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Melodrama: Difference between revisions
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[[File:melodrama_7456.gif|frame|<small>"Bob, darling, how will I ever live without you!?"<br />"Alice, alas, I [[
A type of theater, film, and television that focuses on heightening the emotions of the audience. The word "melodrama" derives from "melody [in] drama" (like opera); melodrama at its finest aspires to have the tone and the repetitive, building emotion of an opera or a symphony.
It's usually associated with [[World of Ham|everyone acting like a]] [[Large Ham]], but it's actually about specific emphasis on any dramatic situation. This is done by amping up the perceived scale and emotional response on everything. Basically, every little hurdle becomes a mountain, every setback a [[Tragedy]] of Greek proportions, and the official couple will be [[Star
Note that this isn't the same as stage actors [[No Indoor Voice|speaking loudly]] and [[Milking the Giant Cow|making broad movements]]. That's just a necessity of stage acting. This is when the actors portray the characters (or the characters are written as) being akin to teenager with a very small, [[Soap Opera]] scale world. Every success, kiss, and snub will carry the sting of a legendary story. Essentially, what to us would be a pinprick gains the pathos of a rending wound.
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Contrast [[Dull Surprise]].
{{examples
== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==
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* The anime version of ''Heidi'' fall easily into this.
* A lot of [[Shojo]] series, from the 70's to today, have these in spades. In fact, it would be easier to list those [[Shojo]] anime/manga titles in which melodrama ''isn't'' a central element of it. Some examples:
** ''[[Rose of Versailles]]'' is loaded with this. In one scene based on historical events, [[Marie Antoinette]] just had to say a few words to Madame DuBarry, and [http://www.flickr.com/photos/9530120@N08/3040810570/sizes/o/ Marie then runs away in tears], and even tosses her [[Pretty in Mink|Ermine]] [[Pimped
** ''[[Aim for The Ace (Manga)|Aim for The Ace]]'', which is even ''more'' noticeably overblown in the live-action adaptation. It's an early shoujo series, so it's only natural.
** ''[[Candy Candy]]''.
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{{quote| ''In the same way very ordinary events of civilized life are exalted into the most awful crises, and ladies in full skirts and manches à la Chinoise, conduct themselves not unlike the heroines of sanguinary melodramas.''}}
* ''Sisterhood'' series by [[Fern Michaels]]: Used quite a lot. For the most part, it's done right. On occasion, it does fall into [[Narm]].
* More than a few plot lines in ''[[Stationery Voyagers]]'' could have been avoided for heroes and villains alike, if they'd stopped to think of a rational solution instead of acting on seething hatred. If Astrabolo weren't in such a mad rush to [[Kick the Dog]] [[Villain Ball|every chance he gets]], his plans could have been ''even more'' successful. Same goes for Liquidon's incessant [[Heroic Self
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* ''[[The Colbert Report]]'' is already [[Gut Feeling|very emotional]] [[Large Ham|about everything]], but occasionally it [http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/217061/january-27-2009/omar-returns ramps it up to eleven]. Even ''[[The Daily Show]]'' [http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=127296&title=Another-World did it once].
* Even though it's a reality show, ''[[Extreme Makeover Home Edition]]'' seems to be chock full of melodrama.
** Reality shows in general are a gold mine for this trope. For example, ''My Kitchen Rules'' makes putting on a dinner party look like an epic tale of love, hate, war and [[Buffy
** New-formula ''[[Master Chef (TV)|Master Chef]]'': "''Cooking'' doesn't get ''tougher'' than ''this!''"
* ''[[Scrubs]]'' exists to invert and subvert this trope. The show is about low-ranking, everyday doctors who realistically acknowledge that one third of their patients are old farts about to die and most of their day is spent disimpacting people's bowels. This is in direct contrast to medical dramas such as ''[[House (TV)|House]], [[ER]]'' and ''[[Greys Anatomy]]'' where every single patient leads the cast on a roller-coaster of emotional torment and soul-searching. Although it should be noted that the doctors on ''[[Scrubs]]'' have, on occasion, been put on a rollercoaster of emotional torment and soul-searching (by their patients or otherwise) anyway.
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== [[Western Animation]] ==
* The original Terrytoons ''[[Mighty Mouse]]'' series. Not only did it feature an [[The Ace|Ace]] hero, a [[Distressed Damsel]] and a [[Card
* ''[[Princess Sissi (Animation)|Princess Sissi]]'', the German [[Animated Adaptation]] of Elizabeth of Bavaria's life. This isn't suprising, as most historical drama isn't low-key.
* Later episodes of ''[[South Park (Animation)|South Park]]'' often go in that direction, thanks to [[Cerebus Syndrome]]. There are 3 ways that it's used: intentionally (i.e. "Raisins"), [[Played for Laughs]] (i.e. "Over-Logging"), or ''both'' (i.e. "The China Probrem").
* Rarity from [[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (Animation)|My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic]] has her moments, and [[Large Ham|out-hams]] everyone around her: "I VANT TO BE ALO-HO-HO-ON I WANT TO WALLOW IN... WHATEVER IT IS PONIES ARE SUPPOSED TO WALLOW IN! (aside to self) Do ponies wallow in pity? (back to the melodrama!) OH, LISTEN TO ME! I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO WALLOW IN! I'M SO PATHETI-I-I-IC"
{{reflist}}
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[[Category:Rule of Drama]]
[[Category:Melodrama]]
[[Category:Trope]][[Category:Pages with comment tags]]
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