work should be on here for deconstructing architecture, think twice.

Deconstructions are often DarkerAndEdgier because they take a typical genre or trope and examine the likely implications of that trope that straight uses tend to ignore in the interests of {{Escapism}}. Playing with a trope in this way is potentially a potent way to reveal the underlying FridgeHorror of a trope or genre. Thus a cartoon version of the medieval princess becomes grittier and less colorful. However, the converse is not true; making something darker and edgier isn't necessarily a deconstruction.

In an historical novel, she will be travelling on an India-bound member of the merchant fleet before their ship is attacked by corsairs who torture the crew for their valuables, force the ship's carpenter, cooper, and smith to join their crew, and then kidnap her for good measure. She is most definitely not surrounded by ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything.

A deconstruction would instead play the trope as straight as possible to explore how it might play in reality. The lone female villain might switch sides because, let's face it, are bad guys likely to be feminists who respect her opinions and give her equal pay? Or perhaps she was just arm candy and never really paid attention to what her boyfriend was doing. Or it turns out the heroes don't ever trust her because, [[HeelFaceDoorSlam used to be evil + betrayal = why would they?]]

If the kingdom is invaded by a brutal neighboring nation, the royal family's murder described in {{Gorn}}ful detail, and the princess repeatedly raped before being sold into slavery, this is DarkerAndEdgier but not a deconstruction.

!!SquarePegRoundTrope vs. Deconstruction

If the princess is raised in a restrictive environment due to her sex, becomes a pawn in international politics, and learns to keep her head above the water by playing political intrigue using feminine wiles and her position of influence with powerful people, this is a deconstruction.

If the princess is raised in a restrictive environment due to her gender, becomes a pawn in international politics, and learns to keep her head above the water by playing political intrigue using feminine wiles and her position of influence with powerful people, this is a deconstruction.