Trope of the Week: Manic Pixie Dream Girl

Chick 1 says:

Exciting!  Another new series: Trope of the Week.

What is a trope?  A trope is a device, motif, recurring theme, or even a cliche used in storytelling.  It can be a character type, a specific line or style of dialogue, a plot device, even a type of location or set.

A trope itself is neither good nor bad.  In fact, used appropriately it can be an effective tool.  In storytelling, whether in literature or film or other media, a lot of information needs to be communicated to the audience without bogging down the pace with lots of backstory or exposition.  A trope can be a kind of shorthand that the creator and audience have agreed on and recognize so the audience knows what to expect and can concentrate on more important parts of the plot.

When overused it can make the storytelling lazy or one dimensional.  It then becomes a cliche and distracts from the story.

One of my favorite trope sources is the website tvtropes.org.  It is a massive user-run collection of all tropes film, tv, literary, anime, video game, ad nauseum.  I’m a bit of an addict.

This week’s trope is currently a popular one; the Manic Pixie Dream Girl.  The Manic Pixie Dream Girl is, obviously, a female character type.  She is pretty, spontaneous, non-conformist, and above all else, quirky.  Cute and quirky are pretty much the two key ingredients for Manic Pixie Dream Girl.  She is not usually the protaganist but is often used to rescue the male protaganist from his dull emotionless existence.  She is full of the wonder of life and marvels at the delight that each moment holds.

The phrase was first used to describe Kirsten Dunst’s character in 2005′s Elizabethtown but the archetype has been around a lot longer than that, going all the way to Katherine Hepburn in Bringing Up Baby and back.   Other Manic Pixie Dream Girls include Barbara Streisand in What’s Up Doc?, Sarah Jessica Parker in L.A. Story, Charlize Theron in Sweet November (with a twist of tragedy) and Natalie Portman in Garden State.

But the current reigning monarch of all Manic Pixie Dream Girls is Zooey Deschanel.  Almost every role she plays, from (500) Days of Summer to Yes Man is some form of this type.  Her new TV show New Girl (quite funny by the way) is almost entirely based on her embodiment of this archetype.  On the flipside, a writer on this trope’s page points out that in Elf her character is pretty jaded and that Will Ferrell is actually the Manic Pixie Dream Guy.

Edit:(4/29/12) OK, this is what happens when I’m excited and I want to post an article.  I post and then think about it and have more to say or correct.  In regards to Zooey, she actually started out as the snarky best friend in movies like Abandon or Failure to Launch.  In fact, her character was one of the few bright points in Failure.  She only moved to Manic Pixie Dream Girl after movies mentioned above.

What Manic Pixie Dream Girls have you picked up on?

And now for your viewing pleasure, a couple of videos.  First up, Zooey makes fun of her own reputation on SNL

And even better, the need to care for all these Manic Pixie Dream Girls roaming the streets has finally led to a home being set up for them.  Enjoy.

Posted on by Chick 1 in Tropes 3,588 Comments

3,588 Responses to Trope of the Week: Manic Pixie Dream Girl

  1. Niki

    17 Signs You Are Working With 4d Sport Toto 토토사이트 모음 (Niki)

  2. Diagnosis Of Adhd In Adults

    5 People You Oughta Know In The Diagnosis Of ADHD Industry Diagnosis Of Adhd In Adults

  3. Fileeffect12.Bravejournal.net

    What’s The Current Job Market For Skoda Superb Key Professionals?
    skoda superb Key, Fileeffect12.Bravejournal.net,

  4. mensvault.men

    What’s The Current Job Market For Automatic Folding Lightweight Mobility Scooter Professionals Like?
    automatic folding lightweight mobility scooter, mensvault.men,

  5. coffee Bean machines

    Ten Coffee Bean Machines That Really Improve Your Life coffee Bean machines

  6. the most realistic sex dolls

    The Little-Known Benefits Of Realistic Sex Dolla the most realistic sex dolls

  7. audi key replacement cost

    The Expert Guide To Audi Tt Key audi key replacement cost

  8. private adhd assessment dundee

    A Rewind The Conversations People Had About ADHD Assessment UK Private 20 Years Ago private adhd assessment dundee

  9. Innovative mobility scooters

    Don’t Stop! 15 Things About Mobility Scooters We’re Fed Up Of Hearing Innovative mobility scooters

  10. audi new Key

    10 Websites To Help You Become An Expert In Audi Replacement Key audi new Key

  11. Shayna

    20 Quotes That Will Help You Understand Mesothelioma Asbestos Lawyer mesothelioma attorneys – Shayna -

  12. Window Repairs

    Why Adding Window Sash Repairs To Your Life Will Make All The Different Window Repairs

  13. car key program near me

    Guide To Car Key Program Near Me: The Intermediate Guide To Car Key Program Near Me car key program near me

  14. User-Friendly 3 Wheel Walker

    What You Need To Do With This 3 Wheel Rollator Walkers User-Friendly 3 Wheel Walker

  15. Realisticsex Doll

    Five Killer Quora Answers On Realisticsex Doll Realisticsex Doll

  16. new Audi Keys

    Find Out What Audi A3 Key Replacement Tricks The Celebs
    Are Using new Audi Keys

  17. treadmill Best

    Guide To Treadmill Best: The Intermediate Guide On Treadmill Best treadmill Best

  18. ky58.cc

    How To Tell The Good And Bad About Toto 메이저사이트 순위 (ky58.cc)

  19. Lydia

    Why You Should Concentrate On Improving Realistic Love Dolls realistic sex
    doll cost (Lydia)

  20. Mesothelioma attorneys

    10 Tips For Asbestos Cancer Law Lawyer Mesothelioma Settlement That Are Unexpected Mesothelioma attorneys

  21. Asbestos Attorney

    10 Situations When You’ll Need To Learn About Attorney For Asbestos Asbestos Attorney

  22. realistick Sex doll

    Five Killer Quora Answers To Realistick Sex Doll
    realistick Sex doll

  23. Sammie

    10 Places That You Can Find Situs Togel Dan Slot Terpercaya toto online terbaik (Sammie)

  24. Cheap Locksmith Near Me

    Five Killer Quora Answers On Cheap Locksmith Near Me Cheap Locksmith Near Me

  25. heavenarticle.com

    Why Adding A How To Get An ADHD Diagnosis UK
    To Your Life’s Journey Will Make The An Impact Who can diagnose adhd uk (heavenarticle.com)

  26. hot realistic Sex dolls

    It’s A Realistic Sex Dolls Success Story You’ll Never Imagine hot realistic Sex dolls

  27. yogicentral.Science

    See What Premium Quality Arabica Coffee Beans Tricks The Celebs
    Are Using premium quality arabica coffee beans, yogicentral.Science,

  28. Best French Door Fridge With Ice Maker

    15 Best French Door Fridge With Ice Maker Bloggers You Should Follow Best French Door Fridge With Ice Maker

  29. mesothelioma Lawyer

    A Time-Travelling Journey: How People Talked About Asbestos Cancer Lawyer
    Mesothelioma Settlement 20 Years Ago mesothelioma Lawyer

  30. best heavy duty mobility scooter

    How Much Can What Is The Best Electric Wheelchair To Purchase Experts
    Make? best heavy duty mobility scooter

  31. Emery

    5 Killer Quora Answers On Lost Keys Of Car lost keys of car, Emery,

  32. Zoe

    16 Must-Follow Facebook Pages To Audi Key-Related Businesses replacement key audi (Zoe)

  33. french door Fridge lock

    It Is A Fact That French Door Fridge And Freezer Is The Best
    Thing You Can Get. French Door Fridge And Freezer french door Fridge lock

  34. Auto Folding Mobility Scooter Near Me

    14 Smart Ways To Spend Your Extra Auto Folding Mobility Scooter Budget Auto Folding Mobility Scooter Near Me

  35. French Door Fridge Freezer Fisher And Paykel

    15 Things You Don’t Know About French Door Fridge Integrated French Door Fridge Freezer Fisher And Paykel

  36. Maps.Google.Cv

    Why Is There All This Fuss About French Door Fridge Ice Dispenser?
    French Door Fridge Freezer Non Plumbed (Maps.Google.Cv)

  37. olderworkers.com.au

    The Next Big Event In The Upvc Double Glazed Windows Industry upvc Windows for sale (olderworkers.com.au)

  38. Championsleage.Review

    10 Life Lessons That We Can Learn From Integrated Fridge Freezer Frost Free Fridge Freezer Built
    In 50/50 (Championsleage.Review)

  39. social anxiety Disorder symptoms

    Guide To Social Anxiety Disorder Symptoms: The Intermediate Guide The Steps To Social Anxiety Disorder Symptoms social anxiety Disorder symptoms

  40. kids bunk bed bedding

    The Advanced Guide To Cheap Bunk Beds For Kids kids bunk bed bedding

  41. www.eediscuss.Com

    10 Quick Tips About French Door Fridge French door fridge freezer reviews –
    http://www.eediscuss.Com,

  42. easy

    An Easy-To-Follow Guide To Choosing Your Treadmill With Incline Of 12 easy

  43. realisticsex doll

    5 Killer Quora Answers On Realisticsex Doll realisticsex doll

  44. how much to programme A Car key

    11 Strategies To Completely Defy Your Car Key Programmer how much to programme A Car key

  45. peugeot key code

    How To Explain New Key For Peugeot 207 To Your Grandparents peugeot key code

  46. private adhd assessment Somerset

    The Three Greatest Moments In Private ADHD Clinic History private adhd assessment Somerset

  47. Maxwell-browne-2.technetbloggers.de

    14 Smart Ways To Spend Extra Green Power Mobility Budget Are green power mobility scooters any good;
    Maxwell-browne-2.technetbloggers.de,

  48. White Wall Fire

    Five Killer Quora Answers On Wall Electric Fireplace White Wall Fire

  49. Jannette

    5 Clarifications On Milton Keynes Window Repair double glazing
    milton keynes (Jannette)

  50. Stroller 2in1

    Stroller 2in1 Tools To Improve Your Daily Lifethe One Stroller
    2in1 Trick That Every Person Must Know Stroller 2in1

Add a Comment