5.2 Subverting genre tropes
8 min read•august 20, 2024
Genre tropes are familiar elements that define storytelling conventions. Writers can subvert these tropes to create fresh, engaging narratives. Techniques like , , and challenge audience assumptions and inject new life into well-worn genres.
Subverting tropes offers benefits like originality, audience engagement, and challenging stereotypes. However, it also carries risks of alienating fans or confusing viewers. Successful requires careful balance, maintaining core genre promises while innovating secondary elements. Skillful execution can revitalize stale genres and create memorable storytelling experiences.
Defining genre tropes
- Genre tropes are recurring themes, characters, or plot devices that are commonly associated with specific genres
- Tropes serve as familiar elements that audiences expect and recognize within a particular genre
- Tropes can help establish the conventions and expectations of a genre, providing a framework for storytelling
Common tropes in popular genres
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- Action films often feature a lone hero facing impossible odds, high-stakes chase scenes, and explosive climaxes
- Romantic comedies typically include meet-cutes, misunderstandings that keep the couple apart, and grand gestures of love
- Horror movies frequently employ jump scares, isolated settings, and a seemingly unstoppable antagonist
- Science fiction stories commonly explore advanced technology, alien encounters, and dystopian futures
Purpose of tropes in storytelling
- Tropes provide a shorthand for quickly establishing genre and setting audience expectations
- They offer a familiar foundation that allows writers to build upon and subvert expectations
- Tropes can create a sense of comfort and nostalgia for audiences, tapping into shared cultural experiences
- They serve as a starting point for exploring deeper themes and ideas within a genre
Tropes vs clichés
- While tropes are recurring elements, clichés are overused and predictable tropes that have become tired and unoriginal
- Clichés lack the freshness and impact of well-executed tropes, often eliciting eye-rolls from audiences
- The line between tropes and clichés can be subjective, depending on the context and execution
- Skillful writers can breathe new life into tropes, preventing them from becoming clichés
Techniques for subverting tropes
- Subverting tropes involves taking familiar genre elements and twisting them in unexpected ways
- By challenging audience expectations, subversion can create fresh and engaging storytelling experiences
- Subversion requires a deep understanding of and a willingness to take creative risks
Inverting expectations
- Inverting expectations involves taking a common trope and presenting its opposite or a surprising variation
- For example, instead of the typical "damsel in distress," a story might feature a capable female hero rescuing a male character
- Inverted expectations can challenge gender roles, power dynamics, or other societal norms
- This technique can make familiar stories feel new and thought-provoking
Blending genres
- Blending genres involves combining elements from different genres to create a unique and unexpected mix
- A romantic comedy might incorporate elements of science fiction, or a horror film might include a coming-of-age story
- Genre blending can lead to fresh perspectives and new storytelling possibilities
- Successful genre blends require a careful balance to avoid feeling disjointed or gimmicky
Deconstructing archetypes
- Deconstructing archetypes involves examining and subverting the typical roles and characteristics of genre characters
- A story might explore the darker aspects of a traditionally heroic archetype or humanize a villainous character
- can add depth and complexity to characters, challenging simplistic good-vs-evil narratives
- This technique can encourage audiences to question their assumptions about character types
Satirizing conventions
- involves poking fun at or critiquing the common tropes and clichés of a genre
- Satire can expose the absurdity or shallowness of certain genre elements, often through exaggeration or irony
- This technique can serve as a commentary on the genre itself or on broader societal issues
- Effective satire requires a delicate touch to avoid becoming mean-spirited or alienating audiences
Benefits of subverting tropes
- Subverting tropes can inject new life into well-worn genres, keeping storytelling fresh and engaging
- By challenging expectations, subversion can create memorable and impactful narrative experiences
- Subversion allows writers to explore deeper themes and ideas that might be limited by strict adherence to genre conventions
Originality and innovation
- Subverting tropes can lead to highly original and innovative stories that stand out in a crowded media landscape
- By breaking free from formulaic storytelling, writers can create unique and compelling narratives
- Originality can attract audiences seeking new and exciting experiences beyond the familiar
- Innovative approaches can inspire other creators and push the boundaries of what's possible within a genre
Audience engagement and surprise
- Subverting tropes can keep audiences actively engaged by constantly challenging their expectations
- Surprising twists and turns can create a sense of excitement and unpredictability, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats
- Subversion can encourage audiences to think more deeply about the story and its themes
- Engaging storytelling can lead to increased audience investment and loyalty
Challenging stereotypes and norms
- Subverting tropes can be a powerful tool for challenging harmful stereotypes and societal norms
- By presenting diverse and complex characters, stories can combat one-dimensional representations of marginalized groups
- Subversion can expose and critique the limitations of traditional gender roles, racial stereotypes, or other biases
- Challenging norms through storytelling can contribute to broader social conversations and progress
Revitalizing stale genres
- Subverting tropes can breathe new life into genres that have become predictable or stagnant
- By introducing fresh perspectives and unexpected elements, subversion can reignite interest in a genre
- Revitalized genres can attract new audiences and inspire a wave of innovative storytelling
- Successful subversion can demonstrate the ongoing relevance and potential of even the most well-established genres
Risks of subverting tropes
- While subverting tropes can lead to exciting and original storytelling, it also comes with potential risks and challenges
- Writers must carefully consider the impact of subversion on audience expectations and reception
- Unsuccessful attempts at subversion can alienate viewers and undermine the effectiveness of the story
Alienating genre fans
- Subverting tropes too drastically or without proper setup can alienate dedicated genre fans
- Fans who are deeply invested in the conventions and traditions of a genre may resist or reject extreme subversion
- Alienating a core audience can lead to backlash, negative reviews, and reduced support for a film or franchise
- Writers must find a balance between subversion and satisfying genre expectations to maintain fan engagement
Confusing unfamiliar audiences
- Subverting tropes can be confusing for audiences who are less familiar with the genre or its conventions
- Without a clear understanding of what's being subverted, viewers may struggle to appreciate the impact of the subversion
- Confusion can lead to disengagement, frustration, or a lack of investment in the story
- Writers must ensure that the subversion is accessible and understandable to a broad audience
Unsuccessful execution
- Subverting tropes requires skill, nuance, and careful execution to be effective
- Poorly executed subversion can come across as gimmicky, forced, or self-indulgent
- Unsuccessful attempts may fail to resonate with audiences or undermine the integrity of the story
- Writers must have a clear purpose and vision for their subversion, ensuring that it serves the narrative and themes
Subversion for subversion's sake
- Subverting tropes simply for the sake of being different or edgy can backfire
- Without a meaningful connection to the story or characters, subversion can feel gratuitous or disconnected
- Subversion should serve a narrative purpose, enhancing the themes or emotional impact of the film
- Writers must avoid falling into the trap of subverting tropes merely for shock value or novelty
Examples of subverted tropes in film
- Examining successful examples of subverted tropes in film can provide inspiration and guidance for writers
- These examples demonstrate the potential impact and effectiveness of well-executed subversion
- By studying how other films have approached subversion, writers can learn valuable techniques and strategies
Unconventional protagonists
- "Mad Max: Fury Road" (2015) subverts the typical male action hero trope by featuring a strong female lead in Furiosa
- "Psycho" (1960) famously subverts the protagonist trope by (spoiler alert) killing off the apparent main character early in the film
- "Memento" (2000) features a protagonist with anterograde amnesia, subverting the trope of the reliable narrator
Unexpected plot twists
- "The Sixth Sense" (1999) subverts the ghost story trope with its famous twist ending, revealing that (spoiler alert) the protagonist has been dead all along
- "Knives Out" (2019) subverts the classic whodunit formula by revealing the culprit early on and focusing on the aftermath
- "Parasite" (2019) constantly subverts audience expectations with its shifts in tone, genre, and character dynamics
Genre hybrids and mashups
- "Shaun of the Dead" (2004) blends the zombie horror genre with romantic comedy elements, subverting expectations of both genres
- "The Cabin in the Woods" (2011) combines horror with science fiction and meta-commentary, deconstructing horror tropes and archetypes
- "Get Out" (2017) merges horror with social satire, using genre tropes to explore deeper themes of racism and oppression
Meta-commentary on genre
- "" (1996) subverts slasher film tropes through self-aware meta-commentary, with characters discussing the rules of horror movies
- "Blazing Saddles" (1974) satirizes Western genre conventions and racial stereotypes, breaking the fourth wall and highlighting the absurdity of tropes
- "Adaptation." (2002) blurs the lines between reality and fiction, subverting biopic and adaptation tropes while exploring the creative process
Balancing subversion and satisfaction
- While subverting tropes can lead to innovative storytelling, it's important to balance subversion with audience satisfaction
- Audiences still crave the emotional catharsis and narrative resolution that genres typically provide
- Striking the right balance ensures that subversion enhances rather than detracts from the viewing experience
Meeting core genre promises
- Despite subverting certain tropes, successful films still deliver on the core promises and emotional experiences of their genres
- A subversive romance should still provide a satisfying love story, even if it challenges traditional relationship dynamics
- A subversive action film should still deliver thrilling set pieces and high stakes, even if it subverts the lone hero archetype
- helps maintain audience engagement and investment in the story
Subverting secondary elements
- One approach to is to subvert secondary or peripheral elements while maintaining the core genre experience
- For example, a mystery film might subvert the detective archetype but still provide a satisfying puzzle and resolution
- allows for innovation and surprise without fundamentally altering the genre's appeal
- This approach can be less risky than attempting to subvert the central pillars of a genre
Foreshadowing and setup
- Effective subversion often relies on careful to avoid feeling abrupt or unearned
- Planting subtle hints or clues throughout the story can prepare audiences for unexpected twists or reversals
- Foreshadowing helps subversion feel organic and integrated into the narrative, rather than coming out of nowhere
- Skillful setup can make even the most surprising subversions feel satisfying and inevitable in retrospect
Payoff and resolution
- Ultimately, subversion should lead to a meaningful that justifies the departure from genre norms
- The subversion should contribute to a satisfying emotional or thematic conclusion, even if it defies expectations
- A well-executed payoff can leave audiences feeling both surprised and fulfilled, appreciating the subversion's impact
- Ensuring a strong resolution helps mitigate the risks of alienating or confusing viewers through subversion
Key Terms to Review (37)
Alienating genre fans: Alienating genre fans refers to the phenomenon where filmmakers intentionally or unintentionally create content that diverges significantly from established genre conventions, leading to disappointment or frustration among the audience who typically enjoys that genre. This can happen when familiar tropes are subverted or when expectations are challenged in ways that feel unsatisfying to long-time fans. While some may appreciate the innovation, others may feel excluded from the experience.
Audience anticipation: Audience anticipation is the expectation that viewers form based on their previous experiences with certain genres, storytelling techniques, or plot devices. It plays a crucial role in engaging the audience, as they look for cues that signal how the story might unfold, which can create excitement or tension. When these expectations are met, it can enhance satisfaction; however, when they are subverted, it can provoke surprise and a fresh perspective.
Audience engagement and surprise: Audience engagement and surprise refer to the techniques used by storytellers to capture and maintain the viewer's attention while also providing unexpected twists that provoke an emotional or intellectual response. This combination not only enhances the viewing experience but also encourages deeper investment in the narrative, making the audience feel more connected to the characters and plot. Effectively utilizing these techniques can subvert expectations and challenge genre conventions, leading to more memorable storytelling.
Balancing subversion and satisfaction: Balancing subversion and satisfaction refers to the art of creating a narrative that both challenges traditional genre expectations while still providing audiences with a sense of closure and enjoyment. This balance is crucial in storytelling, especially when subverting genre tropes, as it allows writers to surprise their viewers without leaving them feeling unsatisfied or confused. Achieving this balance can enhance the overall experience, making stories feel fresh and engaging while still adhering to some familiar structures that audiences appreciate.
Blending genres: Blending genres refers to the creative practice of combining elements from different genres to create a unique narrative or style. This technique allows filmmakers and writers to subvert traditional genre expectations, resulting in fresh storytelling that engages audiences in unexpected ways. By blending genres, creators can explore new themes, tones, and character archetypes, ultimately enriching the narrative experience.
Challenging stereotypes and norms: Challenging stereotypes and norms refers to the process of questioning and subverting widely held beliefs and expectations about individuals or groups based on their identity, roles, or behaviors. This practice seeks to disrupt conventional portrayals and encourage a more nuanced understanding of diverse experiences, often through storytelling that highlights the complexities of characters and situations.
Confusing unfamiliar audiences: Confusing unfamiliar audiences refers to the technique of deliberately presenting narrative elements that challenge the audience's expectations, leading to disorientation or surprise. This approach often involves subverting established genre tropes, making the viewer question their assumptions and engage with the story in a more active manner. By playing with familiar conventions, creators can evoke a variety of reactions, from intrigue to frustration, ultimately enhancing the depth of the viewing experience.
Deconstructing Archetypes: Deconstructing archetypes involves analyzing and breaking down traditional character types and narrative roles to reveal their complexities, contradictions, and how they can be reinterpreted in new contexts. This practice often challenges the conventional understanding of archetypes, leading to fresh perspectives that subvert expectations and create more nuanced storytelling.
Deconstruction: Deconstruction is a critical approach that seeks to unravel and challenge the underlying assumptions, beliefs, and structures within texts and narratives. This technique exposes how meanings can be constructed and deconstructed, revealing contradictions and ambiguities that subvert traditional interpretations. In film, deconstruction often involves taking genre tropes and flipping them on their heads, highlighting how these conventions shape audience expectations and perceptions.
Foreshadowing and Setup: Foreshadowing is a narrative device used to give hints or clues about events that will occur later in a story, while setup refers to the groundwork laid by the writer that establishes context and expectations. Together, these elements create a sense of anticipation and can subvert genre tropes by leading the audience in one direction before taking an unexpected turn, enhancing both the narrative tension and emotional impact of the story.
Genre conventions: Genre conventions are the established features, themes, and elements that define a specific genre in storytelling, guiding both the creators and the audience in their expectations. These conventions help set the tone, structure, and content of a narrative, making it easier for viewers or readers to identify what type of story they are engaging with. Understanding these conventions allows for creative manipulation, such as subverting expectations or blending genres to create unique experiences.
Genre hybridity: Genre hybridity refers to the blending of two or more genres to create a new and unique storytelling experience. This mixing can lead to fresh narratives that challenge audience expectations while still drawing on familiar genre conventions, allowing for innovative storytelling and character development.
Genre hybrids and mashups: Genre hybrids and mashups refer to the blending of different genres or elements from multiple genres to create a unique narrative experience. This technique can subvert traditional genre expectations, allowing filmmakers to innovate and challenge audience perceptions by merging familiar tropes with unexpected combinations.
Intertextuality: Intertextuality is the relationship between texts and how they reference or influence one another, creating a web of meanings that enriches the understanding of each individual work. This concept helps highlight how narratives can build upon established conventions, allowing for subversion of genre tropes and the blending of genres, ultimately impacting themes, motifs, and market appeal.
Inverting expectations: Inverting expectations refers to the creative technique of surprising an audience by presenting an outcome that is contrary to what they anticipated. This approach can be a powerful storytelling device, as it challenges conventional narratives and genre norms, often leading to deeper engagement and a more memorable experience for viewers.
Meeting core genre promises: Meeting core genre promises refers to the necessity for a film or story to fulfill the expectations and conventions associated with its chosen genre. This concept is crucial for engaging the audience, as it ensures that viewers receive the narrative elements and thematic undertones they anticipate based on the genre's established norms. Successfully meeting these promises builds trust with the audience, while also setting the stage for potential subversion of those expectations, which can lead to fresh and innovative storytelling.
Meta-commentary on genre: Meta-commentary on genre refers to the self-aware exploration and critique of genre conventions within a narrative. It often involves characters or narratives that acknowledge their own genre, either by subverting common tropes or by humorously reflecting on them. This creates a layer of commentary that allows audiences to engage with the material in a more nuanced way, inviting them to think critically about the expectations set by different genres.
Meta-narrative: A meta-narrative refers to an overarching story or framework that gives meaning to smaller narratives or experiences. It often involves self-reference and reflection on the storytelling process itself, highlighting how stories shape our understanding of reality. In relation to subverting genre tropes, meta-narratives can play a critical role in challenging and redefining expectations by commenting on the conventions of genres and storytelling.
Non-linear storytelling: Non-linear storytelling is a narrative technique that presents events out of chronological order, allowing for a more complex and layered exploration of characters, themes, and plot. This approach encourages viewers to engage actively with the story, piecing together timelines and understanding character motivations through fragmented narratives. By subverting traditional linear narratives, this method creates unique storytelling experiences, especially in genres that often rely on predictability.
Originality and Innovation: Originality refers to the quality of being unique or novel in ideas, concepts, or expressions, while innovation involves the application of original ideas to create something new or improve existing forms. Both originality and innovation are essential in storytelling, especially when it comes to reimagining or transforming established genres into something fresh and exciting.
Payoff and Resolution: Payoff and resolution refer to the moment in storytelling when the built-up tension is resolved, and the consequences of the narrative's conflicts are addressed. This concept is crucial for providing closure to the audience, ensuring that character arcs are completed and themes are fully realized. When subverting genre tropes, the way payoff and resolution are delivered can lead to unexpected outcomes that challenge audience expectations and redefine narrative satisfaction.
Postmodernism: Postmodernism is a broad movement in art, literature, and culture that emerged in the mid-20th century, characterized by a skeptical, self-aware approach to narrative, identity, and genre. It often challenges established norms and conventions, playing with ideas of fragmentation, paradox, and intertextuality. This movement frequently subverts genre tropes and embraces hybridization, allowing for a blend of styles and forms that defy traditional classifications.
Reinvention: Reinvention refers to the process of transforming existing concepts, ideas, or genres into something new and innovative. It often involves taking established norms or tropes and reimagining them in ways that challenge audience expectations and create fresh perspectives. This process can breathe new life into traditional narratives and can be a powerful tool for storytelling, allowing creators to engage with familiar material while pushing the boundaries of creativity.
Revitalizing stale genres: Revitalizing stale genres refers to the creative process of breathing new life into genres that have become predictable, overused, or lacking in originality. This often involves subverting established conventions and tropes to surprise audiences and create fresh storytelling experiences that engage viewers in new ways.
Satirizing conventions: Satirizing conventions refers to the practice of humorously mocking or exaggerating established norms, styles, and tropes within a specific genre. This technique often highlights the absurdity or contradictions of these conventions, encouraging audiences to question the validity and effectiveness of typical storytelling methods. By subverting expectations, satirizing conventions can reveal deeper truths about societal issues and provoke critical thinking among viewers.
Scream: In the context of film, a 'scream' typically refers to a loud, high-pitched vocalization expressing fear, horror, or extreme emotion, often used to evoke tension and intensity in a narrative. This element plays a crucial role in subverting genre tropes, as it can transform expected reactions and challenge the audience's assumptions about characters and scenarios.
Self-referentiality: Self-referentiality is a concept in storytelling where a work references itself or its own conventions, often highlighting its artificiality. This technique invites the audience to recognize the constructed nature of the narrative and can lead to both humor and critical reflection on genre tropes and storytelling methods.
Subversion: Subversion refers to the act of undermining or challenging established norms, conventions, and expectations, particularly within genres. It plays a significant role in storytelling by allowing creators to twist familiar tropes and plots, creating unexpected narratives that can surprise and engage audiences. This technique can provoke thought and critique societal norms by flipping clichés on their heads, ultimately reshaping the viewer's experience.
Subversion for subversion's sake: Subversion for subversion's sake refers to the deliberate act of undermining or overturning established norms, conventions, or tropes within a genre without a meaningful or constructive purpose behind it. This approach often results in shock value or novelty, but can lack depth and coherence, leaving audiences feeling disconnected from the narrative. It often leads to works that challenge genre expectations purely to seem innovative, rather than to enhance storytelling or character development.
Subverting secondary elements: Subverting secondary elements involves intentionally twisting or altering traditional components of storytelling to create unexpected experiences for the audience. This technique plays a crucial role in shaking up genre conventions and encourages viewers to think critically about the narrative and character roles, leading to fresh interpretations of familiar stories.
The chosen one: The chosen one is a narrative trope often found in stories where a specific character is identified as the savior or hero destined to achieve greatness, typically in a battle against evil forces. This character usually possesses unique abilities, often set apart from others, and is charged with a significant mission, creating a strong connection with themes of destiny and heroism. The trope is prevalent across various genres, allowing for both traditional and subversive interpretations.
The Love Triangle: The love triangle is a narrative device where three characters are involved in romantic relationships, creating tension and conflict as they navigate their feelings for one another. This trope often serves to highlight themes of desire, betrayal, and the complexity of human emotions, leading to dramatic plot developments and character growth.
Unconventional Protagonists: Unconventional protagonists are characters who defy the traditional norms and expectations associated with leading roles in storytelling. They often possess atypical traits, backgrounds, or motivations that set them apart from standard hero archetypes. By breaking the mold, these characters can provide fresh perspectives and drive narratives in unexpected directions, often subverting genre conventions and audience expectations.
Unexpected plot twists: Unexpected plot twists are surprising developments in a story that subvert the audience's expectations, often changing the direction of the narrative in a dramatic way. These twists can challenge genre conventions, create emotional resonance, and provoke deeper engagement from the audience, leading to a more memorable viewing experience.
Unreliable narrator: An unreliable narrator is a storyteller whose credibility is compromised, often leading the audience to question the truthfulness of their account. This technique creates suspense and intrigue, allowing writers to explore themes of perception and reality. By presenting a skewed or misleading perspective, unreliable narrators engage the audience's critical thinking and can subvert expectations, particularly in character development and genre conventions.
Unsuccessful execution: Unsuccessful execution refers to the failure to effectively implement a narrative or stylistic choice within a film, often resulting in a disconnect between the audience's expectations and the actual experience of the film. This can occur when creators attempt to subvert genre tropes but end up not delivering on the promise of innovation or emotional impact, leading to confusion or disappointment among viewers.
Wes Anderson: Wes Anderson is an American filmmaker known for his distinctive visual and narrative style, characterized by symmetrical compositions, vibrant color palettes, and quirky storytelling. His films often subvert traditional genre tropes by blending elements from various genres while maintaining a unique tone that is both whimsical and poignant. This approach not only challenges audience expectations but also enhances the marketability of his work by creating a recognizable brand that attracts a dedicated fan base.