Editing Formula fiction

{{redirect|Formulaic|other uses|Formula (disambiguation)}}
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In [[popular culture]], '''formula fiction''' is [[literature]] in which the storylines and [[Plot (narrative)|plot]]s have been reused to the extent that the [[narrative]]s are predictable.  It is similar to [[genre fiction]], which identifies a number of specific settings that are frequently reused.  The label of ''formula fiction'' is used in [[literary criticism]] as a mild [[pejorative]] to imply lack of originality.

==Varieties==
The ''formula'' is defined specifically by predictable [[narrative structure]]. Formulaic tales incorporate plots that have been reused so often as to be easily recognizable. Perhaps the most clearly formulaic plots characterize the [[romantic comedy]] genre; in a book or film labeled as such, viewers already know its most basic central plot, including to some extent the ending. This does not always prove to be detrimental to a given work's reception however, as the popularity of the aforementioned genre demonstrates.

Formula fiction is often stereotypically associated with early [[pulp magazine]] markets, though some works published in that medium, such as "[[The Cold Equations]]", subvert the supposed expectations of the common narrative formula of that time.

==Distinct from genre conventions==
The ''formula'' is limited to structure of the plot itself. It does not include conventional, stereotypical elements of the genre used for the story background.
Genres like [[high fantasy]], [[Western movie|westerns]], and [[space opera]] (an [[Adventure fiction|adventure story]] in a [[science fiction]] setting) often have specific settings, such as a pseudo-[[Medieval Europe]]an setting, the [[Old West]], or [[outer space]].

For any given genre, certain assumed background information covers the nature and purpose of predictable elements of the story, such as the appearance of [[European dragon|dragon]]s and [[Magician (fantasy)|wizard]]s in [[high fantasy]], [[Faster than light|warp drives]] and [[raygun]]s in [[science fiction]], or [[shootout]]s at high noon in [[Western movie|Westerns]]. These are taken as conventional in the genre and do not need to be explained anew to the reader, they may be included implicitly as part of the genre's formula, but they do not constitute the plot structure that makes a story formulaic.

Note however that stereotypical elements can also easily be treated subversively, to contradict some of the expectations inherent in the genre's formula.

==Distinct from ''pastiche'' fiction==
''Formula fiction'' should not be confused with ''[[pastiche]]'': Fiction  mimicking another work or author's style.
[[Comedy]] as a whole – including [[parody]], [[satire]], and [[subgenre]]s such as [[romantic comedy]] – often relies on either formulaic elements, or mocking contradiction of such elements.

Though pastiche may naturally include formulaic elements, the same holds true of [[parody]] and [[satire]]. All may well include formulaic elements such as common [[stereotype]]s or [[caricature]]s, or which may use formulaic elements in order to mock them or point out their supposedly [[cliché]] or [[realism (arts)|unrealistic]] natures.

==See also==
* [[Film genre]]
* [[Literary fiction]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{cite web |title="Basic" plots in literature |series=Frequently asked reference questions |website=IPL essay repository |url=http://www.ipl.org/div/farq/plotFARQ.html |url-status=live |access-date=2022-09-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821080004/http://www.ipl.org/div/farq/plotFARQ.html |archive-date=2015-08-21}}

{{Appropriation in the Arts}}

[[Category:Plot (narrative)]]
[[Category:Literary genres]]

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