Talk:Dear Pearl

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Latest comment: 12 January by Olivia in topic Parody?

Incorrect genre

Wouldn't it be more accurate to describe this manga as a parody of shōjo manga rather than an homage/proper example of it? In-universe it appears to be sincere, but to its target audience (Splatoon fans) it's a parody. It wasn't serialized or sold toward that demographic in real life nor in-universe (to our knowledge). The events that take place in it are nothing but over-exaggerations of common romance manga tropes; its meta humorous nature seems to not be mentioned throughout the article. Yoshifan52 (talk) 06:39, 9 February 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Good point... Miss Delibirda (talk) 06:47, 9 February 2023 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Parody?

I am not sure if I agree that it's a parody. None of the elements strike me as particularly humourus, and the list we have on supposedly over-excaggerated tropes feels more like just a list of common shojo manga tropes displayed is just because she in love with Pearl

  • Marina portrays herself as overly clumsy and unskilled, becoming very flustered or dazzled around Pearl, similar to shōjo protagonists. (I am very eeeeeeeeh about the first point and the second one is not even abnormal, as someone who has been in love before and kinda is currently. It also feels like the point kinda admits it's a normal shojo manga trope and isn't excaggerated@)
  • Marina's exaggerated clumsiness is delivered through her operation of heavy machinery, a type of work that clashes strongly with what is typically included in shōjo manga. (If it's not a common trope, then why is it here?
  • Pearl is portrayed as very handsome and knowledgeable, similar to shōjo love interests. (Knowledgeable?
  • A large amount of sparkles and flower petals are present in almost every panel that features Pearl. (So? It's a manga trope, sure, but it's not unrealistic that Marina would do that since she is in love with Pearl)

Overall it feels more like a genuine attempt at a shojo manga than a parody. Olivia (talk) 10:45, 12 January 2024 (UTC)Reply[reply]

I would strongly refer to Yoshifan's comment above; simply because it is genuine in-universe does not mean it is not comically exaggerated from the perspective of us as readers.
Also: "If it's not a common trope, then why is it here?"
You've rather answered your own question there, I'd say. It's taking one of those common tropes and presenting it in a way that is very not traditionally "girly" as a form of humor/parody (again, from the perspective of the people who actually created the manga, despite it being written in-universe by Marina). Driftin Soul (talk) 10:57, 12 January 2024 (UTC)Reply[reply]
I have thought a bit about it...and I still don't see it. Actually, the more I look at the manga itself, the wronger it feels, the number of hearts and sparkles and whatnot does feel high and like, Pearl is absolutely not portrayed as "knowledgable", she has four lines and they don't have much to them. Olivia (talk) 11:55, 12 January 2024 (UTC)Reply[reply]