Older Than They Think: Difference between revisions

{{worktrope}}

{{quote|''Ponder Stibbons was indeed first drawn in 1996. I, of course, used a time machine to "'get the idea"' of Unseen University from Hogwarts; I don't know what Paul [Kidby, the illustrator] used in this case. Obviously he must have used ''something''.''|'''[[Terry Pratchett]]''', on the similarities between ''[[Discworld]]'' and ''[[Harry Potter]]'', quoted at [http://www.lspace.org/books/apf/the-last-hero.html The Annotated Pratchett File page] discussing ''[[The Last Hero]]''}}

Tropes tend to be much older than they appear, even if they aren't one of [[The Oldest Ones in Thethe Book]], so it's increasingly likely that a viewer of a specific program won't be familiar with the original source of whatever is on display.

This can also be inverted by fans, who see a modern adaptation of some older classic they're unfamiliar with, and incorrectly assume some newly introduced trope was part of the original work. The ultimate expression of this is the [[Unbuilt Trope]] --— someone did it previously, examined it, deconstructed it, zig-zagged it, all spectacularly, finished the story's run, but is now remembered mostly nostalgically, not for its trope.

See also the more extreme [[Fleeting Demographic Rule]]. Compare with classical music [[Covered Up]], [[Name's the Same]], [[Popcultural Osmosis]], [[Seinfeld Is Unfunny]], [[Revival Byby Commercialization]], [[Sequel Displacement]], and the [["Weird Al" Effect]]. Somewhat related to [[Adaptation Displacement]]. Contrast with [[Newer Than They Think]]. Do not confuse with [[Older Than They Look]]. There will be a short quiz at the end of class.