Calling all writers, readers, TV-watchers, serial binge-watchers, gamers, etc!
Do you ever feel like your shiny screens just aren’t distracting enough? Are you bored and/or embarrassed enough of your fictional obsessions to claim that you have ‘no discernible hobbies?’ Worse still, do your favourite pastimes happen to involve the creation and consumption of fiction and/or media of various shapes and sizes? Well, allow me to introduce you to a website which will undoubtedly provide an hours-deep rabbit hole of entertainment: tvtropes.org! There’s something for everybody! (No, really, there is.)
What Is It?
TV Tropes is a massive pop culture wiki that catalogues and cross-references recurrent plot devices, archetypes, and tropes in the media. This isn’t limited to TV shows by any means; . They even have a page for what they call “The Other Wiki,” perhaps more commonly known as Wikipedia. The page, which you can find here, dissects all (or at least most) of the tropes inherent to Wikipedia’s existence and long history. This includes Moe Anthropomorphism (did you know that Wikipedia has its own anime mascot?), It Will Never Catch On (Wikipedia actually has a page about “Predictions Of The End of Wikipedia), and many, many more.
Tell me you’re not at least a little bit curious to see what it’s all about; I dare you. Better yet, tell me you’re not wondering what other pieces of media TV Tropes might have dissected, just waiting for you to come find them. From the popular to the delightfully niche, I was definitely surprised at the sheer magnitude of the wiki, which has grown exponentially over the years. As TV Tropes itself would put it, it’s a real Doorstopper.
Besides Being An Awesome All-Devouring Database Of Coolness, What Is It Useful For?
Well, for fun, for one thing (*insert “if you’re boring, just say that” sound here*). But in all seriousness, TV Tropes itself has a page on the benefits of being able to look critically at a piece of media and pull it apart, aptly named TV Tropes Will Ruin Your Life.
This especially applies if you’re a writer or someone with an interest in storytelling, which is how I got into it in the first place. I think it’s fascinating how media tends to mirror other media, and how storytelling evolves to fit the attitudes of a time as well.
Once your eyes have been opened, you’ll never be able to go back. You will have a better understanding of how stories work and be able to recognize what makes a good story. And if you’re ever in doubt, you know where to go for reference!
Further Reading (Watching) (Yay!)
If this sort of entertainment appeals to you, consider also checking out the YouTube channel Overly Sarcastic Productions, which I’ve recommended before for history videos but which also does a series called Trope Talk, which reviews and dissects common tropes like Evil Empires, Love Triangles, the Five Man Band, etc.
Happy rabbit-holing, and good luck!