Authority in Name Only: Difference between revisions

Line 1:

[[File:766_119906277353_7836.jpg|frame|Yes, folks, [~~http://en.~~wikipedia~~.org/wiki/Emperor_Norton~~ he really existed]]]

[[File:766_119906277353_7836.jpg|frame|Yes, folks, [[wikipedia:Emperor Norton|he really existed]]]]

{{quote|''"Now, despite rumors to the contrary, I did not just buy a crown at the costume palace and ask people to start calling me the King of Town. I earned my title the same way I earned a free combo meal: by purchasing one of equal or lesser value."''|'''The King Of Town''', ''[[Homestar Runner (Web Animation)|Homestar Runner]]''}}

An [[Authority in Name Only]] is someone who claims to hold a title, but that title is a sham. Either it is a purely symbolic function with no actual power, or the title itself is made up, and it has no genuine authority over its "subjects". As such, most characters of this trope have no one (except for the occasional [[Yes Man]] or [[Professional Butt Kisser]]) who actually respects their non-existent authority.

An [[Authority in Name Only]] is someone who claims to hold a title, but that title is a sham. Either it is a purely symbolic function with no actual power, or the title itself is made up, and it has no genuine authority over its "subjects". As such, most characters of this trope have no one (except for the occasional [[Yes-Man]] or [[Professional Butt-Kisser]]) who actually respects their non-existent authority.

In terms of the ranks of [[Authority Tropes]], the next steps up are [[The Caligula]], [[The Good Chancellor]], and [[Evil Chancellor]], [[Standard Royal Court]], and [[Deadly Decadent Court]].

Line 58:

== Theater ==

* Cora Hoover-Hooper in the musical ''Anyone Can Whistle''. She demands being treated royally despite having achieved a [[Zero Percent Approval Rating]].

* Cora Hoover-Hooper in the musical ''Anyone Can Whistle''. She demands being treated royally despite having achieved a [[Zero-Percent Approval Rating]].

Line 65:

** The [[Kirby of the Stars|anime]] [[The Anime of the Game|version]] makes more of a show of it; he even has a Prime Minister (Cabinet Minister) and the dubious loyalty of Meta Knight, but his rule seems to be even more dubious. In one early episode, he actually plants archaeological evidence that his ancestors were royalty. Meanwhile, the ''actual'' Mayor seems to be the legitimate authority figure, while the Prime Minister doesn't seem to ever do anything beyond being the father of [[The Kid With the Leash]].

* Mayor Pirkle of ''[[Earthbound (Video Game)|Earthbound]]'' fame.

* Mayor Bo in ''[[The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess (Video Game)|The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess]]'' is among the more competent examples of the trope. On the other hand, in a village populated by eight adults, two teenagers, and five kids, it's hard to imagine there's a lot of competency required.

* Mayor Bo in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Video Game)|The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess]]'' is among the more competent examples of the trope. On the other hand, in a village populated by eight adults, two teenagers, and five kids, it's hard to imagine there's a lot of competency required.

* Mayor Doteur in ''[[The Legend of Zelda Majoras Mask (Video Game)|The Legend of Zelda Majoras Mask]]'' mostly just sits around saying "uhm...well" while the Captain of the Guard and the lead carpenter argue the issue of whether they should evacuate.

** Though he ''does'' resolve the issue if Link wears the Couple's Mask to the meeting- whichs consists of "Screw it, the world's ending, do what you want."

Line 100:

== Real Life ==

* [~~http://en.~~wikipedia~~.org/wiki/Emperor_Norton~~ His Imperial Majesty Norton I, Emperor of these United States and Protector of Mexico.] The citizens of San Fransisco loved this character, and even provided for him.

* [[wikipedia:Emperor Norton|His Imperial Majesty Norton I, Emperor of these United States and Protector of Mexico.]] The citizens of San Fransisco loved this character, and even provided for him.

* Kevin Baugh, President of [~~http://en.~~wikipedia~~.org/wiki/Republic_of_Molossia~~ Molossia]. Here, there's an interesting twist: Molossia is incredibly small, consisting primarily of various properties owned by Baugh, meaning that not a lot of competence is required. Still, he does his best to cultivate good relations with the United States, which completely surrounds Molossia, sending them "aid" every April 15. [[Kickassia|Unfortunately, none of this protects him from film invasion.]]

* Kevin Baugh, President of [[wikipedia:Republic of Molossia|Molossia]]. Here, there's an interesting twist: Molossia is incredibly small, consisting primarily of various properties owned by Baugh, meaning that not a lot of competence is required. Still, he does his best to cultivate good relations with the United States, which completely surrounds Molossia, sending them "aid" every April 15. [[Kickassia|Unfortunately, none of this protects him from film invasion.]]

* The Mayor of Hollywood, a position created by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to supposedly represent the entertainment industry. The main focus of the job is to appear at Walk of Fame ceremonies and to arrange for lavish yet tacky floral arrangements to be placed on the stars of recently deceased honorees. (Attendance at funerals is also part of the job.) The position has been vacant since the death of Johnny Grant, who in lieu of pay had all his (admittedly modest) needs supplied by grateful Hollywood businesses.

* When a monarchy is deposed, the surviving head of the family will often style himself or herself the sovereign in pretence - in other words, the pretender to the throne. Almost every former monarchy has at least one pretender, and some have more: France has three, one from each royal family (Bonapartist, Orleanist, and Legitimist).

Line 110:

[[Category:Characters As Device]]

[[Category:Authority In Name Only]]

[[Category:Trope]]