Monday, December 9, 2013

TV Tropes by Mario Gonzalez and Carole Le

            Within the year of 1968, the world was beginning to be revolutionized by the latest creation of Tim Berners-Lee. The internet was magnificently born without the expectation of one day, becoming the dominator of international connections. Websites soar rapidly within the Internet, crowding the network with dozens of research and materials. How can a student find the right resource for their research paper? Especially to for an analytical paper for an English class? There are many interpretations on fictional books that can involve several perceptions that can be right, wrong, or none at all. In fact, most student need to be inspired on what appears to be symbolic and why. And thus, TV Tropes was born, evolving into a wiki page fulfilled with summaries, analysis, and forums for users to discuss open-minded ideas and share opinions upon a subject. Despite the popularity, this blessing upon students also comes with a price.
            TV Tropes is a wonderful tool to use if you need some information on a certain character trait, storytelling style, or even setting information. It’s written and maintained by users from around the world in a funny, laid-back yet informational style that just keeps you wanting to read more and more! As you read, you’ll most likely pick up on the information you were looking for and so much more. Each Trope has examples from popular media that let you grasp the concept so much more easily. For example, say you wanted to write about a sleazy con man from New York in the 1920’s. You search ‘Con Man’ and it’ll take you to the Con Man trope page. There you read up a short summary of the character trope and are given examples of different types of Con Men there are in media. So, for example’s sake, if you wanted to change your character from a greasy grown man to a seemingly-innocent little girl, you’d click the ‘Little Miss Con Artist’ Trope link and be directed to a page full of example of little girl con artists in popular media! So basically, if you are in the need for some information on the writing in mainstream media, TV Tropes is your best bet!
            Although the website is for one to take a gander about, TV Tropes can engage the reader for too long and possibly poison their very own mind. The massive information provided by users revolving within the digital world can be misleading and unreliable due to the freedom of speech – literally. Any user that has an account on the site is allowed to edit or upload any information they wish. If one doesn’t have an account, they can just create one therefore; anyone can make unlimited changes. TV Tropes is also open to any forms of opinions, including informal languages that appears unprofessional to one with a purpose of researching. Informative, but suspicious, TV Tropes goes beyond analysis nearly on every books/shows existed without revealing its sources of credibility. For students who use the site as research for an analysis paper, be aware that several insights may or may not be satisfying. Not only is it relative, but the linkage between each source of information that reveals another set of analysis can lose the reader deeper into the site itself. One set of analysis can lead to a whole new subject on how and why it is significant. The vast knowledge gathered on one webpage can be resourceful and convenient to one who is incompetent in rational thinking, but the site itself is the devil of procrastination in disguised.
            TV Tropes, like chocolate and many other things, is good in moderation. It’s a pretty handy site to get a grasp on character archetypes, setting details, and even writing styles! The use of mainstream media also makes it a fairly enticing read! However, dwelling too long on the site can lead the reader lost in a maze of Tropes with no idea how they ended up there in the first place. Also, while most users who edit are reliable with their claims on tropes, there is always a ‘wolf-in-sheep’s clothing’ that will falsify information. The lack of citations needed makes this even more of a problem. The best we can say about TV Tropes is use at your own risk or on your own free time!


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