pick out one or two, like sweatdropping or facefaulting, why not use
all the conventions? Aside from the fact that it would make a
serious
story pretty silly, which is my objection.
True, but when not using these, a silly story becomes a whole lot
serious. Sweat-dropping, for an example, is often used as a reaction
to someone else doing something strange or embarrassing, but not
necessarily unexpected. A more "real-world" reaction might be,
covering your face with your hands while mumbling "I don't know this
guy"
or something like that.
I disagree that not using stock manga/anime sight gags makes
a silly story a lot more serious. Wodehouse, Pratchett, Adams, and
a host of other writers have managed to write very silly and/or
funny stuff without sticking in a guy slipping on a banana peel or
someone being hit in the face with a pie, to borrow two examples
of sight gags from film and TV.
Really? I have heard of these old gags, but never actually seen them.
But nevertheless, if you simply take all these visual cues from the
story(which, IMO, doesn't really qualify as 'slapstick') you have to
compensate by inserting other elements, to introduce the similar humor,
which changes the tone of the story. But I digress..
Read the really funny pieces of
fanfiction and you'll notice that the true humor present in pieces
like "Ranma Jijou" or "Girl Days" has nothing much to do with
sweatdropping, facefaulting,
True, true. Has quite some to doing with verbal acrobatics, though...
etc. As Allyn pointed out in another
email, things like that may be amusing to see in manga/anime, but
really aren't funny to read about.
Well, I guess this is true. So how about writing things as they happen.
Instead of writing that someone face-faulted, have people reacting to it,
**
"Um, miss Washuu, why are you lying on the floor?"
"Oh, nothing... just... alleviating stress, that's all," Washuu replied, as
she pulled herself back to an upright position.
**
Or, by actually experiencing them,
**
"Oh, Ranma, You're so handsome!"
"Wha-", the owner of the aforementioned name exclaimed,
stopping mid-step on the fence.
"Akane? What are you say-- I mean, of course I am. Why are you--
You're joking, righ-- I mean, do you really think so?"
"Ranma", Akane said, clasping her hands before her. "Of course,"
*ba-bump* went Ranma's heart.
"I am joking," Akane continued, adoration filling her voice.
It took few moments for the meaning of words to register in Ranma's
brain, over the tone with which they were spoken. But, when they did,
Ranma found his balance failing him, as the ground rose to meet his
face.
**
Blah. Haven't written in a long time, but hope you get what I am saying.
I mean, the importance seems to be demonstrating the feeling beyond
the action, but not necessarily by abandoning it's physical counterpart.
Though hopefully with somewhat less flowery language than the one I
have a habit of using.
I am not, in general, in the favor of using short-cuts like "sweat-
dropped"
or "face-faulted". However, I don't think they should be shunned just
because people consider them to be 'unrealistic'. All four series,
Slayers,
Ranma 1/2, Tenchi Muyo and Sailor Moon *do*, after all, have their
comical elements.
There IS a problem there, though. In the anime and manga, all these
visual elements make sense, and are, in general, quite amusing, so
instead of using the "sight-gags" as shortcuts, perhaps a bit of
descriptive
prosa might bring their original effect back to the story.
Exactly!
*Sigh*
People these days,
all they want is serious drama, dark things and depression.
No, I think they want stuff that is actually funny in itself,
rather than hoping to be mistaken for funny by summoning up fond
memories of the source material. (This is not meant as an attack
of any sort, but the expression of a deeply held conviction.)
Can't they be funny in themself *while* summoning up fond memories
of source material?
But, as it goes, I give up.
After all, everyone has a right for their opinion, and for
their opinion to be heard, so instead of filling the list with unnecessary
bantering, Let's just say all the necessary(I seem to be fond of that word)
things have been voiced, and further debate can be continued in private,
if felt as necessary(I said I seem to like the word)
________________________________________________________________
Ilmainen Internet @ http://www.nic.fi/