A.O. Scott and Manohla Dargis noted that though “[the archetypes] populating contemporary movies don’t line up with reality, … they offer clues about what the [people] of our dreams look like, or at least what moviemakers are trying to sell us.” Though certain character tropes have been oft referenced and analyzed (e.g. sassy black and/or gay friend, Manic Pixie Dream Girl, the White Savior, damsel in distress, the Nice Guy™), there are other ones out there! Here are two new (or at least lesser known) ones to consider:
The Nice Girl™
My life sucks. I’m so sweet and nice, but everyone hates me. I don’t get it. I’m not like those girls who wear short skirts and low-cut shirts. I‘d rather play video games/work on my art/save the environment than just be all obsessed with boys.
Ugh. Whatever. They hate me because they’re jealous – I’m smart and quirky and they’re not. They’re all sheep. Look at them, with the same long, flowing hair and perfect skin, Longchamp bags and Tory Burch shoes. All they care about is their makeup and clothes and hair. My friends and I are different, so we all wear jeans and hoodies and listen to the Shins and Tori Amos instead.
And the boys? Sexist assholes who only care about T&A. They can’t handle a girl who’s smarter than them, so they settle for those vapid popular bitches. God, I hate those girls. Why can’t they appreciate REAL girls like me? Just because I wear t-shirts instead of short skirts? I’m not a snobby bitch like them, I’m sweet and nice! What are these cheerleaders going to be in ten years? They’re going to be fat, ugly high-school dropouts while I’M going to be successful. Just they wait, hmph!
Examples: Taylor Swift, Daria, Bella (Twilight)
Interim Significant Other
Rare is the couple who breaks up just because it was a bad fit. If it’s a love story, the Interim Significant Other (ISO) is the one who the protagonist must either (1) rescue his/her beloved from the crutches of or (2) leave or get over (or have the love interest leave) in order to be with his/her True Love (Forever! And ever!). The ISO is often either an insignificant cipher who is only a stand-in before the protagonist’s and the beloved’s perfect pairing or a nasty, even abusive, piece of work.
While the ISO generally reflects people’s attitudes towards a significant other’s ex, it can be problematic when it involves an interracial couple with the white man doing the rescuing (i.e. “white men saving [non-white] women from [non-white] men”).
Examples: Tal (Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist), Richard White (Superman Returns), too many characters to list in Scott Pilgim vs. the World
Any other lesser-known tropes you’d like to add? Feel free to add more or rant in the comments.
