Using Tropes

A trope is a device or convention used in a piece of media that is usually present in the mind of the audience. Tropes cover a wide range of topics and come in many forms - plots, characters and narrative structures are just some examples. Ultimately, tropes are tools that writers use to create stories, and there are many ways of using them.


Playing it Straight


This is the standard use of the trope, the default setting. eg. There's a murder, and the butler did it.


Averting


This simply means not using a trope, and is most notable in a piece of work where the trope could have been used. eg. The butler isn't suspected and didn't do it/there is no butler.


Inverting


This is reversing a trope. For instance, a trope that's normally applied to a villain is applied to a hero, or a trope is gender-flipped. eg. The butler is killed.


Lampshading


Hanging a lampshade on a trope means drawing attention to a trope currently being used, usually when it threatens to dispel the willing suspension of disbelief. e.g Someone comments how it's always the butler.


Deconstructing

Deconstruction means to take something apart. When applied to tropes, it means to take a trope apart to see how it would work in real life with real life consequences. eg. The butler explains what drove them to murder.

If you're interested in looking at more examples of tropes, or want to have an idea of what tropes appear in your favourite works, be more to visit www.tvtropes.org.