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OVERDETERMINED

                                             January 21, 2026


  Genre elements are easy to attack
  as mere cliches, but really the
  common features are usually common
  for a reason-- in fact, I think it's
  often for *multiple* reasons.





                                                And this can make it hard to
                                                percieve what's going on with
                                                a genre element-- you might
                                                think you understand the
                   As I may be missing          appeal of a common feature,
                   something about why a        but still be missing an entire
                   pattern like, say,           angle on it.
                   "second lead syndrome"
                   is quite so common.             These structures have
                                                   always evolved,
          SECOND_LEAD                              they're only partly
                                                   designed, which can
                                                   complicate attempts at
                                                   doing variations.

                                                   You may think you're
                                                   being innovative and
                                                   getting away from a
                                                   dull cliche, without
                                                   fully understanding
                                                   it's function.
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