Satire and Switch
A parody/satire and switch describes a shift in the story from being a parody/satire, to becoming a straight form of the subject of the parody/satire. The work may have begun humorously subverting tropes before playing them straight later on. This could have been intended from the beginning (which would make it a bait and switch) or it may have developed as the story continued.
This could be a result of the story being an Indecisive Parody, where the line between parody and notparody was not very clear from the start.
This can also naturally result in a Misaimed Fandom as well as a Broken Base, due to fans having differing opinions on whether the shift was for the better. If the parody/satire initially served the purpose of making an intellectual point via critiquing and criticizing the subject of its parody/satire, the parody/satire shift can also result in a Broken Aesop.
Compare Cerebus Syndrome.
Comic Books
- At first, Empowered was a strictly humourous series that parodied (among other things) various tropes of superhero comics. Later on, it began to add serious elements to the story, becoming more like a straight superhero comic (with added humour) than a parody.
- The original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles went from being a parody of Ninja mania to being a straight Science Fiction example of it.
Film
- Enchanted is this applied to Disney Princesses.
- Hot Fuzz is a great example, although it remains funny throughout.
- The film version of Kick Ass is arguably this.
- Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon
Literature
- Discworld began as a parody of the Fantasy Kitchen Sink and fantasy in general, and then evolved into a whole universe with its own mythology. For example, in The Colour of Magic, Rincewind meets a surprisingly-puny Eldritch Abomination as part of a passing joke. One book later, the creatures of the Dungeon Dimensions are treated as a serious threat.
Video Games
- Inverted Trope in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, in a very Mind Screwy way.
Web Comics
- No Need for Bushido began as a spoof of action-adventure comics, but quickly morphed into a generally straight but very tongue-in-cheek example. This was for the better.