History Main / LightIsNotGood

In the context of OrderVsChaos, OrderIsNotGood serves as this trope's counterpart, the former which LightIsNotGood tends to go hand-in-hand with as mentioned above.

Commonly used with {{Fallen Hero}}es and [[KnightTemplar Knights Templar]]. Often used together with the PathOfInspiration or CorruptChurch. Perhaps might even go so far as to cast aspersions on a CouncilOfAngels. At the most extreme, it declares {{God|Is Evil}} and HeavenAbove are a bunch of evil scumbags. May well occur in a villain's YinYangBomb, in which case the heroes probably need to produce one of their own to combat it.

See also PureIsNotGood, FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon, VillainInAWhiteSuit, AlbinosAreFreaks, EtherealWhiteDress, LawfulStupid, GoodIsBoring, DangerouslyGarishEnvironment, GodIsEvil. May result in GoodPowersBadPeople. Often overlaps with LightEmUp and HolyHandGrenade. Oh, while we're at it, [[EnergyWeapon laser beams]] are made of light too. [[KillItWithFire Fire]] (particularly FanaticalFire) can be applied to this as well, as well as [[ShockAndAwe electricity]] and [[AnIcePerson ice]], as well as the blinding flash provided by UsefulNotes/NuclearWeapons or an [[ApocalypseHow gamma-ray burst or asteroid/comet impact]]. In this case, see also BrightIsNotGood, which only applies to colors. Not related to GoodIsNotNice, though the borders can be fluid. If combined with a touch of RedIsViolent, you'll get WhiteAndRedAndEerieAllOver.

The mildest form of this Trope involves beautiful, charismatic villains dressed in white and surrounded by religious symbols. A step further features a villain who wields [[LightEmUp Light as an elemental power]]. Whether by technology or [[FunctionalMagic magic]], they can bend physical light to their whims, displaying such powers as [[BishieSparkle beauty-enhancing sparkles]] or an angelic glow, [[MasterOfIllusion optical illusions and holograms]], MindControl through LaserGuidedAmnesia, [[BlindedByTheLight blinding flashes]], and [[EnergyWeapon laser beams]]. For artistic contrast and further deconstruction, they might be opposed by a hero who uses [[CastingAShadow shadows and darkness]] as ElementalPowers.

See also PureIsNotGood, FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon, VillainInAWhiteSuit, AlbinosAreFreaks, EtherealWhiteDress, LawfulStupid, GoodIsBoring, DangerouslyGarishEnvironment, GodIsEvil. May result in GoodPowersBadPeople. Often overlaps with LightEmUp and HolyHandGrenade. Oh, while we're at it, [[EnergyWeapon Frickin' Laser Beams]] are made of light too. [[KillItWithFire Fire]] (particularly FanaticalFire) can be applied to this as well, as well as [[ShockAndAwe electricity]] and [[AnIcePerson ice]], as well as the blinding flash provided by UsefulNotes/NuclearWeapons or an [[ApocalypseHow gamma-ray burst or asteroid/comet impact]]. In this case, see also BrightIsNotGood, which only applies to colors. Not related to GoodIsNotNice, though the borders can be fluid. If combined with a touch of RedIsViolent, you'll get WhiteAndRedAndEerieAllOver.

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[[quoteright:344:[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/final_fantasy_xiv_god_kefka.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:344:[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV "Are you afraid of the dark? Hah! 'Tis light's glare that will strip you bare!"]]]]

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->''"I had always presumed white light to be pure and somehow chaste, to be noble and good. But this whiteness was unutterably evil, chilling, its purity an abomination."''
-->-- '''Literature/{{Eisenhorn}}''', ''[[TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 Hereticus]]''

%% One quote's enough; there's the quotes page for more

See also PureIsNotGood, FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon, VillainInAWhiteSuit, AlbinosAreFreaks, EtherealWhiteDress, LawfulStupid, GoodIsBoring, DangerouslyGarishEnvironment, GodIsEvil. May result in GoodPowersBadPeople. Often overlaps with LightEmUp and HolyHandGrenade. Oh, while we're at it, [[EnergyWeapon Frickin' Laser Beams]] are made of light too. [[KillItWithFire Fire]] can be applied to this as well, as well as [[ShockAndAwe electricity]] and [[AnIcePerson ice]], as well as the blinding flash provided by UsefulNotes/NuclearWeapons or an [[ApocalypseHow gamma-ray burst or asteroid/comet impact]]. In this case, see also BrightIsNotGood, which only applies to colors. Not related to GoodIsNotNice, though the borders can be fluid. If combined with a touch of RedIsViolent, you'll get WhiteAndRedAndEerieAllOver.

[[folder:Other]]
* The [[{{Lunacy}} full]] [[SolarAndLunar moon]] in most stories. It is during the brightest phase of the moon that bad things happen in media, especially when it has to do with [[OurWereWolvesAreDifferent werewolves]]. This might have a natural origin in that people might get more naturally anxious during bright moon phases, as during the night predators lurk and a source of light only allows them to see you better.
** Doubles as DarkIsNotEvil because only the bright full moon is seen as evil, while the dark new moon is generally good (or neutral).
* In documentaries and deserts, drought is usually accompanied by shots of the sun and its white midday glare.
* TheIlluminati, whose name comes from [[MeaningfulName "illuminate"]], are a mainstay of conspiracy fiction.
* Absolutely ubiquitous in propaganda campaigns. You'd be hard pressed to find a totalitarian regime that ''hasn't'' accompanied its brutal repression or wars of aggression with colourful posters of smiling babies and clear blue skies and healthy, hard-working, and attractive young mothers, students, farmers, and soldiers striving for a Brighter Tomorrow.
[[/folder]]

Yet despite all of this, the Light is not always a bringer of good and hope. It can, in fact, be [[NotSoDifferent just as vicious as the Dark]], if not ''worse''.

Yet despite all of this, the Light is not always a bringer of good and hop. It can, in fact, be [[NotSoDifferent just as vicious as the Dark]], if not ''worse''.

* LightIsNotGood/{{Music Videos}}

!!Examples:

* LightIsNotGood/{{Manhwa}}

* LightIsNotGood/{{Media in General}}

Yet despite all of this, the Light is not always a bringer of good and hope, and can, in fact, be [[NotSoDifferent just as vicious as the Dark]], if not ''worse''.

See also PureIsNotGood, FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon, VillainInAWhiteSuit, EtherealWhiteDress, LawfulStupid, GoodIsBoring, DangerouslyGarishEnvironment, GodIsEvil. May result in GoodPowersBadPeople. Often overlaps with LightEmUp and HolyHandGrenade. Oh, while we're at it, [[EnergyWeapon Frickin' Laser Beams]] are made of light too. [[KillItWithFire Fire]] can be applied to this as well, as well as [[ShockAndAwe electricity]] and [[AnIcePerson ice]], as well as the blinding flash provided by UsefulNotes/NuclearWeapons or an [[ApocalypseHow gamma-ray burst or asteroid/comet impact]]. In this case, see also BrightIsNotGood, which only applies to colors. Not related to GoodIsNotNice, though the borders can be fluid. If combined with a touch of RedIsViolent, you'll get WhiteAndRedAndEerieAllOver.

Related to DaylightHorror. Occasionally the Sun expresses this trope in fiction, generally either as [[ThePowerOfTheSun sun-powered villains]] or as [[TheFaceOfTheSun evil or creepy disembodied heads representing the Sun]], but [[SinisterSentientSun sometimes the sun (or sun god) itself is seen as malevolent]]. Even more common than the Sun in this context is the [[{{Lunacy}} full moon]]. See also HidingBehindReligion, which can be considered a more realistic

Related to DaylightHorror. Occasionally the Sun expresses this trope in fiction, generally either as [[ThePowerOfTheSun sun-powered villains]] or as [[TheFaceOfTheSun evil or creepy disembodied heads representing the Sun]], but [[SinisterSentientSun sometimes the sun (or sun god) itself is seen as malevolent]]. See also HidingBehindReligion, which can be considered a more realistic

See also PureIsNotGood, FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon, VillainInAWhiteSuit, EtherealWhiteDress, LawfulStupid, GoodIsBoring, GodIsEvil. May result in GoodPowersBadPeople. Often overlaps with LightEmUp and HolyHandGrenade. Oh, while we're at it, [[EnergyWeapon Frickin' Laser Beams]] are made of light too. [[KillItWithFire Fire]] can be applied to this as well, as well as [[ShockAndAwe electricity]] and [[AnIcePerson ice]], as well as the blinding flash provided by UsefulNotes/NuclearWeapons or an [[ApocalypseHow gamma-ray burst or asteroid/comet impact]]. In this case, see also BrightIsNotGood, which only applies to colors. Not related to GoodIsNotNice, though the borders can be fluid. If combined with a touch of RedIsViolent, you'll get WhiteAndRedAndEerieAllOver.

Yet despite all that, the Light [[NotSoDifferent can be just as vicious, if not outright evil, as the Dark]], if not worse.

Yet despite all that, the Light [[NotSoDifferent can be just as much of an asshole as Dark]], if not worse.

Light and Dark are both [[LowestCosmicDenominator oversimplified metaphors]] for Good and Evil, not truly synonymous terms. Looking at the matter rationally, too much sunlight causes burns, sunstroke, skin cancer, and drought, which is bad; whereas nightfall and sufficient shade provide relief and rest, which is good. So, neither [[ElementalRockPaperScissors physical brightness nor physical shade]] can be all good or all bad. [[ElementalPowers Elements]] are properly value-neutral. [[note]]It should be noted however that there's no reason to think Humans equate light with good and dark with bad for any reason other than ''nature instilling it in us since we cannot see in the dark.''[[/note]]

Related to DaylightHorror. Occasionally the Sun expresses this trope in fiction, either as [[ThePowerOfTheSun sun-powered villains]] or as [[TheFaceOfTheSun evil or creepy disembodied heads representing the Sun]]. See also HidingBehindReligion, which can be considered a more realistic

[[LightIsGood The Light seems like a good, kindly thing]], especially compared with [[DarkIsEvil that bad old Darkness]]. Whereas Darkness is usually concerned with [[KickTheDog kicking puppies]], [[EatsBabies eating children]], and [[EvilLaugh laughing its head off]], the forces of Light generally worry about nicer things, like [[FriendToAllLivingThings singing with the birds]], [[PetTheDog helping little old ladies cross the street]], and... well, you know, being a [[IdealHero Hero]]. Whereas [[EvilIsSexy the Dark is sexy and alluring]] and [[SensibleHeroesSkimpyVillains tends to dress that way]], the Light ([[BeautyEqualsGoodness while often quite attractive in its own way]]) tends to be a bit more conservative when it comes to clothing. Women serving the Light tend to really appreciate this, considering what [[{{Stripperiffic}} the Darkness usually makes its women wear]]. Whereas [[OrderVersusChaos the Darkness seems to revel in lawlessness and chaos, the Light tends to prefer law and order]], providing for properly maintained roads, a court system, and safe cities.

Has [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant nothing to do]] with [[Manga/DeathNote Light Yagami]] [[VillainProtagonist not being good]], although RuleOfSymbolism makes him an example.

The mildest form of this Trope involves beautiful, charismatic villains dressed in white and surrounded by religious symbols. A step further features a villain who wields [[LightEmUp Light as an elemental power]]. Whether by technology or [[FunctionalMagic magic]], they can bend physical light to their whims, displaying such powers as [[BishieSparkle beauty-enhancing sparkles]] or an angelic glow, [[MasterOfIllusion optical illusions and holograms]], MindControl through LaserGuidedAmnesia, [[BlindedByTheLight blinding flashes]], and [[FrickinLaserBeams laser beams]]. For artistic contrast and further deconstruction, they might be opposed by a hero who uses [[CastingAShadow shadows and darkness]] as ElementalPowers.

See also PureIsNotGood, FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon, VillainInAWhiteSuit, EtherealWhiteDress, LawfulStupid, GoodIsBoring, GodIsEvil. May result in GoodPowersBadPeople. Often overlaps with LightEmUp and HolyHandGrenade. Oh, while we're at it, FrickinLaserBeams are made of light too. [[KillItWithFire Fire]] can be applied to this as well, as well as [[ShockAndAwe electricity]] and [[AnIcePerson ice]], as well as the blinding flash provided by UsefulNotes/NuclearWeapons or an [[ApocalypseHow gamma-ray burst or asteroid/comet impact]]. In this case, see also BrightIsNotGood, which only applies to colors. Not related to GoodIsNotNice, though the borders can be fluid. If combined with a touch of RedIsViolent, you'll get WhiteAndRedAndEerieAllOver.

Has [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant nothing to do]] with [[Manga/DeathNote Light Yagami]] not being good, although RuleOfSymbolism makes him an example.

{{Anti Hero}}es generally fall under DarkIsNotEvil rather than this Trope unless they're a KnightTemplar, like for instance, a ruthless ChurchMilitant who works with the good guys. Light Is Not Good is when a character is [[{{Villain}} directly bad, directly villainous]] -- and ''still'' has Light powers. Depending on characterization, [[AntiVillain they might be sympathetic]], perhaps [[WellIntentionedExtremist well-intentioned but horribly misguided]]. [[AxCrazy Or the person could be the most]] [[OmnicidalManiac gleefully twisted bastard imaginable.]]

* LightIsNotGood/WebComics

This trope is ''not'' about an ObviouslyEvil character such as a BedsheetGhost wearing white, although they may fall under BrightIsNotGood. To qualify a character must fit with what is culturally thought of light. An angel wearing bright clothes with WhiteMagic or simply a classical unicorn as the villains are good examples; a simple CorruptChurch cleric or a [[WhiteHairBlackHeart white-haired handsome youth simply using their attractiveness to get away with misdeeds]] is pushing it depending on who you ask; a clown wearing white makeup but otherwise not brightly coloured, not attractive or not possessing holy powers is most definitely not. Someone who is beautiful but otherwise not light related in any way is definitely out. Add a sun ([[ThePowerOfTheSun powers]], jewelry, name, whatever), however, and we're listening. And an EldritchAbomination with light powers is definitely in. DivinelyAppearingDemons are demons who look angelic in apperance.