Episode 478 - Pity da fool!
May 11, 2020
Fools are an iconic character trope and I wanted to explore them. They're a lot more varied and interesting than is readily apparent. There's a LOT more too a fool than what something like TV tropes suggests, unless you get into the subtypes… And that's what we explored in this free-form discussion. I introduced the idea in the Patreon only video where Tantz, Banes, Pt and I try and get a handle on the idea for the first time, so that's a good behind the scenes insight into what goes on!
Topics and Show Notes
We worked out that there are many different kinds of fools. The classic idea of "The Fool" comes from King Leer where the fool speaks truth to power, like the little boy who tells the emperor that he's naked, or a lucky, untouchable character that succeeds regardless and gets automatic protection from those around them; reminiscent of the time when mentally disabled people were seen as being "touched by god".
They can be sidekicks like Barney on the Flintstones, or main characters like The Tick, or Maxwell Smart. They can be lovable rogues like Flashman or the famous Scaramouche character. They can be innocents like Andy from Parks and Rec, or they can have an altogether different purpose like Jerry in Parks and Rec: he's a sort of a court-Jester style fool but his role is to show the darker sides of the otherwise good characters as they make fun of him.
Who is your favourite fool? And do you make use of a fool in your work?
The musical feature this week that Gunwallace has given us is theme to Cragwater: Magical, bucolic fairy music. Lush green idyllic meadows on high mountains overlooking sunlit valleys, washed in golden brilliance, walled by faint purple mountains that fade into the distant hazy sky. A brook glitters at the centre as it bubbles and flows between the rocks and grass. This music evokes high places, greenery, and sunlight.
Topics and shownotes
Links
TV Tropes on The Fool - https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheFool
Featured comic:
SteveAndMelvin - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/news/2020/may/05/featured-comic-steveandmelvin/
Featured music:
Cragwater - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/Cragwater/, by TallFroyo , rated T
Special thanks to:
Pit Face - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/PIT_FACE/
Gunwallace - http://www.virtuallycomics.com
Tantz Aerine - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Tantz_Aerine/
Ozoneocean - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/ozoneocean
Banes - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/Banes/
kawaiidaigakusei - https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/user/kawaiidaigakusei/
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Episode 307 - The jerks
Jan 23, 2017
Jerky, jerk, jerks! Let's talk about this type of character… This topic is based on Banes' newspost from Thursday, he based it on characters like Reggie from the Archie comics. Jerks can be pretty good characters in their own right. They can be villains, heroes, antagonists or protagonists, they can even be unintentional jerks like Scrappy do from Scooby Do, Alf from Alf, or Jar Jar Binks from that horrible movie he was in. My favourite jerks are Flashman from the Flashman novels by George MacDonald (you should read them!), Blackadder (particularly the second season), and Zaphod Beeblebrox who I'm cosplaying in the cover pic. Who are your fave and least fave jerks? Gunwallace's musical theme was for The Epic of Blitzov. It's Riff based hard rock, driving beat, heavy, distorted guitars layered over and over with a thunderous yet lyrical lead floating over the top. Orange and black sound.
Episode 216 - Characters done right, part 4
Apr 27, 2015
This is the FOURTH and very final part of our series on what makes a good character in webcomics, movies, and any sort of writing in general. Our very first four-parter! Ozone and Banes are once again joined by the panel of Pitface, Tantz Aerine, and Bravo1102. Together we get though the last of the contributions from the great and wise people of DD who've had a lot of very intelligent things on the subject of character writing. And of course there's an amazing aural interpretation of a comic for you by Gunwallace who's done a spectacular theme for Prodigium.
Episode 215 - A guide to Good characters, part 3
Apr 20, 2015
OMG! This is the third part in our long running series of discussing good and bad character traits in webcomics and everything else. Bravo, Tantz and Pit are all along with Banes and I for another go around and doing their best German accents as a tribute to Abt Nhil to start off. As usual we read out some very enlightening contributions and then discuss them jointly afterwards. This Quackcast ran a little long because of it- we had a LOT to say! And do not forget Gunwallace's great musical theme, this time it's for Clint which also happens to be that week's featured comic!
Episode 214 - Good character, Bad character? Part 2
Apr 12, 2015
Continuing our theme from last week, Bravo1102 joins us to discuss good and bad character creation, along with two very well written characters; PitFace and Tantz Aerine! We use our best silly voices to read out the words of the smart people who had something to say on the subject in question and then we all get together to pick apart and discuss the points they made. Bravo joins us for the first time as a participant and not an interviewee and showcases his excellent and versatile vocal talents! Also- Gunwallace's tune for Joy To The World is especially funky. Please enjoy Quackcast 214!
Episode 213 - What makes a good character? Part one
Apr 6, 2015
After several interesting discussions about Mary Sues, we'd like to talk about characters a little more. We asked people to let us know their thoughts on what makes a well written character VS a poorly written one. People talked about their favourite and least favourite characters in fiction and why they dug or don't dig them… as well as their own characters and how they put them together! Banes and I blather on a lot so this will be a multi-parter as we talk about what makes good characters. And as usual there's the great theme by Gunwallace! This time a classical number for the Adult comic Tina's Story.
