History Main / BrainsVersusBrawn

* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' has this dynamic with his archnemesis Lex Luthor, which as one of the oldest superhero comic book franchises, did a lot to codify this dynamic in the medium. While Superman isn't shown as being particularly dumb, his FlyingBrick superpowers definitely focus on strength and durability (SuperStrength, NighInvulnerability) which help him be a combat powerhouse. Lampshaded in his nickname "The Man of Steel." Lex Luthor on the other hand is a MadScientist, DiabolicalMastermind, EvilGenius who uses his vast amount of wealth as a CorruptCorporateExecutive to try to make his usually nefarious plans into reality.

* ''ComicBook/CaptainAmerica'' is at the peak of human athletic potential and is a master combatant and leader, but typically leaves things like handling technology to his allies. His archenemy ''ComicBook/RedSkull'' may or may not have the same or similiar abilities depending on the story, but is usually a DiabolicalMastermind.

* ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'': The titular (Savage) Hulk (big, green, DumbMuscle, TheBigGuy) and one of his main archnemeses, The Leader, (tiny, green, EvilGenius), as he is a deliberate EvilCounterpart to the Hulk. The Hulk's true identity, Bruce Banner, is a skinny scientist who gains SuperStrength from gamma rays whereas The Leader, Samuel Sterns, was a borderline mentally handicapped janitor who gains SuperIntelligence from gamma rays.

* This is often how Athena and Ares are contrasted in Myth/ClassicalMythology as gods of war. Athena as the goddess of wisdom, represents the strategic thinking and planning that is necessary for engaging in large scale battles, but is also useful from a "fight smarter not harder" standpoint in any context. Ares on the other hand is the god of courage and war, more typically associated with brutality, carnage, and bloodlust that comes with mass killing. From ''Literature/TheIliad's'' account of the Trojan War, Ares and Athena found themselves on opposite sides, with Ares backing the Trojans and Athena supporting the Greeks. To lessen their battle output, when Ares was fighting King Diomedes, Athena uses an invisibility cloak from Hades to hide herself and causes Ares's spear to miss, opening him up for a counterattack that leaves him wounded.

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'': Blossom and Buttercup can often fall into this dynamic as TheLeader & TheSmartGuy versus TheBigGuy, respectively. In "Three Girls And A Monster", Blossom and Buttercup keep arguing whether to defeat the monster of the episode with brute force or well-thought plans. However, neither strategy works given the sheer size of the monster. What works instead is [[TakeAThirdOption Bubbles politely asking him to leave the city]].

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'': Blossom and Buttercup can often fall into this dynamic as TheLeader & TheSmartGuy versus TheBigGuy. In "Three Girls And A Monster", Blossom and Buttercup keep arguing whether to defeat the monster of the episode with brute force or well-thought plans. However, neither strategy works giving the sheer size of the monster. What works instead is [[TakeAThirdOption Bubbles politely asking him to leave the city]].

In fact, this trope has been played with so much since its inception that it's spawned a variant to [[DeconcReconSwitch reconstruct]] it, in which smart characters are portrayed as being agile and strong characters are portrayed as StreetSmart. Reflecting their quick-thinking, smart characters use their speed and nimbleness to stay two-steps ahead of their physically stronger opponents while BookDumb strong characters use their pragmatism to outwit smarter ones, who may only be able to think in [[BookSmart the theoretical and not the practical]] or are prone to missing obvious solutions due to a preference for convoluted logics and plans. When applied to fighting, this variant tends to overlap with ForceAndFinesse.

In fact, this trope has been played with so much since its inception that it's spawned a variant to [[DeoncReconSwitch reconstruct]] it, in which smart characters are portrayed as being agile and strong characters are portrayed as StreetSmart. Reflecting their quick-thinking, smart characters use their speed and nimbleness to stay two-steps ahead of their physically stronger opponents while BookDumb strong characters use their pragmatism to outwit smarter ones, who may only be able to think in [[BookSmart the theoretical and not the practical]] or are prone to missing obvious solutions due to a preference for convoluted logics and plans. When applied to fighting, this variant tends to overlap with ForceAndFinesse.

In fact, this trope has been played with and deconstructed so much over time that it spawned a variant to reconstruct it, in which smart characters are portrayed as being agile and strong characters are portrayed as StreetSmart. Reflecting their quick-thinking, smart characters use their speed and nimbleness to stay two-steps ahead of their physically stronger opponents while BookDumb strong characters use their pragmatism to outwit smarter ones, who may only be able to think in [[BookSmart the theoretical and not the practical]] or are prone to missing obvious solutions due to a preference for convoluted logics and plans. When applied to fighting, this variant tends to overlap with ForceAndFinesse.

This contrast can even take on gendered forms since women, as "[[WomenAreDelicate the fairer sex]]," are considered to be [[MenAreTough physically weaker than men]], giving us the trope WomenAreWiser. StrongGirlSmartGuy subverts these gender expectations, but still enforces this trope by continuing to uphold the separation between strength and intelligence. Outside of gender, you can see this contrast applied to entire races and civilizations in fantasy settings and science fiction. Many versions of the classic ElvesVersusDwarves dynamic include depictions of elves as a lofty, high-minded, intelligent race and dwarves as physically strong and BookDumb. WarriorVersusSorcerer works similarly, with warrior corresponding to brawn and [[SquishyWizard sorcerer]] corresponding to brains as MagicIsMental.

This contrast can even take on gendered forms since women, [[WomenAreDelicate as "the fairer sex,"]] are considered to be [[MenAreTough physically weaker than men]], giving us the trope WomenAreWiser. StrongGirlSmartGuy subverts these gender expectations, but still enforces this trope by continuing to uphold the separation between strength and intelligence. Outside of gender, you can see this contrast applied to entire races and civilizations in fantasy settings and science fiction. Many versions of the classic ElvesVersusDwarves dynamic include depictions of elves as a lofty, high-minded, intelligent race and dwarves as physically strong and BookDumb. WarriorVersusSorcerer works similarly, with warrior corresponding to brawn and [[SquishyWizard sorcerer]] corresponding to brains as MagicIsMental.

* ''ComicStrip/DennisTheMenaceUK'': Since 2009, Dennis and Walter has been portrayed this way. Dennis is the Brawn, physically intimidating Walter and all of the other kids, while Walter is the Brains, using social engineering and manipulation in an attempt to one-up Dennis.

* ''ComicStripe/DennisTheMenaceUK'': Since 2009, Dennis and Walter has been portrayed this way. Dennis is the Brawn, physically intimidating Walter and all of the other kids, while Walter is the Brains, using social manipulation and deception in an attempt to one-up Dennis.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}'', this dynamic is present between the [[VillainProtagonist titular character]] (Brains) and his nemesis [[HeroAntagonist Metro Man]] (Brawn). [[spoiler:Later on, after the latter fakes his death, Megamind replaces him with Tighten (also a Brawn, but an evil one), but since Megamind is an AntiVillain at worst, the dynamic still works.]]

* ''Series/{{Leverage}}'': Hardison is [[TheSmartGuy the hacker]] and Eliot is [[TheBigGuy hitter]]. The two regularly butt heads over a lot of things, but they particularly tend to argue over who has the most important and difficult job. Eliot and Hardison also disparage each other over the other's lack of expertise in their respective fields.

* In the ''Series/SquidGame'' episode "[[Recap/SquidGameS1E4StickToTheTeam Stick to the Team]]", this is how the second round in the tug-of-war game ends up starting, with Gi-Hun's weaker team relying on tactical knowledge to have a chance against their stronger, all-male opponents. Il-nam tells them all to pull and lean as far back as possible. The opposing team will struggle in the first seconds before losing their footing, allowing Gi-Hun and the others to gain an advantage. However, when the other team gets a second wind and starts to pull back, Sang-woo forms a [[TimeForPlanB alternative plan.]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]

** A friendlier version forms the B-plot of the episode ''Microbots'', in an amusingly literal fashion. The gruff, macho puncher-of-things Brawn thinks that the bookish and generally non-combative researcher Perceptor is of little use in the fight against the Decepticons, and loudly insults him for it. Optimus' plan to reconcile them involves [[FantasticVoyagePlot shrinking them and sending them inside a drunk Megatron]]. (ItMakesSenseInContext, honest.) Brawn eats his words at the end when Perceptor demonstrates that his combination of precision, calculation, and skill means he is a ''formidable'' sniper.
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* This is a popular theme for game shows, specifically team based challenge type game shows:
** The 8th season of ''Series/AustralianSurvivor'' is subtitled ''Brains V Brawn'' enforcing this trope by splitting the contestants up into two teams based on their supposed intellect and strength.
** Season 6, episode 6 of the physical challenge show ''Series/Wipeout2008'', "Brains vs Brawn", pits contestants with "brainy" jobs against professional body builders and other highly athletic types.

* The series 5 episode of ''Series/DadsArmy'' "Brains Versus Brawn" makes this trope the primary conflict. Jones and Walker get upset when they learn that the Training Major left out their platoon from training a new unit of commandos. Mainwaring backs the division arguing that commandos use brute force rather than cunning and intellect so they don't need training from the likes of them. This leads to Pritchard suggesting they run a training exercise competition in which the different troops have to deliver a fake bomb to the Officer-in-Charge's office. [[spoiler:Brains win out in the end, after Walker orders for the delivery of a [[LoopholeAbuse second fake bomb]] to the Officer-in-Charge's office.]]

[[folder:Myths & Religion]]

Given this portrayal of the two traits in competition or incompatible with one another, using this trope as the basis for conflict is extremely common to the point that entire genres rely on it. This is the reason ''why'' elves and dwarves often don't like each other, the BarbarianHero's main antagonist is the EvilSorcerer, and why TheBully of {{Nerd}} characters are typically {{Jerk Jock}}s. The conflict can be within a race or society as well if there are any born unlucky enough to not inherit the desired trait or as part of a KlingonScientistsGetNoRespect plot. BattleOfTheSexes stories may use this trope to further emphasize the gender divide.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'': The Technobot [[CombiningMecha combiner]] Computron is extremely intelligent, able to [[AwesomenessByAnalysis calculate the most efficient path to victory]]. His [[EvilCounterpart Terrorcon counterpart]], Abominus, is sheer animalistic brute force. Their battles usually involve Computron using his intelligence to counter Abominus' savage fury.
** This forms the B-plot of the episode ''Microbots'', in an amusingly literal fashion. The gruff, macho puncher-of-things Brawn thinks that the bookish and generally non-combative researcher Perceptor is of little use in the fight against the Decepticons, and loudly insults him for it. Optimus' plan to reconcile them involves [[FantasticVoyagePlot shrinking them and sending them inside a drunk Megatron]]. (ItMakesSenseInContext, honest.) Brawn eats his words at the end when Perceptor demonstrates that his combination of precision, calculation, and skill means he is a ''formidable'' sniper.

An all too common contrast made in an array of works is between intelligence and physical strength. Characters will wholly embody one at the expense of the other (DumbMuscle, DumbJock, TheBrute, {{Nerd}}, and EvilGenius) or will be defined by how much they embody one over the other in a group (TheSmartGuy or TheBigGuy). Oftentimes, such characters will be directly contrasted and used as [[{{Foil}} Foils]] for one another as in BrainsAndBrawn or in BeautyBrainsAndBrawn. Creators also tend to impose morality onto the contrast, producing BrainsEvilBrawnGood, building off of DumbIsGood.

An all too common contrast made in an array of works is between intelligence and physical strength. Characters will wholly embody one at the expense of the other (DumbMuscle, DumbJock, TheBrute, {{Nerd}}, and EvilGenius) or will be defined by how much they embody one over the other (TheSmartGuy or TheBigGuy). Oftentimes, such characters will be directly contrasted and used as [[{{Foil}} Foils]] for one another as in BrainsAndBrawn or in BeautyBrainsAndBrawn. Creators also tend to impose morality onto the contrast, producing BrainsEvilBrawnGood, building off of DumbIsGood.

* ''Series/{{Leverage}}'': Hardison is [[TheSmartGuy the hacker]] and Eliot is [[TheBigGuy hitter]]. The two regularly but heads over a lot of things, but they particularly tend to argue over who has the most important and difficult job. Eliot and Hardison also disparage each other over the other's lack of expertise in their respective fields.

In fact, this trope has been played with and deconstructed so much over time that it spawned a variant to reconstruct it, in which smart characters are portrayed as being agile and strong characters are portrayed as StreetSmart. Smart characters use their speed and nimbleness to stay two-steps ahead or out of the way of their physically stronger opponents and BookDumb strong characters use their pragmatism to outwit smarter ones, who may only be able to think in [[BookSmart the theoretical and not the practical]] or are prone to missing obvious solutions due to a preference for convoluted logics and plans. When applied to fighting, this variant tends to overlap with ForceAndFinesse.

In fact, this trope has been played with so much over time that a specific variant was created, in which smart characters are portrayed as being agile and strong characters are portrayed as StreetSmart. Smart characters use their speed and nimbleness to stay two-steps ahead or out of the way of their physically stronger opponents and BookDumb strong characters use their pragmatism to outwit smarter ones, who may only be able to think in [[BookSmart the theoretical and not the practical]] or are prone to missing obvious solutions due to a preference for convoluted logics and plans. When applied to fighting, this variant tends to overlap with ForceAndFinesse.