In this episode, Don and Rob are joined by Jack Ward to discuss a recent Reddit survey on fantasy tropes people love. They discuss how people might be misusing the word and idea of tropes, and then go through people’s top choices for fantasy tropes, from the heroic last stand to the plucky young hero, and discuss why each trope is there and people like them so much. All this, and a whole pile of dragons and swords, are waiting for you in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.
Closing Music:
Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt
Things Discussed:
Reddit Thread on Fantasy Tropes
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Phantom Lady
Trope
TVtropes.org
Bathos (your new word of the episode)
What Writers Should Learn from Wonder Woman (video)
The Hunt for the Wilder People
What We Do in Shadows
The Karate Kid Crane Kick
ARIEL (anime)
Bildungsroman
Horatio Alger
Horatio Hornblower
The Count of Monte Christo
The Count of Monte Christo 2002 Film
Mu (Lost Continent)
Atlantis
The Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis
Indigenous Taiwanese and Maori Are Linked
Dinotopia
Reign of Fire
Laid Back Camp
Bakuman
The Hero’s Journey by Joseph Campbell
The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler
