tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post7258596769985123403..comments2023-09-06T05:28:26.542-06:00Comments on David Powers King: Tuesday Tropes: The Glasses Come OffDavid P. Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17259276981865439853noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-15184644226055505432012-12-18T14:55:53.376-07:002012-12-18T14:55:53.376-07:00*sigh* when I take my glasses partially off and st...*sigh* when I take my glasses partially off and stare over the rim and raise my eyebrows, it comes off as cute. There's some sort of secret to this I haven't found.<br /><br />Note: I just noticed this was posted in January, I'm a bit late :P<br />Emilia Quillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15295982824010499581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-22246362762253714212012-01-15T20:07:51.510-07:002012-01-15T20:07:51.510-07:00I know you did that Superman link for me! :)
-Wend...I know you did that Superman link for me! :)<br />-WendyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-38526565751462130812012-01-11T15:10:01.235-07:002012-01-11T15:10:01.235-07:00The difference between a trope and a cliche is how...The difference between a trope and a cliche is how meaningful it is to the story. Every single story written (or filmed) has tropes. These are the universal themes we recognize. Ingrained in us. Archetypes.<br /><br />A trope ventures into cliche territory when the device is meaningless and boring. Overly predictable.Jay Noelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04757777693161610861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-10698566111185012572012-01-11T13:52:11.053-07:002012-01-11T13:52:11.053-07:00Heh I found out the superman disguise first hand. ...Heh I found out the superman disguise first hand. Yet I've never tried to write a character with specs.Steph Schmidthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00975939582442193113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-18419160362249747122012-01-11T11:36:31.791-07:002012-01-11T11:36:31.791-07:00I've also got an MC who wears sunglasses to hi...I've also got an MC who wears sunglasses to hide her particular eye features. It's so funny that you did this as a trope now!Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10680066584646789184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-37050774216464169622012-01-11T11:13:39.437-07:002012-01-11T11:13:39.437-07:00Very interesting! I have glasses, but I only wear ...Very interesting! I have glasses, but I only wear them for driving, especially at night. I once wore them for a job interview and got the job. :)Lunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08284738955789123035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-38740799061543046292012-01-11T07:43:25.255-07:002012-01-11T07:43:25.255-07:00Lol no I have not, but it does give me a 101 ideas...Lol no I have not, but it does give me a 101 ideas for lampshading. ;-)Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-85923151578155875212012-01-11T04:59:59.555-07:002012-01-11T04:59:59.555-07:00This is an interesting post. I think that physical...This is an interesting post. I think that physical actions can speak as loud as words-not just a crude one like a slap in the face, but as you say, taking off glasses, and taking off a hat. I think we need to avoid the cliches like when there's work to be done rolling up sleeves. Judiciously used actions can underline the words and amplify the scene.Paul Tobinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14732771806819029077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-82019419331974326382012-01-10T20:49:06.318-07:002012-01-10T20:49:06.318-07:00Ha! Love it. I didn't realize they could conve...Ha! Love it. I didn't realize they could convey so many things. I haven't written anyone who wears glasses yet. But you betcha I will now!Ruth Jossehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08664678990038670303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-76409656708725994222012-01-10T17:05:17.946-07:002012-01-10T17:05:17.946-07:00None of my characters where glasses even though I ...None of my characters where glasses even though I do. I'll have to add that. It does give it a different dynamic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-66296373020984317072012-01-10T16:38:46.599-07:002012-01-10T16:38:46.599-07:00Seriously, people who wear glasses are just a litt...Seriously, people who wear glasses are just a little bit cooler than the rest of the world...Jolene Perryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14809468564016928636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-69844598278876490852012-01-10T16:33:52.308-07:002012-01-10T16:33:52.308-07:00I've never written a character with glasses. I...I've never written a character with glasses. It's an interesting idea!Golden Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08721520451194318436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-45676387993930535402012-01-10T15:42:28.257-07:002012-01-10T15:42:28.257-07:00It's interesting in my opinion that all of the...It's interesting in my opinion that all of the people taking their glasses off or staring over the rims are men.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-26147822339472970632012-01-10T14:55:24.428-07:002012-01-10T14:55:24.428-07:00I hadn't put much thought into it but you'...I hadn't put much thought into it but you're right. I love the trope's...have I mentioned that? Of course I have but do I mention it too often? Maybe I should limit it to once a month?Small Town Shelly Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13535247595352753415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-29024592569452640902012-01-10T14:28:12.398-07:002012-01-10T14:28:12.398-07:00First you have Mr. Smith in the line up. SO you ar...First you have Mr. Smith in the line up. SO you are cool. LOL. I just re-wrote a character and gave him glasses. I liked the idea of him tilting his head down and looking over them at my MC. <br /><br />Oh, and I wear glassed but I never take them off for a fight. I'm just that cool.Jenny S. Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00482342313938669366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-77500246895786889442012-01-10T11:09:22.920-07:002012-01-10T11:09:22.920-07:00I wear glasses (in my house only) and contacts oth...I wear glasses (in my house only) and contacts otherwise, but have never written a character who wears them. My story is post-apocalyptic so I figure they couldn't get glasses if they wanted, they're all just running around blind :)Hope Robersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16877380868985454894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-27762839043609578802012-01-10T11:06:56.172-07:002012-01-10T11:06:56.172-07:00I appreciate your comments, everyone! Thank you fo...I appreciate your comments, everyone! Thank you for taking a moment to stop by. :)<br /><br />Grumpy Bulldog - Some tropes (or many, I should say) ride on the edge of cliché. In this case, the "take the glasses off" device teeters either way. I never think about it when characters take their glasses off, but I do if the story starts with them waking up.<br /><br />J. A. Bennett - I thought so too at first, but it turns out that's a whole other trope. I'll have to highlight that one sometime.David P. Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17259276981865439853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-28485879178918790672012-01-10T10:22:09.233-07:002012-01-10T10:22:09.233-07:00It's funny you mention this because I use comp...It's funny you mention this because I use computer glasses at work and take them off every time I talk to people, so my co-workers joked I was getting "serious." I find that rising from a chair or sitting upright does that in plots as well, i.e. notice in Star Trek that the captain always rises from his/her chair needlessly to look at the enormous view screen, but it tells the audience that he or she is really concerned about something. Food for thought:)Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01793077012143289985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-91340522918221260152012-01-10T10:15:25.866-07:002012-01-10T10:15:25.866-07:00The moment I started reading this I thought of CSI...The moment I started reading this I thought of CSI: Miami. Mr. Redhead always zips his shades from his face and stands like Mr. Cool, or crouches close to the body, so he can say his spiffy one-liner.<br /><br />Glasses cliche, but it's a signature maker too.Angela Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03324366495151363782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-14450629203434382392012-01-10T09:50:51.583-07:002012-01-10T09:50:51.583-07:00One of my characters has to wear sunglasses for a ...One of my characters has to wear sunglasses for a while to hide the color of his eyes. Does that count?<br /><br />And while I read this I kept thinking... he better mention Cyclops. When you did, you got a very approved head nod from this blogger :)Cassie Maehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17706774393186819619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-91520309190143443642012-01-10T09:41:15.814-07:002012-01-10T09:41:15.814-07:00I write historical fiction, and I'm currently ...I write historical fiction, and I'm currently working on my first ms even modern enough to have glasses--after much thought, I decided my main male character needed some. And I like them. :)<br />One of my favorite glasses-wearing characters is Meg Murray in A Wrinkle in Time. L'Engle used them as a device so well.Faith E. Houghhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03823750019164801104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-21135920399160271702012-01-10T09:40:40.847-07:002012-01-10T09:40:40.847-07:00Ha! This is hilarious because glasses feature prom...Ha! This is hilarious because glasses feature prominently in my WIP. Since my immortals are "undead," their pupils are constantly dilated, so they need sunglasses most of the time. :)Mara Raehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07372451891082436090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-17903890679267746432012-01-10T09:37:44.804-07:002012-01-10T09:37:44.804-07:00Love this post, David, and I really like your visu...Love this post, David, and I really like your visuals on this.Donna K. Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15763832177263927311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-67766395836703675802012-01-10T09:37:31.796-07:002012-01-10T09:37:31.796-07:00I wear glasses only at home...I will never have a ...I wear glasses only at home...I will never have a character with normal glasses because they are a painful reminder of taunts in childhood, hell, even my ex husband used them as an emotionally abusive weapon..which is why I loved Harry Potter's image.But I often wondered, couldn't those powerful wizards have found an alternate to it just as muggles have, by now. At the most I will give it a magical or technological edge.Rek Seshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13484322426994645221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-86222670918413624222012-01-10T09:23:14.030-07:002012-01-10T09:23:14.030-07:00I love this post, David! I've never had a char...I love this post, David! I've never had a character with glasses...but now I'm getting some ideas...Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03971798802079783209noreply@blogger.com