#subverting tropes

[writingwithcolor]

Diversity Win: Is "Crazy Rich" POC Representation Necessarily Empowering?

sodapopsculptor asked:

I’m writing a story with two sets of protagonists: A trio with a Black girl, a Latino, and a Vietnamese-American boy who all come from middle-upper class to ridiculously rich families, and a pair of white working-middle class sisters. They’re all heroes of this story. I’ve seen way too many rich white people and poor poc people in fiction, and I’m kinda getting sick of it, but I’m worried that by having the poc kids be rich and the white girls not so much, I’ll be reinforcing the idea that poc somehow rule the world. The only time the rich kids use their status as leverage is when the Asian threatens to sic his cop dad on a bully (race unstated but I imagined him as white) picking on a freshman, and during the Black girl’s birthday party, when she pays the biggest jock there fifty bucks (And later says offhandedly that it was just what she had in her pocket) to chase off a creep hitting on her.

OP, have you ever seen the “diversity win!” meme before?

I understand that your motivation for these narrative choices is to give POC a chance, if you will, to be the rich characters. But it is evident from this ask that you have not asked yourself what this entails. I want to ask you to critically examine the race and class intersections you’re creating here, as well as these kids’ roles in oppressive systems.

You explain that these rich POC are heroes and only have righteous reasons for leveraging their power.

But is your Black girl character aware of the potential disciplinary and/or legal consequences her jock accomplice might face while she has the resources to keep her hands clean? Are you?

Is your Asian character aware of how much of an abuse of power it is to “sic” a cop on someone, and the sheer amount of harm a criminal record or incarceration does to a juvenile with behavior issues? Are you?

So you want to put POC in positions of power for #representation.

Does it resonate with the group you’re representing?

Do you research and portray the unique ways race, ethnicity, class, and majority vs. minority status come together?

Or are you putting these characters in oppressive hegemonic roles for the sake of a power fantasy, on behalf of a group you're not even in?

To your question, you're not reinforcing the idea that "POC rule the world" because such a generalized belief does not exist. Instead, you're reinforcing:

The idea that society has “winners” and “losers.”

The idea that the problem with disproportionately powerful people is the lack of “equal opportunity” as opposed to the power imbalance to begin with.

The idea that those in oppressive positions of power need only have the right intentions to justify their use of it.

To be clear: that is not to say that you can't have jerk aristocrat billionaire millionaire crazy rich POC. Evil or mean rich characters are fun! I have some myself! You can even have rich characters who are gentle-hearted and well-intentioned, but you have to know the ways in which they’re privileged and decide how aware of that your characters are. That’s no problem.

But if you think that wealthy and powerful POC would have the same values and priorities as their poorer counterparts, you’re deluding yourself. There’s a reason why the quote “power corrupts” exists. There’s a reason why no matter where you look on the globe, there are historical dictators and tyrants.

If you want bratty rich POC who lack regard for the consequences of their actions, because you want bratty rich characters, great! If you want them because it would be uplifting or empowering representation? You’re doing it for the wrong reason.

~ Rina

I fully agree with Rina, and truly want to emphasize the last paragraph.

If you want bratty rich POC who lack regard for the consequences of their actions, because you want bratty rich characters, great! If you want them because it would be uplifting or empowering representation? You’re doing it for the wrong reason.

I don't think you need to aim to subvert or purposely make all the BIPOC rich and powerful and the white people poor and suffering. Add diversity and include upper class rich and class privileged BIPOC, sure thing! And you can avoid your fears of intentional subversion message by including rich and powerful white characters as well, even if they're not the focus of your story. Just their existence helps. You could also include middle-class characters of Color as well.

More reading: Black in upper-class society

~Mod Colette

#class #upper class #capitalism #POC #creator responsibility #asks #representation #wealth #privilege #subverting tropes #intersectionality #crazy rich asians #last edited 1/8/24

[starryalpacasstuff]

The subversion of faen fatale in Last Twilight; and why I love it

Can I just talk for a moment how much I appreciate P'Aof dismantling faen fatale tropes, as well as the notion of 'guys and girls can't be close friends' that is so prevalent in Asian society? Because not only did he do a fabulous job with Ink in Bad Buddy, but he's going above and beyond with it in Last Twilight. We have Gee, who could have so easily been someone who was interested in Day, and come in between their relationship (I was praying for her to not turn out to be a faen fatale when she was introduced). But instead, she's a great friend to Day, and she helps him regain another piece of his life by pushing him to join her at the bar. And then we have Porjai. She's Mhok's ex girlfriend, and the narrative has presented chance after chance for her to regain feelings for Mhok, and present problem for Mhok and Day in so many different ways, but none of them were ever taken.

And part of this feels very intentional to me. Showing us two female characters that could have very easily become barriers to the relationship, they didn't. We see it in the preliminary interactions between Day and Gee, where there's some time where Gee's character could have easily gone one of two ways. And you will not believe how immensely relieved I was when the show made it abundantly clear that Gee is a friend to Day, and nothing more. Similarly, Porjai is introduced to us as Mhok's girlfriend, and later as his ex. It would have been so easy for her to 'catch feelings again', like when Mhok comes to her aid with her ex (forgot his name, won't bother reminding myself). I feel like the show is trying to put the point forward that guys and girls can be friends, and that the girl doesn't always have to be a homewrecker.

And let me tell you this, I absolutely adore that P'Aof is doing this. The trope of female homewreckers, (or faen fatale as we like to call them) is extremely prevalent not only in bls, but in asian media in general. I've seen it everywhere, from bollywood movies to add drama, to serials that have been running for half my lifetime, to keep the viewers watching. I've watched it enough times to have a genuine hatred of it. There's a number of issues with the trope that I'm not going to get into right now, but I'm sure you're all familiar with. But the greatest point is, that it often takes away from a good story. It's a tired trope that serves only to add drama and disinterest the viewers from the story. Last Twilight (and Bad Buddy too) has had a very concrete storyline from the start. The purpose and aim of this story have been clear from the beginning, and in the most recent episode, the show has started to dig a little deeper into Day and Mhok's stories, relationship, and shown us how they're growing together. A faen fatale would absolutely ruin the slow, delicate journey these two are on of growing together, which is where I come to August.

Honestly, I was a little afraid when I realized that Day liked August. Because Day and Mhok have been slowly, but surely growing closer, and they're slowly letting down walls built up due to grief, and loss. But August only serves to help us further understand Day. I'm struggling slightly to put this into words, but in the single episode we had with August, I've learned so much more about Day, and how he works. And, his introduction also highlighted Mhok's caregiving instinct once more, his tendency to always put Day first. There are rare instances when introducing a past crush does so much for a story (another being Bad Buddy, P'Aof the wonder that you are), and I'm absolutely eating this up.

The last scene absolutely crushed me in a way that only Ep 5 [4/4] bls by P'Aof can. Once again, the resubversion of the Faen Fatale trope. When I first saw August, my first reaction was expecting faen fatale, 'and now he's going to take away Day's attention and Mhok's going to leave the flower and we'll all be sad". Well, the last part happened but it was so much more heartbreaking the way it was done. Once again, proving how much better a story can be without the trope that with. I won't lie, I'm still scared about how the knowledge that Day likes August will impact Mhok's actions toward Day. But, it's more of a fear for the characters, and less of a fear for the narrative, as in I'm not afraid that it will take away from the story.

Bad Buddy holds a legacy for subverting an innumerable number of tropes, and I'm glad to see that Last Twilight is holding it's own in the department too. The purposeful subversion of faen fatale made my heart incredibly happy (have you noticed how much I hate this trope? You probably have. I'm sick of it. Most Indian kids are)

Side note- I've seen a number of posts ghostshipping Gee and Porjai, and while it may not be very plausible, we did get InkPa, so it's never impossible

#i have a lot more thoughts but a theyr all extremely incoherent #this was my attempt at making sense of some of them #but seriously tho #p'aof is an absolute frickin genius #its insane how well the entire thing is orchestrated #im seriously having extreme trouble describing my thoughts because of how incoherent they are #theyre not even in words my thoughts about this show are in vibes and feelings #if that makes sense #it doesn't. i know #last twilight #last twilight meta #last twilight the series #faen fatale #subverting tropes #aof noppharnach

[anthurak]

So I recently saw some discussion on Luz being a ‘Chosen One’-type character. And it really got me thinking about how Luz is, if not an outright subversion, certainly a very interesting exploration and twist on the ‘Chosen One’ trope.

See, Luz technically fits most of the criteria for being a Chosen One, namely being ‘chosen’ by a greater/higher power (the Titan) and gifted great power (glyphs) which she winds up using to defeat the big bad (Belos). However, when we look at the context, execution and subtle nuances of Luz’s relationship with the Titan, we see a lot of differences from what we would expect from a more ‘typical’ Chosen One.

Consider for a moment when most Chosen-Ones are actually ‘chosen’. Usually it’s from the moment they’re born, or in some cases even long BEFORE even that. Alternatively it’s at the very start of the story as part of whatever inciting incident kicks off the protagonist’s role in the plot. Basically, a protagonist being a ‘Chosen One’ is almost always closely tied up in whatever is bringing them into the story in the first place.

But that’s NOT what happened with Luz. She’s not some ‘destined savior’ who was singled out by the Titan when she was born, or even when she first entered the Boiling Isles. No, the first time Luz became known to the Titan (barring time-travel chicanery*) was almost certainly when she began to befriend their son.

I mean, think about this: it’s not until episode FOUR that Luz actually becomes ‘chosen’ by the Titan when they show her the first glyph.

On top of that, there is nothing ‘destined’ about the Titan showing Luz the glyphs. I mean I think it’s pretty clear that the first time they showed Luz the light glyph they were simply trying to help Luz and King to pacify Eda. And after that, they kept showing Luz more glyphs… simply because they wanted to.

The Titan didn’t show Luz the glyphs as part of some grand, thought-out plan for her to defeat Belos and bring peace to the Boiling Isles. Luz didn’t pass some ‘secret test of character’ to become ‘chosen’ by the Titan. She was simply kind and befriended King, and so the Titan decided to just… help her out. First by showing her the first couple glyphs and then showing her more because, well… they LIKE Luz.

The Titan may fill the role of some greater, higher power of the series, but when we finally meet them, they aren’t really presented as one. The Titan is characterized as being quite grounded and down to earth. For all of the incredible power and influence they have over the series, the Titan isn’t presented as some ‘godly’ figure, but simply as ‘King’s Dad’. And not even in some ‘all-knowing, omnipotent entity taking on a form the protagonist can comprehend’ way either (see Amphibia’s finale), but instead simply as a person who wanted to do the right thing, made some major mistakes, and now in large part just wants their son and his new family to be safe and happy.

Again, it all frames the Titan reaching out to Luz to show her the glyphs not as part of some grand plan to defeat Belos or some other ‘destined purpose’, but as the Titan simply wanting to help Luz.

Contrary to what I think a lot of people think, I would call Luz’s story fundamentally distinct from the typical ‘Chosen One’ narrative. Despite the surface-level similarities her story might have, there is nothing ‘destined’, ‘predetermined’ or ‘chosen’ about Luz’s story. She really did stumble through Eda’s portal door chasing Owlbert by pure chance. And it wasn’t some hidden, secret, inborn ‘quality’ about Luz that led to her receiving knowledge from the Titan, or even pure, random happenstance either. Luz simply befriended the Titan’s son and slowly grew into his adoptive older sister.

Just as Luz’s friendliness, kind heart and love for the Boiling Isles and its people endeared her to Eda, King, Amity and so many others, it also endeared her to the very Titan themself.

*If anyone is going to bring up the time-travel point, I would like to remind everyone that is the ‘Stable Time Loop’ trope. NOT ‘The Chosen One’ trope.

#toh #the owl house #toh analysis #toh rambling #Luz Noceda #toh the titan #King Clawthorne #discussing narrative tropes #the chosen one #subverting tropes #how luz unintentionally stumbled into chosen-one status through sheer power of friendship and found-family #when the higher powers make you the chosen one because they think you're pretty cool and you've been really nice to their kid

[candiedbooks]

I’m tired of Villain Falls for the Hero Protagonist™ and Changes Their Ways, becoming a bland rice cake for them. BORING! Let the hero fall for the villain and join them in their villainy. Let them burn the city down together, hand in hand!

#hero x villain #villain x hero #ship dynamics #tropes #romance tropes #subverting tropes #tropes i dislike #(Even though I do it in one (1) of my stories. 🤦🏽‍♀️) #text post

[runninguplenorahills]

Season 5 coming back full circle to season 1 and the general theme of subverting tropes

In every season we have characters try to make the plot conform to a common trope only for that trope to get subverted.

Season 2

The expected love triangle would’ve been Max, Mike and El but that’s not how that went. Though when El runs away from home and visits the school, she sees Max and Mike talk and pulls Max off her skateboard. El tries to make the plot conform to the obvious choice for a love triangle but of course we know that’s not what’s actually happening.

Max, Dustin and Lucas form the actual love triangle of the season. A LOT of people were expecting Max to choose Dustin so them ending up together would’ve been the expected outcome. And that’s also where we get Steve as the character that tries to make the plot conform to the obvious outcome. He encourages Dustin and gives him relationship advice, setting up the plot to end with Max and Dustin being a couple but that’s not what happens. Max chooses Lucas!

Leaving season 2 we have El trying to push the trope of the jealous girlfriend

Season 3

And starting season 3 we have El and Max become best friends -> not conforming to an expected rivalry.

Steve and Nancy are broken up and Steve has trouble finding a girl he likes and then there’s Robin. Robin and Steve were the obvious endgame couple and we even have Dustin pushing Steve towards her constantly. He’s the one trying to make the plot conform to the obvious. Dustin puts the thought in Steve’s head that Robin is the perfect girl for him. We get Steve and Robin open up to each other and holding hands on a roof, totally hinting at the fact that they’re gonna end up together but that’s definitely not what happens. It’s revealed that Robin is a lesbian and she rejects Steve.

Season 4

Yet again we have Dustin trying to push Steve towards a girl but in vain because while the love triangle isn’t completely resolved yet, Nancy chooses Jonathan in the end of season 4.

For the next one we have Will being the one that tries to make the plot conform to the gay rejection trope. Will is self sabotaging by pushing Mike and El together which evidently isn’t working because El doesn’t talk to Mike in the end of season4. We also get Will trying to make the plot conform to the expected ending of the grand love confession saving the world which……..yeah, didn’t at all happen! Quite the opposite actually.

Season 5

Realize how I left out season 1? It’s because we’re coming back full circle to it with season 5. The obvious direction of the plot of season 1 is Mike and El falling in love. That’s what’s expected since episode 1 and throughout the whole season we don’t just have one but four characters trying to push that narrative: Dustin, Lucas and Nancy push Mike towards El and plant the thought inside his head that he’s supposed to be in love with her. So Mike himself starts to push that narrative too. But that’s not what’s going to happen.

-> It follows a pattern: there is an obvious outcome, there are characters trying to make the plot conform to that obvious outcome and in the end something else happens instead! Season 5 will most likely pick up on season 1’s expected outcome of El and Mike falling in love and finally subvert it. It will be revealed that Mike and El have never actually been in love. They’re gonna break up and while El will get her amazingly bitchin’ independence arc, Mike will end up with Will <3

#season 5 coming back full circle to season 1 #subverting tropes #fullcirclegate #? #anyone? #stranger things #stranger things theory #st 5 theories #st 5 #mike wheeler #will byers #byler #byler theory #byler thoughts #byler is endgame #milkvan is bones #platonic elmike #platonic with a capital p #El independence arc #el hopper #this makes sense to me because why make it a thing to never go with the expected but then have mike and el fall in love? #milkvan is so bones

[seafoam-icecream]

“Finally! After all this time, I’ll know who you really are under the mask, my dear nemesis.”

“You can’t.”

“That’s the thing: I can, and you can’t stop me.” *rips mask off* “Oh my.”

“Oh my, what? Is there something on my face?”

“No, but I have to admit, I’m a bit underwhelmed. I always thought you were either really ugly or deformed in some way, or that you were incredibly attractive. But turns out you’re really just average, no offense.”

“I’ve…been called worse.”

#dialogue prompts #story prompts #writing prompts #creative writing prompts #superhero prompts #heroes and villains #hero x villain #humor #comedy #subverting tropes #secret identity #identity reveal

[maria-taiwin]

Priest has galaxy brain because any other danmei authors would have done Fei Du as a real predator who takes advantage on Luo Wenzhou, but instead we have Luo Wenzhou who looks at Fei Du and he just thinks: "Look at him, he's just a traumatized wet tiny cat, I can fix him (top him)"

#mo du #priest #silent reading #fei du #luo wenzhou #zhoudu #danmei novels #subverting tropes #subverting expectations #subverting dynamics #bl novel #bl tropes

[flock-of-cassowaries]

Most female protagonists in soap operas make bad choices in the search of penis.

Victoria Winters makes bad choices in search of pen.

#subverting tropes #you go governess #victoria winters #dark shadows 1966 #dark shadows

[winterwells]

Art and Fic by winterwells

Fifty Shades of Granger - E- 7 Chapters - Complete Post-War Dramione Rom-Com

Draco Malfoy finds himself reentering society after having been on house arrest for the past five years. The Wizengamot has graciously given him the opportunity to leave the manor provided he gets a job at the Ministry.

What could go wrong?

...

"Can't say I ever thought I'd run into Draco Malfoy - standing in an open field - in the state of Missouri."

"Well, can't say that I planned this. Although yes. I'm quickly descending into a state of misery. Rapidly. Second by second—"

Granger laughs. "No, I mean - we're in Missouri."

"Yes," Draco says slowly. "This is definitely a miserable place—"

"No, dumbarse, I mean, we are literally in the States. As in the United States of America. Specifically, the state of Mis- sour– ri. Missouri," she cocks her head and looks off into the distance. "Although the locals seem to say Missou- rah," she muses.

Draco looks at her in confusion, and then his face pales. "Wait, you mean to tell me that not only did Weasley force me to unexpectedly travel by Portkey — you're saying it was an international Portkey?" No wonder he got sick. "FUCKING–"

Granger holds her hand up. "Look, I'm not sure why Ron would send you here because he was supposed to–" she begins laughing.

"What?"

"Oh, Merlin. This- this is quite unexpected. I didn't realise they'd meant you," she says, shaking her head. "All I was told was that the Ministry was going to provide me a secretary to – erm– help me keep on track."

"Secretary? I'm not your fucking secretary, Granger. I was told I was hired to –"

"Assist a senior-level ministry employee in facilitating the necessary support for the employee to function more efficiently," she says flatly. "In other words, you're my new secretary."

Draco holds both of his hands up and closes his eyes. "Just do it."

"What?" asks Granger in confusion as he drops to his knees.

"Take out your wand. Avada me. Come on. You know you want to. Put me out of my misery and bury my body in a random field in Missouri," he pleads. He then opens one eye. "I won't tell."

#dramione #draco x hermione #original work #fanfic #original art #romance #ao3fic #romantic comedy #dramione fanfic #ao3 fanfic #hermione granger #draco malfoy #explict #humour #enemies to lovers #shenanigans #comedy #post battle of hogwarts #satire #subverting tropes

[defiescomprehensiongenerally]

Maybe something like this has been said already. If so, lmk, but I feel like a lot of people's response against TedBecca (and other ships) is "Not every relationship has to be romantic. That's always done."

But I'm trying really hard to think of a show or movie that's gotten really big in the last few years that is a typical romcom. The only film that comes to mind is Ticket to Paradise. For TV, I can think of a bunch of dramas with romance but not a lot of feel good comedies (if you know some lmk because I am in need of it). I feel like every show is now trying to subvert the norm that that is now the norm, and you know what? It's exhausting.

I like romcoms because they are an escape from the shitty ups and downs of life and while some romcoms are more of a wild ride than others, the ending is reliable and allows you to feel good about life, to have some positivity. Of course it's not real life, but at least the hope of it brings me a sense of calm when dealing with everything else.

If that's boring for creators, fine. No problem, your show, but there's a big difference between plot norms and stereotyping characters. It's ok to create fictional pieces that have a positive ending for everyone.

Really, at the end of this rambling rant, all I'm saying is I miss a good romcom that can surprise me but still end well. I think more people could use those stories in their lives.

#ted lasso #tedbecca #ted lasso spoilers #ted x rebecca #romcom #romantic comedy #movies #television #romcommunism #subverting tropes

[just-1other-nerd]

About "The Language of Thorns":

Our queen Leigh subverts common fairy tale tropes in her own ones, and I love this modern twist, I also recognised which fairy tales hers are based on. So I'll tell you my conclusions.

Btw I'll refer to fairy tales as Märchen from now on because I'm German and it's just the better word ("fairy tale" just doesn't feel like it includes all the tropes, creatures and characters, it feels like the stories only revolve around fairies and I think that doesn't do the genre justice).

Spoilers for the entire Grishaverse ahead.

Ayama and the Thorn Wood: This is basically a "Beauty and the Beast" retelling. The major subversion is that she is never really regarded as a beauty, and in the end, she also chooses to become a monster instead of him becoming human because that doesn't need to be fixed. Also every story she tells him is subverting tropes: the 1st one is about how unlikely a true happy ending is, the 2nd one is about how the things that seem like a threat can actually be a blessing and about how evil often disguises itself, the 3rd one is about how you shouldn't trust a stranger even though what he offers seems better than what you currently have and that you shouldn't be safed by a prince. The first of her stories is confirmed to be inspired by Tarrare's "Polyphagy".

The Too-Clever Fox: This is inspired by all of those fables where a fox is the main character. In those, he is normally a natural trickster and very smart. Oftentimes, it's about foxes utilising their wit to get what they want or escape a trap by using others and their flaws, and they normally succeed. The main subversion is that the too-clever fox isn't clever enough, he is trapped and was tricked, he didn't see that the girl was the hunter all along, he is stripped of his wit and the only way he survives is by the help of his friend Lula. Leigh wanted to show that hunters come in all shapes, they aren't always loud or muscular or male.

The Witch of Duva: This is (confirmed by author's note) based on "Hänsel und Gretel" by the Gebrüder Grimm (brothers Grimm). Btw I immediately knew that Magda was going to appear in this tale because of the opening and because I read "The Lives of Saints" just a few weeks prior. The subversion is obviously that neither the witch is the villain nor is the stepmother. Instead, they even help our main character. The real evil is closer than she ever thought. In the author's note, Leigh even confirmed that she did this because it always didn't sit right with her when Hänsel and Gretel returned home because the father who seemingly had no problem with abandoning them wouldn't protect them in the future.

Little Knife: This is inspired by all those tales where the guy (be it a prince or a commoner with a golden heart) has got to go through 3 trials to win the girl (be it a princess, a nobel woman or a very pretty commoner), the Gebrüder Grimm alone wrote many of those for example "Das tapfere Schneiderlein" (The bold Tailor). Leigh thought that trials are a weird way to find a fiancé. The subversion is that the poor guy with the supposed gold heart is just another man who doesn't love Yeva for herself, doesn't care what she wants and doesn't even deserve her because the river did all the work for him. This results in the river who won all the trials asking Yeva to leave those who are unworthy of her and only see her beauty, to which she agrees. Also they are sapphics and nobody can tell me otherwise.

The Soldier Prince: This is 100% based on E. T. A. Hoffmann's "Nussknacker und Mäusekönig" (Nutcracker and Mouse King), and yes, I googled he is the original author Tschaikowsky only adapted and changed the story. The subversion is that he doesn't want a romance, that's just what everyone expects of him. He wants to live a life of his own, and the Mouse King isn't the antagonist but rather helps the soldier accomplish what he already did. I loved the existencial crisis angel of this Märchen and Leigh said in her author's note that this was added because of her childhood trauma caused by "Velveteen Rabbit" (I don't know what that's about but I still can relate because like the amount of childhood trauma "Pinocchio" - especially the whole island plotline - caused in my case is so huge that I'm actually crying right now).

When Water Sang Fire: The author's note confirmed that it's based on Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid" and it is basically an origin story for the sea witch. The protagonist Ulla undergoes a corruption arc (set in motion by her ambition and loyalty towards Signy), instead of how Märchen usually deal with outcast protagonists. Normally, those proof themselves worthy of love, friendship and glory by doing something that was regarded as impossible (once again the trials trope). Leigh wanted to show that princes can be cruel and dayum that betrayal hurt (I audibly gasped in public like 4 times even though I did see it coming). Do you think her brother spread the rumours that led to her becoming Sankta Ursula?

Thanks for reading.

#grishaverse #language of thorns #the language of thorns #leigh bardugo #the lives of saints #fairy tales #fairytale #brothers grimm #gebrüder grimm #märchen #subverting tropes #signy #sankta ursula

[mauesartetc]

What do you think of characters that act the opposite of what they look like? Like a character who wear sweet lolita, but is shy and keep to their selves? Or maybe a character who dresses refind, but is brash and violent?

Idk why, but I just find it kinda fun cause its reverse expectations.

I think it puts a fun twist on things, but ideally a successful character design should convey some of that character's personality to the audience. It doesn't have to come through the clothing, but it could come through the pose and expressions.

A while back I answered an ask about Loona from Helluva Boss, mentioning that one way to make her characterization more interesting would be to give her a bubbly, cheery disposition that clashed with her gothic attire. Let's see how that would look.

Despite looking the same, this is clearly a different character. Reminds me of the Teen Titans body swap episode where Starfire switched places with Raven.

(Body swaps are a great way to practice drawing your own characters' mannerisms, by the way. If you can recognize who's occupying the other person's body through poses and expressions alone, you're doing great.)

So yeah, I guess clothing is a more accurate indicator of taste than personality. Personality can certainly influence taste, and of course there are other factors at play here, such as time period and occupation. But for the most part, personality becomes more evident through how the character behaves rather than what they wear.

#ask #eferhilda-drake #character design #clothing #poses #expressions #subverting tropes #subverting expectations

[the-mountain-flower]

Hey maybe how about instead of "wingless person of a winged species gains wings & can now fly" bc it's usually ableist, "wingless person of a winged species gains wings and still can't fly"

Idk I think it sounds cool

#writer ramblings #anti ableism #subverting expectations #subverting tropes

[outlawssweetheart]

One of my most hated tropes is “Girl all the guys go crazy for,” especially when one of those guys seems gayer than a rainbow (I’ve seen this happen quite a few times), so I hate that they’ve done this to Tara. 🙄

#I'm not even tagging her bc Tara's stans are crazy and will think I'm talking shit on her. 🙄 #I'm talking shit ON THE TROPE!! #wes hicks #chad meeks martin #ethan landry #scream 5 #scream 6 #tropes i hate #tropes #subverting tropes #text post

[maeglinyedi]

People have been asking about them so I have made some podfics and put them on their own Youtube channel:

The Serpent Beguiled Me:

To Summon What You Cannot Dismiss

You're Not a Horse, Harry! Part 1 and 2

Go have a listen and subscribe if you enjoy podfics. I plan to make and upload a few more this weekend.

Let me know if you want me to upload them somewhere else as well. And if you want me to read specific stories.

Hopefully reading some of my own work out loud will help to get me back into the mood to write more.

#my fics #podfic #my post #my stuff #fanfiction #harry potter #harry potter fanfiction #harry potter/tom riddle #tomarry fanfiction #tomarry #tom riddle #harry potter series #tom/harry #subverting tropes #Youtube

[chaztalk]

Romione shippers: “Hermione started liking Ron after he saved her from the troll.”

Harmony shippers: “Hermione would def have a crush on Harry after the troll incident.”

Me: How about we subvert this trope of the “female lead starting romantically like so-and-so because they saved her her from being in peril” by switching the roles, having the females save the males from being in danger, thus having the male character would start crushing on the female character instead. Or, better yet, how about we don’t normalize victims falling for their saviour all the time?

#harry potter #hermione granger #anti romione #subverting tropes