Demanding Better Stories: Tropes and Fan Influence

Posted on by sharonxwong

Stories are important. They reflect the world as we see it, and so, if the stories we see do not reflect certain groups, it’s important to speak up and change it. To demand better. To say no, this is not how the world should be.

So today I’m going to talk about tropes for a bit.

Tropes are basically story stereotypes – they are plot devices or character archetypes that keep cropping up again and again. Of course, there are a lot of these. You only need to go to TvTropes.org and several hours later, you’ll find that there are a myriad of diverse and often conflicting story devices used in books, movies and TV shows.

However, there is a particular trope seems to be cropping up a lot lately – Bury Your Gays. This trope refers to the alarmingly frequent deaths of queer people in stories. In the rare cases that LGBT+ characters feature largely in a story, they are not granted a happy ending. This trope is harmful because it shows that people who aren’t straight don’t deserve a happy ending, that they don’t have a proper place in our stories, and by extension, the world.

One particularly egregious example of this trope is the death of Lexa, played by Alicia Debnam-Carey on the sci-fi show The 100. This show had a lot of LGBT+ fans, these fans being understandably upset when the showrunners, who encouraged the fans to ‘ship’ Lexa and Clarke, had Lexa shot almost immediately after that relationship was consummated.

But this time the fans made their voices heard. Many went online to express their dissatisfaction with the trope, and exactly what they thought about the execution and misdirection that occurred with this particular case. The show’s main screenwriter, Jason Rothenberg, found his twitter followers decreasing dramatically. People protested via their blogs, their twitter, their videos, and several other channels that are now available to us.

In addition, this event has sparked a major movement. Donations to The Trevor Project, a charity dedicated to supporting young LGBT+ people, increased due to this, and there was also a creation of a pledge, signed by media makers, that states that they will treat LGBT+ characters with respect.

This shows that we now have voices. We have power. If we don’t like what we watch, we can say something. More importantly, we can say something and be listened to. So we should speak up. We should demand better – better representation in what we watch, read, and listen to. We should demand that our media makers stop falling back on cliche stereotypes, that they stop using tired old tropes. We should demand that the stories we see reflect the world not only as it is, but as it should be.

It’s time to demand better.

1,563 thoughts on “Demanding Better Stories: Tropes and Fan Influence”

    1. Hello. I also found this blog useful. This is an extremely well-written article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more useful info. Hope this site posts many blogs, too. and Check this out for further excitement coupon4all

      Reply

  9. Batterie AGM is a trendy used battery. It is used since ancient days. This battery is explicitly used in cars. This battery is a very advanced used technology. These batteries are mostly used in vehicles for their quality.

    Reply

  10. Cafe Racer Leather Jackets, generally, are extremely popular with teens. Slim Fit Leather Jackets is the ideal place to buy the best cafe racer leather jackets which add an element of individuality to your style. It provides durability, comfort, and style.

    Reply

  11. Still don’t know Betterzone? It is the largest eat-and-run community-specialized site with a large number of users. Try it before it’s too late!먹튀검증

    Reply

  12. Hello. I also found this blog useful. This is an extremely well-written article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more useful info. Hope this site posts many blogs, too. and Check this out for further excitement coupon4all

    Reply

  13. Great Post!
    getscoupon.com is a global coupon and deals website. You can easily find most of brands or websites’ latest deals or promo codes. You can also find review articles for many brands, such as BeddingInn reviews in 2022, https://www.getscoupon.com/

    Reply

  14. Whenever a man or lady who needs a hair transplant begins searching for data about the surgery, she will be overpowered with many when pictures portraying the abilities and skill of various facilities seeking her consideration. Hair transplant focuses will show a photograph of the patient and his past going bald condition at the meeting, and afterward show an image showing his present condition after careful hair transplant medical procedure. You will likewise be educated about the clinical offices that you can insight assuming you pick this facility, and you will find out about the center overall. This will influence individuals to the mark of commitment, and the interview cycle will start. hair transplant turkey

    Reply

  28. 토토 Great write-up, I am a big believer in commenting on blogs to inform the blog writers know that they’ve added something worthwhile to the world wide web!..

    Reply

  29. I havent any word to appreciate this post…..Really i am impressed from this post….the person who create this post it was a great human..thanks for shared this with us. 스포츠토토

    Reply

  39. I am really happy with your blog because your article is very unique and powerful for new reader.

    Reply

  40. This is really helpful information that you have shared with me I was searching for the solution and found it on this platform I’m following you for more informative solutions like this. Siaax

    Reply

  41. I was searching for the details of this topic and found it on your website and this gives me much more clarity and information on this topic Siaax

    Reply

  49. New York Domme

    Are you Browsing for New York Domme for your entertainment? Pandoras Box NY offers latex fetish community, New York Mistress , Pro Domme Near me, New York Dominatrix, domination, foot slave, Spanking services at affordable price. Check out for more details…!

    https://pandorasboxny.com/in-house-models/

    Reply

    1. Pato Player apk is a great way to stream movies and television shows from your phone. Its popularity has been proven through its ability to provide you with premium content. This app is a great option for people who love watching movies and music on the go .With more than two hundred thousand users, it’s not surprising that this free app is one of the most popular options on mobile devices. And if you’re not a fan of movies, you’ll be able to enjoy more music than ever before.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.