All The Tropes:Tropes Are Flexible: Difference between revisions

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
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{{meta-trope}}
{{meta-trope}}
[[File:degrees of a pimped out cape 9292.jpg|link=Pimped-Out Cape|frame|A [[Pimped-Out Cape]] can be done in many ways, from edging it [[Pretty in Mink|with fur]]<ref>from ''[[Beauty and the Beast]]''</ref> to covering it with [[Gold Makes Everything Shiny|gold embroidery]].<ref>from ''[[Dynasty Warriors]] 7''</ref>]]
[[File:degrees of a pimped out cape 9292.jpg|link=Pimped-Out Cape|frame|A [[Pimped-Out Cape]] can be done in many ways, from edging it [[Pretty in Mink|with fur]]<ref>from ''[[Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)|Beauty and the Beast]]''</ref> to covering it with [[Gold Makes Everything Shiny|gold embroidery]].<ref>from ''[[Dynasty Warriors]] 7''</ref>]]


A rarely stated, but fairly common, belief here is that some tropes are rigid, and that the only variation comes with [[Playing with a Trope]]. Or some here think that most tropes are rigid, unless "Sliding Scale" is in the name. But it's not really true at all (also the reason we have [[The Same but More]]).
A rarely stated, but fairly common, belief here is that some tropes are rigid, and that the only variation comes with [[Playing with a Trope]]. Or some here think that most tropes are rigid, unless "Sliding Scale" is in the name. But it's not really true at all (also the reason we have [[The Same but More]]).
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{{examples}}
{{examples}}
{{small-caps|To best illustrate this concept, examples should be straight uses, with only some [[Playing with a Trope|playing with them]]}}.
{{small-caps|To best illustrate this concept, examples should be straight uses, with only some [[Playing with a Trope|playing with them]]}}.
* [[All Just a Dream]] has quite a broad scope. It can be used for a single scene (the use least likely to annoy fans), entire episodes, entire seasons (''[[Dallas]]''), or even [[Mind Screw|the entire series]] (''[[St. Elsewhere]]''). It can be a regular dream (''[[The Wizard of Oz (film)|The Wizard of Oz]]''), a [[Cuckoos Nest|psychotic delusion]] told by an [[Unreliable Narrator]] (''[[The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari]]''), or even a "simulation" (''[[Family Guy]]''; 6th season, episodes 4th and 5th). ''[[Newhart]]'' managed to make fun of this, ''and'' [[Up to Eleven|crank it up even further]] by claiming that series was the dream of a character (played by the same actor) in ''another series''.
* [[All Just a Dream]] has quite a broad scope. It can be used for a single scene (the use least likely to annoy fans), entire episodes, entire seasons (''[[Dallas (1978 TV series)|Dallas]]''), or even [[Mind Screw|the entire series]] (''[[St. Elsewhere]]''). It can be a regular dream (''[[The Wizard of Oz (film)|The Wizard of Oz]]''), a [[Cuckoos Nest|psychotic delusion]] told by an [[Unreliable Narrator]] (''[[The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari]]''), or even a "simulation" (''[[Family Guy]]''; 6th season, episodes 4th and 5th). ''[[Newhart]]'' managed to make fun of this, ''and'' [[Up to Eleven|crank it up even further]] by claiming that series was the dream of a character (played by the same actor) in ''another series''.
* [[Xanatos Gambit]] and [[Batman Gambit]] are both about specific types of ingenious plans. The thing is there is nothing saying they have to be of a certain scale. Using these plans could involve just getting a promotion from your boss, to world conquest.
* [[Xanatos Gambit]] and [[Batman Gambit]] are both about specific types of ingenious plans. The thing is there is nothing saying they have to be of a certain scale. Using these plans could involve just getting a promotion from your boss, to world conquest.
* In terms of [[Malevolent Architecture]], Console [[Role-Playing Game|Roleplaying Games]] tend to have loads of enemies, but rarely any hazards in the buildings, save for the occasional lava floor. On the other hand, ''[[Tomb of Horrors]]'' is infamous for having loads of traps in every room.
* In terms of [[Malevolent Architecture]], Console [[Role-Playing Game|Roleplaying Games]] tend to have loads of enemies, but rarely any hazards in the buildings, save for the occasional lava floor. On the other hand, ''[[Tomb of Horrors]]'' is infamous for having loads of traps in every room.

Latest revision as of 19:11, 6 October 2022


A Pimped-Out Cape can be done in many ways, from edging it with fur[1] to covering it with gold embroidery.[2]

A rarely stated, but fairly common, belief here is that some tropes are rigid, and that the only variation comes with Playing with a Trope. Or some here think that most tropes are rigid, unless "Sliding Scale" is in the name. But it's not really true at all (also the reason we have The Same but More).

Even in the most narrowly defined Sub Tropes, there is plenty of room for variation, even when playing straight. And there can even be degrees of how the trope is applied, which is certainly the reason we don't allow The Same but More.

Two of the most common variations for a trope are the scale, and the importance in the story. But there are quite a few other ways to allow for trope variations.

The only actual thing rigid about tropes is the cutoff between one trope and another, or at least that is what we are striving for. Even when it involves Super Tropes and Sub Tropes, or if there is overlap with another trope, those tropes are still separate.

So the next time you think a trope is separate from another trope, make sure the line is clear. If it's not, you didn't make a mistake, other than underestimate how flexible tropes are.

Contrast Square Peg, Round Trope.

Examples of Tropes Are Flexible include:

To best illustrate this concept, examples should be straight uses, with only some playing with them.

  1. ↑ from Beauty and the Beast
  2. ↑ from Dynasty Warriors 7
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