Modern Clichés
March 4th 2009 21:19
Evil comes in many guises
Chris's posts on the use of clichés in literature - in combination with an episode of Stargate SG-1 (my guilty pleasure) yesterday - started me thinking about some of the overworked premises in modern storytelling.
A driving force is essential in a good story. Characters need a reason to do whatever it is they do and coming up with inventive new plots is not always easy. Over the past decade or two, quite a few ideas have been worked to death (there's a cliché, right there!) and should be avoided if possible. Others, however, retain their strength, either through the fact that they are truly horrendous or frightening, or because they are so deeply engraved on our consciences that we want to never forget.
On the positive side, a good example is a book-burning. The simple process of piling up paper and igniting it is nothing special in itself, but the thought of taking a civilisation's accumulated knowledge or beliefs and destroying them in such a fashion is anathema to most intelligent people. It is an act of such disdain and hatred that it is very hard to express the feelings it evokes in words. Of course, the fact that the Nazis are renowned for their book-burnings has helped maintain this image's power.
Another good example, also reinforced by the Nazis, is that of prison camps. With many horror stories coming out of the Vietnam War as well (and virtually every other conflict in modern times), this setting has retained its strength. The outcry whenever someone dismisses the Holocaust's importance in public is testament to the utter ghastliness of such events. In a similar vein, organised racist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, the British National Party, the Front National in France and many others are also excellent foils for a tale's hero.
Looking at the negative side, there are some clichés that are now seen as 'get-out clauses' for a lack of imagination in writing. The most recent of these is the introduction of a computer virus to invade whatever system is in charge and thus prevent armageddon. The most ridiculous use of such a cliché has to be in the film Independance Day, where an Apple Mac manages to interface with alien technology and upload a virus without the slightest hitch.
Technology also gives us several other over-used clichés, such as tracking devices conveniently installed in official vehicles just before they're needed (Die Hard 4.0), criminals being able to crack passwords or hack systems in thirty seconds (any number of films) and, of course, polygraph machines being beaten by heroes with 'total control' (The Glimmer Man, for one). Computers have been around for a long time and, much like the old belief that they always made loads of beeping noises whenever they did anything, the public is now familiar enough to know that such assumptions are incorrect.
Possibly the most abused cliché, which continues to turn up in books and films even now, is criminals selling nuclear weapons from the former USSR. While I'm sure this is still a serious concern in real life, using it as a basis for a story's plot is so old and unimaginative that a lot of readers will sigh audibly when they read it.
Stepping back a little, into the middle ground between good and bad, there are also several clichés that are a little too familiar, but have the potential for inclusion. Putting a twist on an old idea can make a reader sit up and take notice: on a personal level, I was quite pleased with the use of hackers in Die Hard 4.0, as the writers had actually done a bit of research. Yes, it was still hokey and forced, but at least it was a new idea, and well-executed (within the bounds of action film production 'reality').
Mental patients are also a good example here. A basic sociopath or psychopath is nothing new, but taking that character and developing them further, with twists in the plot and depth in their psyche, can really make an impact. The role in Se7en springs immediately to mind.
So the message is this: Avoid the clichés, but remember that thinking laterally can turn an old, dusty idea into something shiny and fabulous.
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Comment by Teresa Ralton
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Comment by Chris Champion
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The point that clichés exist outside expressions - in ideas, entities and all sorts of plot ploys - is an excellent one, and something for every writer to think about.
Comment by Spike 2
Qwerk
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I suppose an example of what you're saying would be something like the Bond movies: the characters are well-developed (everyone loves Mr Bond), so the rather formulaic story - yet another world takeover bid - is still interesting?
I guess that's why authors such as Shakespeare remain so popular: deep, interesting characters in stories that are clever and different.
Chris: Thank you! I actually read one of your cliché posts just before seeing a book-burning in a Stargate episode (S10E10, to be precise) and the two kind of clunked together.
Comment by Janet Collins
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I don't think this is accidental. Older images and things in general have a lot more impact than current day ones. The beeps are supposed to add to the excitement of it all, rather than a dead-pan sound of someone clicking on a modern day computer.
You are right though. Drudging up old things to do this sometimes makes it all very unbelievable.
Comment by sethb
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Comment by Spike 2
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Comment by Lilla
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interesting ideas here and so true. I had never thought of the computer virus as a cliche and yet .. there it is the original Star Trekkiwe delight of nano probes invading and conquering. I Robot also comes to mind here too and a host of others... even shows like Dr Who, who pioneered those nano probes too.
In fact, surprisingly (now I think about it) most popular films rely on cliches.. I particularly like the ones that lean on Roswell and Conspiracy theories ... however, I have to say that personally the most inventive and enjoyable for me have been the Secret Government Agent with Amnesia franchises, like Bourne.
Not much original stuff around ~ when you look closely
Lilla ..
Comment by Spike 2
Qwerk
Peanut Butter
There seems to be a common thread appearing in the comments, actually: that the use of a cliché in itself is not such a bad thing - it's the reliance on a cliché to solve a problem or make an impact on the reader/viewer. I mean, the amnesiac secret agent isn't a bad thing when it's done well (like that Mel Gibson flick, which was fun), but if it's another clone of the Bourne thing, well... one's enough: boring!
Comment by Teresa Ralton
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Comment by Spike 2
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Comment by Teresa Ralton
But that series was exceptional in the way the plot strands intersected and complemented - and were resolved. I thought it was brilliant.