Line #33 Main/PlayingWithWiki


1	Welcome to the {{subwiki}} for PlayingWithATrope.
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3	What is 'Playing With' a trope? Showing what the trope would look like under the usual transformations. The usual transformations are listed in detail on the PlayingWithATrope page. They are things like [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]], [[InvertedTrope Inverted]], [[EnforcedTrope Enforced]], [[ExaggeratedTrope Exaggerated]], and so on.
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5	In this subwiki, examples are generic, rather than specific to any given show or series. For example, for ThePowerOfLove trope:
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7	->'''Valid:''' "Double Subverted: Alice's love for Bob fails to prevent his death, but as she's led away in despair, she is rescued by a reincarnated Bob."
8	->'''Not Valid:''' "Double Subverted: In ''Film/ThePrincessBride'' Buttercup's True Love for Westley fails to interrupt the ceremony, but Westley shows up soon afterward and the marriage is denied on a technicality."
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10	!Here are some sort-of rules for playing with tropes:
11	* Please make sure you've studied and memorized the trope definition and are 100% sure that it is what you think it is. Nothing ruins a PlayingWith page faster than shoehorning Administrivia/SquarePegRoundTrope examples into places the basic trope doesn't support.
12	* When creating a Playing With page for a trope, link to the trope being played with, but not the transformation you are working on. We don't need a zillion links to "SubvertedTrope", or the other TropeTropes.
13	* Go ahead and list as many transformations as you can. If you can't think up a good example, go ahead and leave an entry blank. [[Administrivia/TVTropesGlossary Wiki Magic]] will bring examples. Please don't insert a placeholder like (???) or (needs example).
14	* If the Subversion, Inversion (etc.) of a trope is [[SisterTrope distinct enough to constitute a trope]] in its own right, just naming and linking to the separate page is fine.
15	* A template is conveniently provided at Administrivia/PlayingWithWikiTemplate ([[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Administrivia/PlayingWithWikiTemplate?action=source raw source]]). Using it will make the pages consistently formatted.
16	* Start by creating your new page by going to the URL [=https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/PlayingWith/=]''your trope name here'' and pressing "edit page", or by clicking on "Create Page" for the article you desire, which will open a drop-down list, and clicking on "Playing With".
17	* If you are unfamiliar with the various transformations, [[PlayingWith/TropeName this page]] gives a nice short description of the standard expanded set, as does the PlayingWithATrope page.
18	* If you still have issues, don't be afraid from asking on [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13402020190A01460100 this]] forum thread.
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20	[[folder:Recommendations & Common Misunderstandings]]
21	* The "Basic Trope" entry provided in the template above should only be a simple one sentence description of the trope. No excessive cleverness needed. Save the cleverness for the actual entries. (In many cases, the LaconicWiki entry can be used directly for the purpose.)
22	* If the characters in your examples have names, ''be sure to use the same character(s) in all examples on the same page''. If the page consistently refers to the hypothetical characters as "AliceAndBob", but one example calls them "Charles and Della" (for example), people will be confused.
23	* '''Don't bother playing with it if it's Administrivia/NotATrope'''.
24	* Make sure you know what each transformation means and don't get them confused with each other. Having one example be "See (something else)." is right out.
25	** "{{Convers\|ationalTroping}}ed" does not mean "{{Discussed\|Trope}}" or "a reply to Discussed"
26	*** ''Conversed'' means talking about a trope in [[ShowWithinAShow another work]].
27	*** ''Discussed'' means having a character explicitly discuss the trope in GenreSavvy way in a situation in which it would normally appear.
28	** "{{Exaggerated\|Trope}}" vs. "{{Parodied\|Trope}}": It is possible for "Parodied" to overlap with "Exaggerated", but ''they are not the same''.
29	*** "Parodied" is when the trope or parts of the trope are directly mocked or spoofed for explicit humour value. (Parody examples on "Playing With" pages should not be exaggerations.)
30	*** "Exaggerated" is an extreme or over-the-top manifestation of the trope, but may still be played straight or taken entirely seriously. (It helps get the point across if your exaggerated examples are serious.)
31	** "Discussed" vs. "Lampshaded": A DiscussedTrope is when the characters talk about a trope which might apply to their situation. A LampshadeHanging is specifically when the trope occurs, but is made less jarring to the audience's WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief by having characters point it out. Ideally, your Discussed examples should not also be Lampshades - i.e. the trope itself should not be used in them. Remember: DiscussedTrope + Played Straight = LampshadeHanging.
32	** "Invoked" vs. "Exploited": An ExploitedTrope is when a GenreSavvy character can predict that the trope will be in effect, or knows that a trope is already in effect, and adjusts their behavior accordingly. An InvokedTrope is when the character is even more pro-active and ''attempts to cause the trope to occur''.
33	** "{{Averted\|Trope}}" vs. "{{Subverted\|Trope}}": An Aversion is Administrivia/NotASubversion. Tropes are Averted when they are ''completely'' absent from the work. Subversions occur only when the audience is made to believe in advance that a trope will happen, but then it doesn't actually happen at all. In short, a Subversion is when a trope is [[BaitAndSwitch Bait-And-Switched]]. If there is a situation where the trope could occur, but it doesn't, that's not automatically a Subversion. It's simply an Aversion unless ''the writer directly implies'' that the trope is about to occur.
34	** "Averted" vs. "{{Downplayed\|Trope}}": Keep in mind to avoid confusion, a trope is Averted when it doesn't occur ''at all'' in the work. For a trope to be Downplayed means it does occur, but to less of an extent than usual, regardless of the setup.
35	** "Averted" vs. "Defied": An AvertedTrope, as noted above, is one that the writer simply fails to include. A DefiedTrope occurs when a GenreSavvy character goes out of their way to ensure the trope's absence. The reverse assumption is also possible: "Defied" means the trope is prevented by the characters, not the writers or executives. In other works, it's the inversion of {{Invoked\|Trope}}, not {{Enforced\|Trope}}. If something in RealLife (e.g. ExecutiveMeddling) [[RealLifeWritesThePlot prevents the writer from using the trope]], or if the writer intentionally excludes a trope that they could use, it's still simply Averted.
36	** "Averted" vs. "Inverted": When a trope is "X happens", the Inverted trope is ''not'' "X doesn't happen". That's an Aversion. An Inversion is where something very much like X happens, but with one or more key aspects flipped to the opposite. In other words, an Inversion means the trope is used the other way around.
37	** "Inverted" vs. "Exaggerated": For character tropes where the basic trope is "Alice is/does X", you might be tempted to list "every character ''except'' Alice is/does X" as an Inversion. This is incorrect; an example such as this would constitute an Exaggeration rather than an Inversion, as the trope is used on more than one character.
38	** "Justified" vs. "Enforced": A JustifiedTrope is specifically defined as '''InUniverse'''. That means the writers made a logical InUniverse reason for the trope to occur in the setting, not that [[HandWave meta-reasons]] make it a good choice to make it happen. (If it's a realistic trope, the Justification can be as simple as "TruthInTelevision".) If the writers ''have'' to use a trope because of ExecutiveMeddling, [[CensorshipTropes censorship]], requirements of the genre, or other external expectations or obligations, this is an EnforcedTrope. Remember that [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools Tropes Are Not Bad]], and a Justification isn't necessarily good.
39	** "Justified" vs. "Invoked": These two overlap with each other, but are different. As noted above, "Justified" means that there is an InUniverse reason for the trope. "Invoked" specifically means that a GenreSavvy character attempts to cause the trope to occur.
40	** "Invoked" vs. "Implied": These two are commonly confused due to their similar name, but have nothing to do with each other. "Invoked" is when someone causes a trope to occur, while "Implied" is when it looks like a trope has happened.
41	** "Played for Laughs" vs. "Parodied": Played for Laughs is when a trope is Played Straight in a comedic context, while a ParodiedTrope means the trope is twisted or mocked in order to make it funny.
42	** "Double Subverted" vs. "Untwisted": A Double Subversion is when the trope is Subverted, and then ''the first Subversion is also Subverted'' so the trope occurs after all. TheUntwist is when a Subversion is ''expected'' but does not occur, and as such it is not a Double Subversion, but rather a Null Subversion.
43	** "Deconstructed" vs. "Played for Drama": A {{Deconstruction}} does not necessarily mean that the trope is darker or more dramatic than usual. PlayedForDrama just means that the trope is used in a serious or dramatic way. A Deconstruction ''takes the trope apart'' and uses it in a more realistic way, showing the consequences that it would have in RealLife (even a Deconstructed Trope can be PlayedForLaughs; see DeconstructiveParody.). In short, Deconstructed basically means "Played for Realism". However, it is common for them to overlap, as most tropes would have negative consequences.
44	** "Deconstructed" vs. "Reconstructed": A Deconstruction avoids the unrealistic parts of the trope, but the writer ''makes no effort to closely resemble the original trope''. A Reconstruction takes a Deconstruction and "reassembles" the trope into something that resembles the original trope, but is still realistic. '''There cannot be a Reconstruction without a Deconstruction.'''
45	** "Deconstructed[=/=]Reconstructed" vs. "Defied": Some "{{Deconstruction}}s" listed on Playing With pages involve the characters preventing the trope from occurring. This is incorrect; when a trope is prevented by one or more characters, it's a DefiedTrope. "Defied" is also easily confused with "Reconstructed", as a Reconstruction often involves the characters Defying the effects of the Deconstruction.
46	* "Untwisted" means that the audience expects the trope to be ''Subverted'', not ''Averted''. Don't list "Untwists" in which the trope is just "thrown in" or revealed some time after the character it applies to is introduced; those are Zig Zaggings.
47	* While we are on the topic of lesser-known transformations, "Unparodied" means that a ParodiedTrope is {{Subverted\|Trope}} into a straight use, or otherwise used seriously. Any trope can theoretically be Unparodied, though not every Parody can be.
48	* "Zig Zagged" covers miscellaneous or multiple variations, such as a trope that is Subverted three or more times, or both Parodied and Exploited. Ideally, the example on a Playing With page should be a MindScrew or a multiple [[SubvertedTrope Subversion]]. If you can't describe your example as anything other than "Played With" or "Miscellaneous", it's Zig Zagged (assuming you're an experienced troper; if you're not, please check the PlayingWithATrope page).
49	* Adding the "PlayedForDrama" and/or "PlayedForLaughs" points and then just writing "This trope almost always is" (or a variation of that) ''does not count as a valid entry''! If you cannot think of an especially dramatic/comedic way to use the trope, just omit that point. It will be added in a future edit.
50	* '''Not all ways to play with a trope are applicable to all tropes.'''
51	** Only tropes which are AlwaysMale or AlwaysFemale can be {{Gender Inverted\|Trope}}. If you list "trope X happens to Bob" where most examples use Alice (or vice versa), this is only a valid GenderFlip if the trope is gender-specific.
52	** Tropes that are beyond the control of the characters cannot be Invoked or Defied.
53	** Tropes about the style of a work cannot be Played For Laughs[=/=]Drama, though some can be Parodied or Deconstructed[=/=]Reconstructed.
54	** A trope cannot be Exploited if there is no way for any character, good or evil, to benefit from it.
55	** Tropes that are completely realistic when Played Straight cannot be Deconstructed or Reconstructed.
56	** Tropes with no opposite cannot be Inverted. For example, ShesAManInJapan covers any GenderFlip of any character in any translation of a work.
57	* The following are not worth noting on Playing With pages.
58	** Three or more [[ZigZaggingTrope Zig Zagged examples]] on one page (Some tropes have more than one possible Exaggeration, Downplaying, Inversion, Subversion, Aversion, etc.; however, ''all'' tropes have many possible Zig Zaggings, so you should only list one or two.)
59	** "Administrivia/SquarePegRoundTrope" examples (They have their own page; only ''the genuine trope'' and variants thereof should be listed on Playing With pages.)
60	** "Invoked/Defied in vain" (Invoked/Defied examples should end in success. If a character attempts to Invoke a trope but fails, this is a Subversion.)
61	** "Flanderized" {{Flanderization}} is itself a trope. If a trope is gradually played up from Straight to Exaggerated, it falls under Zig Zagged.)
62	** "DarkerAndEdgier" or "LighterAndSofter" (These are ways of playing with ''franchises'', not tropes; tropes do not have a canonical emotional tone.)
63	[[/folder]]
64	----
65	A list of all the Playing With articles is [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/namespace_index.php?ns=PlayingWith just a click away.]]

Context Main / PlayingWithWiki