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• What's a trope?

Lampshade hanging is a device used in many forms of fiction to distract a reader from the implausible or illogical. When something ridiculous or unusual happens in a story, it draws the audience’s attention, destroying their suspension of disbelief. A solution is to have a character comment on how strange or unlikely it is. Once acknowledged, the audience is more likely to accept it. This is called “hanging a lampshade.”

TvTropes is a wiki which defines itself as “a catalog of the tricks of the trade for writing fiction. We dip into the cauldron of story, whistle up a hearty spoonful and splosh it in front of you to devour to your heart's content.”

Tropes are devices and conventions that a writer can rely on as being present in the audience members’ minds and expectations. The site has expanded to include tropes not only from television, but film, music, animation, print, radio and nearly all other forms of media.

Tropes are also sorted by genre and narrative device. The site can be navigated from the search bar, so one can search for the devices used in their favorite film or television show.

The site has that rare successful symbiosis of potently addicting and informative.