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.
Guide To Best Hob: The Intermediate Guide Towards Best Hob Best Hob
8 Tips To Up Your Link Collection Site Game 링크모음 – Cierra -
Five Killer Quora Answers To Cot Bed Sales cot bed Sales
10 Apps To Aid You Manage Your Integrated Combi Microwave Advanced Technology
The Most Pervasive Issues In Hobs And Ovens best ovens and hobs uk
How Renault Kangoo Spare Key Was The Most Talked About Trend In 2023
renault kangoo key replacement
15 Terms Everyone Working In The Treadmills
That Fold Flat Industry Should Know Walking
10 Address Collection Tricks All Experts Recommend 링크모음
5 Killer Quora Answers On Cot For Sale cot for sale (Georgia)
Guide To Electric Wheelchairs Lightweight: The Intermediate Guide
Towards Electric Wheelchairs Lightweight electric Wheelchairs Lightweight
10 Window And Door Doctor Techniques All Experts Recommend Window and door doctor near me
10 Things That Your Family Teach You About Cot Bed Solid Wood cot bed solid wood
How Glass Window Replacement Near Me Arose To Be The
Top Trend On Social Media glass replacement in windows; Saul,
10 Things That Your Family Taught You About Cheap Cots Cheap cots
The History Of Mid Sleeper Cabin Bed In 10 Milestones mid
sleepers, Kathlene,
What Masturbator Is Your Next Big Obsession? Masturbator Toys
15 Best Masturbator For Male Bloggers You Must Follow Best Masturbator
The Best Asbestos Cancer Lawsuit Lawyer Mesothelioma Is Gurus.
3 Things mesothelioma attorneys (Levi)
Beware Of These “Trends” About Cot Sales Baby
Crib – blogfreely.net,
Treadmills Foldable 10 Things I’d Love To Have Known Earlier folding treadmill (Anne)
You’ll Never Guess This Casino Crypto’s Secrets Casino Crypto
The Complete Guide To Link Collection 링크모음
20 Quotes Of Wisdom About Private ADHD Assessment adhd assessment private Uk
You’ll Never Guess This Mesothelioma Litigation’s Tricks Mesothelioma litigation
You’ll Be Unable To Guess Kids Beds Bunk Beds’s Secrets kids beds bunk Beds, lt.Dananxun.cn,
The Most Worst Nightmare About Cheap Cot Bed Be Realized Best Cot Beds
(Nerdgaming.Science)
17 Signs You Work With Audi A4 Car Key Replacement Audi Replacement Key Service
Ten Pragmatic Genuine Myths That Aren’t Always True 프라그마틱 체험
How A Weekly Truck Accidents Lawyer Near Me Project Can Change Your Life
best truck accident Attorney
20 Trailblazers Are Leading The Way In Key Audi Replacement Audi Key cost
Key Repair Near Me: It’s Not As Expensive As You Think Car Key Repair [http://www.diggerslist.Com]
9 . What Your Parents Teach You About Togel4d Login Togel4d Login
Ten Things You Should Never Share On Twitter 프라그마틱 슬롯 무료체험
(Leonardo)
Why Crypto Casino Sites Is More Difficult Than You Think Crypto Casino Games
Is Your Company Responsible For An Lawyer Train Budget? 12 Top Ways To Spend Your Money construction truck accident lawyer
Tips For Explaining Address Collection To Your Mom 주소모음사이트 – Chana
-
Where Can You Find The Top Online Mystery Boxes Information?
Mystery Box opening Online
10 Audi A4 Spare Key-Related Audi A4 Spare Key-Related Projects That Will Stretch Your Creativity
Audi Q7 Key
A Brief History History Of Bi Fold Door Repair Near Me repairing bifold doors, Minecraftcommand.science,
15 Hot Trends Coming Soon About Address Collection 주소모음사이트
10 Things You Learned In Kindergarden Which Will Aid You In Obtaining Address Collection 링크모음사이트
How To Choose The Right Double Glazed Window Repair On The Internet
window repairs near Me
20 Fun Facts About Pragmatic Kr 프라그마틱 사이트
(admiralbookmarks.Com)
Five Killer Quora Answers On Affordable Cots
affordable cots – Fallon,
Sofas On Sale Tools To Help You Manage Your Daily Lifethe
One Sofas On Sale Trick Every Individual Should Learn sofas on sale
Guide To Senseo Uk: The Intermediate Guide The Steps To Senseo Uk Senseo uk
7 Things About Porsche Key Battery You’ll Kick Yourself For Not Knowing porsche valet key (Flora)
What’s The Current Job Market For Cheap Cot Beds Professionals?
Cheap cot Beds
The Best Mattress Toppers Success Story You’ll Never Believe Single memory foam mattress topper
4 Dirty Little Details About Accident & Injury
Lawyers And The Accident & Injury Lawyers Industry Accident And Injury Lawyers