Consistency: Difference between revisions

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
Content added Content deleted
VisualWikitext
(Import from TV Tropes TVT:Main.Consistency 2012-07-01, editor history TVTH:Main.Consistency, CC-BY-SA 3.0 Unported license)
 
No edit summary
 
(10 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{trope}}
{{Useful Notes}}
There are, roughly speaking, three kinds of consistency that a viewer expects from a story:
There are, roughly speaking, three kinds of '''consistency''' that a viewer expects from a story:


* '''External Consistency''': Consistency with the real world.<br /><br />The fictional universe is [[Like Reality Unless Noted]]. Violations of external consistency are "unrealistic."
* '''External Consistency''': Consistency with the real world.

⚫
* '''Genre Consistency''': Consistency with other fictional works.<br /><br />The fictional universe should behave like other works in its genre, unless specifically noted otherwise. Any fictional concepts, characters, or settings borrowed from other works should behave as they do in those works. For example, a dragon is generally expected to be a flying reptilian creature that breathes fire. If your work takes place in an [[Expanded Universe]], you're generally expected to be consistent with [[Canon]].
The fictional universe is [[Like Reality Unless Noted]]. Violations of external consistency are "unrealistic."
⚫
* '''Internal Consistency''': Consistency with itself.<br /><br />Any rules, events, settings, or characters that have been established within the fictional work continue to exist and function as they did previously, unless otherwise indicated.
* '''Genre Consistency''': Consistency with other fictional works.

⚫
The fictional universe should behave like other works in its genre, unless specifically noted otherwise. Any fictional concepts, characters, or settings borrowed from other works should behave as they do in those works. For example, a dragon is generally expected to be a flying reptilian creature that breathes fire. If your work takes place in an [[Expanded Universe]], you're generally expected to be consistent with [[Canon]].
* '''Internal Consistency''': Consistency with itself.

⚫
Any rules, events, settings, or characters that have been established within the fictional work continue to exist and function as they did previously, unless otherwise indicated.


Consistency aids [[Willing Suspension of Disbelief]], while violations of consistency may be jolting and unexpected. The viewer would be quite surprised to learn that in your universe, Hitler was a circus performer, dragons are scared of fire, and that those two characters who previously knew each other no longer recognize each other. Generally, if a work is inconsistent, the viewer expects there to be a good reason for it. On the other hand, sometimes violations of consistency go unnoticed even if they're quite obvious, or may even be ''expected''; e.g. [[The Coconut Effect]] violates [[External Consistency]].
Consistency aids [[Willing Suspension of Disbelief]], while violations of consistency may be jolting and unexpected. The viewer would be quite surprised to learn that in your universe, Hitler was a circus performer, dragons are scared of fire, and that those two characters who previously knew each other no longer recognize each other. Generally, if a work is inconsistent, the viewer expects there to be a good reason for it. On the other hand, sometimes violations of consistency go unnoticed even if they're quite obvious, or may even be ''expected''; e.g. [[The Coconut Effect]] violates [[External Consistency]].


Often, a feature in a work is consistent at one level and not at another; for example, maybe [[Our Vampires Are Different|your vampires]] [[Twilight (Literature)|glitter]], which is not genre consistent with other works featuring vampires, but as long as they always do that, it ''is'' internally consistent. If a work forgoes [[External Consistency]] in favor of [[Genre Consistency]], you have [[The Coconut Effect]]. If conversely a work forgoes [[Genre Consistency]] in favor of [[External Consistency]], then you have [[Reality Ensues]].
Often, a feature in a work is consistent at one level and not at another; for example, maybe [[Our Vampires Are Different|your vampires]] [[Twilight (novel)|glitter]], which is not genre consistent with other works featuring vampires, but as long as they always do that, it ''is'' internally consistent. If a work forgoes [[External Consistency]] in favor of [[Genre Consistency]], you have [[The Coconut Effect]]. If conversely a work forgoes [[Genre Consistency]] in favor of [[External Consistency]], then you have [[Reality Ensues]].


Sometimes, as in the case of sequels, it can be unclear whether two works are distinct works or part of the same work, making the distinction between [[Genre Consistency]] and [[Internal Consistency]] a bit fuzzy.
Sometimes, as in the case of sequels, it can be unclear whether two works are distinct works or part of the same work, making the distinction between [[Genre Consistency]] and [[Internal Consistency]] a bit fuzzy.
Line 14: Line 20:
An [[Omnipresent Tropes|Omnipresent Trope]], since every work of fiction has ''some'' kind of consistency (maybe except [[Finnegans Wake]]).
An [[Omnipresent Tropes|Omnipresent Trope]], since every work of fiction has ''some'' kind of consistency (maybe except [[Finnegans Wake]]).


No examples please -- this is just a descriptive [[Super Trope]] and index.
No examples please—this is just a descriptive [[Super-Trope]] and index.


----


== Related tropes ==

=== Related tropes: ===
=== General ===


== General ==
* [[Willing Suspension of Disbelief]]: Aided by consistency
* [[Willing Suspension of Disbelief]]: Aided by consistency
* [[Canon]]: The stuff you're supposed to be consistent with
* [[Canon]]: The stuff you're supposed to be consistent with




== [[External Consistency]] ==
=== [[External Consistency]] ===
* [[Interpretative Character]]
* [[Interpretative Character]]
* [[Like Reality Unless Noted]]
* [[Like Reality Unless Noted]]
Line 33: Line 35:
* [[Plausible Deniability]]
* [[Plausible Deniability]]
* [[Reality Ensues]]
* [[Reality Ensues]]
* [[Mohs Scale of Science Fiction Hardness/Speculative Science| Hard SF]]


== Lack of [[External Consistency]] ==
=== Lack of [[External Consistency]] ===
* [[Did Not Do the Research]]
* [[Did Not Do the Research]]
** [[Anime Reality]]
** [[Anime Reality]]
Line 48: Line 51:
* [[Reciprocal Fiction Paradox]]
* [[Reciprocal Fiction Paradox]]
* [[The Kids Are American]]
* [[The Kids Are American]]
* [[Mohs Scale of Science Fiction Hardness/Science in Genre Only| Science in Genre Only]]


⚫
=== Excess of External Consistency ===

⚫
== Excess of External Consistency ==
* [[Unintentional Period Piece]]
* [[Unintentional Period Piece]]




== [[Genre Consistency]] ==
=== [[Genre Consistency]] ===
* [[All Myths Are True]]
* [[All Myths Are True]]
* [[Fantasy Kitchen Sink]]
* [[Fantasy Kitchen Sink]]
Line 61: Line 64:




== Lack of [[Genre Consistency]] ==
=== Lack of [[Genre Consistency]] ===
* [[How Unscientific]]
* [[How Unscientific]]
* [[Our Monsters Are Different]]
* [[Our Monsters Are Different]]




== Excess of [[Genre Consistency]] ==
=== Excess of [[Genre Consistency]] ===
* [[Strictly Formula]]
* [[Strictly Formula]]




== [[Internal Consistency]] ==
=== [[Internal Consistency]] ===
* [[Beyond the Impossible]]
* [[Beyond the Impossible]]
* [[Continuity]]
* [[Continuity]]
* [[Magic a Is Magic A]]
* [[Magic A Is Magic A]]
* [[Minovsky Physics]]
* [[Minovsky Physics]]
* [[The Dev Team Thinks of Everything]]
* [[The Dev Team Thinks of Everything]]
Line 82: Line 85:




== Lack of [[Internal Consistency]] ==
=== Lack of [[Internal Consistency]] ===
* [[Animation Bump]]
* [[Animation Bump]]
* [[Continuity Drift]]
* [[Continuity Drift]]
Line 91: Line 94:
* [[Plot Hole]]
* [[Plot Hole]]
* [[Fridge Logic]]
* [[Fridge Logic]]
* [[Timey Wimey Ball]]
* [[Timey-Wimey Ball]]
* [[Depending On the Artist]]
* [[Depending on the Artist]]
* [[Depending On the Writer]]
* [[Depending on the Writer]]
* [[Off Model]]
* [[Off-Model]]
* [[Out of Character Moment]]
* [[Out-of-Character Moment]]
* [[Character Derailment]]
* [[Character Derailment]]
* [[Gameplay and Story Segregation]]
* [[Gameplay and Story Segregation]]
Line 104: Line 107:




== Excess of Internal Consistency ==
=== Excess of Internal Consistency ===
* [[Continuity Lock Out]]
* [[Continuity Lock Out]]
* [[Continuity Porn]]
* [[Continuity Porn]]
Line 110: Line 113:


{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
⚫
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Continuity Tropes]]
[[Category:Continuity Tropes]]
[[Category:Omnipresent Tropes]]
[[Category:Omnipresent Tropes]]
[[Category:Narrative Tropes]]
[[Category:Narrative Tropes]]
[[Category:index]]
[[Category:Index]]
[[Category:Consistency]]
[[Category:Mechanics of Writing]]
⚫
[[Category:Trope]]

Latest revision as of 21:49, 2 February 2024


  • Main
  • Quotes
  • Wikipedia
  • All Subpages
  • Create New
    /wiki/Consistencywork

    There are, roughly speaking, three kinds of consistency that a viewer expects from a story:

    • External Consistency: Consistency with the real world.

    The fictional universe is Like Reality Unless Noted. Violations of external consistency are "unrealistic."

    • Genre Consistency: Consistency with other fictional works.

    The fictional universe should behave like other works in its genre, unless specifically noted otherwise. Any fictional concepts, characters, or settings borrowed from other works should behave as they do in those works. For example, a dragon is generally expected to be a flying reptilian creature that breathes fire. If your work takes place in an Expanded Universe, you're generally expected to be consistent with Canon.

    • Internal Consistency: Consistency with itself.

    Any rules, events, settings, or characters that have been established within the fictional work continue to exist and function as they did previously, unless otherwise indicated.

    Consistency aids Willing Suspension of Disbelief, while violations of consistency may be jolting and unexpected. The viewer would be quite surprised to learn that in your universe, Hitler was a circus performer, dragons are scared of fire, and that those two characters who previously knew each other no longer recognize each other. Generally, if a work is inconsistent, the viewer expects there to be a good reason for it. On the other hand, sometimes violations of consistency go unnoticed even if they're quite obvious, or may even be expected; e.g. The Coconut Effect violates External Consistency.

    Often, a feature in a work is consistent at one level and not at another; for example, maybe your vampires glitter, which is not genre consistent with other works featuring vampires, but as long as they always do that, it is internally consistent. If a work forgoes External Consistency in favor of Genre Consistency, you have The Coconut Effect. If conversely a work forgoes Genre Consistency in favor of External Consistency, then you have Reality Ensues.

    Sometimes, as in the case of sequels, it can be unclear whether two works are distinct works or part of the same work, making the distinction between Genre Consistency and Internal Consistency a bit fuzzy.

    An Omnipresent Trope, since every work of fiction has some kind of consistency (maybe except Finnegans Wake).

    No examples please—this is just a descriptive Super-Trope and index.


    Related tropes

    General


    External Consistency

    Lack of External Consistency

    Excess of External Consistency


    Genre Consistency


    Lack of Genre Consistency


    Excess of Genre Consistency


    Internal Consistency


    Lack of Internal Consistency


    Excess of Internal Consistency

    Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Consistency?oldid=2045592"