#REDIRECT [[ :Category:Older Than They Think]] ▼
{{trope}}
{{quote|''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]]''}}
Simply defined, a fan thinks a trope, plot, or line was invented by a show he or she watches, when in truth its origins lie farther back in history.
Tropes tend to be much older than they appear, even if they aren't one of [[The Oldest Ones in the 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 by 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.
For examples of people referencing trope in fiction, see [[It's Been Done]].
{{tropelist}}
* [[Older Than They Think/Anime and Manga|Anime and Manga]]
* [[Older Than They Think/Comic Books|Comic Books]]
* [[Older Than They Think/Film|Film]]
* [[Older Than They Think/Literature|Literature]]
* [[Older Than They Think/Live Action TV|Live Action TV]]
* [[Older Than They Think/Music|Music]]
* [[Older Than They Think/Tabletop Games|Tabletop Games]]
* [[Older Than They Think/Technology|Technology]]
* [[Older Than They Think/Theatre|Theatre]]
* [[Older Than They Think/Video Games|Video Games]]
* [[Older Than They Think/Web Comics|Web Comics]]
* [[Older Than They Think/Web Original|Web Original]]
* [[Older Than They Think/Western Animation|Western Animation]]
* [[Older Than They Think/Other|Other]]
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Audience Reactions]]
[[Category:Sketch Comedy]]
[[Category:Common Fan Fallacies]]
[[Category:Trope Makers]]
[[Category:index]]
▲[[Category:Older Than They Think]]
|