In response to this story where people got into a whole debate about what a DEM is and what it isn't. I'm just wondering how you guys would define the thing in the context of fanfiction, and how we'd go about finding them.
Deus Ex Machina
- Thread starter ToastedPine
- Start date
From what I've understood about it, a DEM is an all-too-convenient, usually very low-probability problem solver. It will probably show up out of nowhere in order to get someone or something out of an inescapable situation, and may seem illogical to readers or conflict with previously acknowledged facts about something.
For example: Say someone was lost in the woods and absolutely had to get back home as quickly as possible in order to prevent some sort of catastrophic event. After wandering for a while and all hope seems lost, he suddenly remembers that he has a magical compass that can point him in the exact direction of his home in his backpack (or perhaps he miraculously finds one lying on the ground). Using the magic compass, he arrives home just in time to save the day. The compass is a deus ex machina.
For example: Say someone was lost in the woods and absolutely had to get back home as quickly as possible in order to prevent some sort of catastrophic event. After wandering for a while and all hope seems lost, he suddenly remembers that he has a magical compass that can point him in the exact direction of his home in his backpack (or perhaps he miraculously finds one lying on the ground). Using the magic compass, he arrives home just in time to save the day. The compass is a deus ex machina.
A bit of trivia: The term originally comes from Greek plays; it refers to a literal machine they used to lift actors playing gods/demigods onto the stage. The definition of it now, though is
Basically, if a main character is in a situation like LL mentioned, and either they suddenly find that magic compass or another character who has never been mentioned before suddenly shows up to rescue them. Essentially, if a plot device has never been mentioned before and then magically solves all the main character's problems, it's a Deus ex Machina.
Edit: Often, authors will resort to a DEM to pull themselves out of a corner that they've written themselves into.
Basically, if a main character is in a situation like LL mentioned, and either they suddenly find that magic compass or another character who has never been mentioned before suddenly shows up to rescue them. Essentially, if a plot device has never been mentioned before and then magically solves all the main character's problems, it's a Deus ex Machina.
Edit: Often, authors will resort to a DEM to pull themselves out of a corner that they've written themselves into.
Look at the end of the Star Trek series Voyager. Out of nowhere, Admiral Janeway from the future appears and hands (present) Voyager the tech needed to get home while future Admiral Janeway destroys the borg.
That is a good example of Dues Ex Machina. It's solves all of the plot problems without having the characters work and bleed to solve them, it usually appears out of nowhere, and it's usually in bad taste on top of everything else.
That is a good example of Dues Ex Machina. It's solves all of the plot problems without having the characters work and bleed to solve them, it usually appears out of nowhere, and it's usually in bad taste on top of everything else.
It's also not an out-of-character thing for Happosai to do.
As a general rule for myself, I try to avoid setting an ironclad standard for what is and isn't DeM. It changes from situation to situation, setting to setting, and may or may not be plausible given the context.
Example: In the verse in question, there are certain people who can manifest their spirits into objects, most of which have supernatural powers and abilities. The hero in question has always loved to wander and find new things since he was an infant, and one day as a teenager, finds himself trying to deliver a message from a neighboring city that warns that a military group from an enemy nation is approaching. He gets turned around in the woods as night starts to fall, and is utterly lost. Fearing for his family and loved ones, his spirit manifests in the form of a magical compass to guide him to his goal.
This is not a Deus ex Machina. It is perfectly plausible in the context of the verse, as it explains both the sudden appearance of the device and why said device can solve the problem at hand.
Modified Example: Pondering the skating challenge issued for Akanes hand, Ranma steps outside to get some fresh air. Not looking where he's going, he gets lost in the city, and it's almost time for the showdown. Then, someone shows up and points him in the direction of the rink.
Now, this has the hallmarks of a Deus ex Machina, but this ultimately depends on four things:
1.) Who gave Ranma directions?
2.) Why did they give Ranma directions?
3.) Is it believable to you as a reader? Did you go accept the event, or did it raise an eyebrow?
4.) Is Ranma getting directions from this person going to be important later on? That is to say, is it setting up something to happen later?
If it's just a random bystander, I'd say it's a DeM.
If it's someone from the series who could have believably been wandering the streets at the time, knew about the contest, and would be willing to help him, it isn't DeM, but it's pushing it. Also, it's both DeM and OoC if Ryoga is the one that gives him directions (I doubt I have to explain why).
Did Ranma approach them, or the other way around? Does the event fit with the characters personalities? Is Ranma likely to ask this person (take into account his level of desperation)? Is said person likely to help him? If it's a no to any of these, it's OoC, and by extension, DeM.
Then we have No. 4. Let's say Happosai has been tailing Ranma for some time now, assessing his capacity and ability as a fighter and as a person. Ranma gets lost, and seeing an opportunity to garner influence, appears and offers Ramna directions. This is plausible in an AU situation, and it fits Happosais disposition. He can be surprisingly conniving when he wants to be, and wouldn't pass up the chance to get a potential favor later on. He does this, and Ranma is in his debt, which is something he could take advantage of later on. I would rule that an AU fic that has Happosai appearing 'out of nowhere' (to Ranma, but not completely to the reader) and offering help is plausible and in-character for him.
Also, it's important to note that there's an inherent difference between a Deus ex Machina and a Plot Device. A Plot Device is a device designed to move the story forwards. The One Ring and the Spirit Compass I used in my example are Plot Devices, as is Kage Bushen no jutsu, S2 organs, Excalibur, and any number of other aspects from various stories and series. Most of them aren't Deus ex Machina, but they are Plot Devices.
Plot Devices aren't a bad thing. Indeed, they're necessary to tell an acceptable story, to the extent that I don't think it's even possible to write a story without at least one Plot Device. It's an essential component of a stories structure.
A Deus ex Machina is, simply put, something that breaks your suspension of disbelief. We could get all technical and philosophical about it, but that's essentially what it is. If something doesn't fit, doesn't make sense, or seems strange or out-of-context, even if you can't quite put a finger on what it is about it that irks you, it's probably either a DeM, or some other structural error in the story.
And finally, I'd like to underline just how important the context is. Something acceptable in one verse could be totally unacceptable in another verse or setting. Ultimately, the best tool to tell whether something is DeM or not is your own reaction to it. It's your eyebrow that's being raised, and that should be your yardstick.
I also firmly believe that this is the source of nine out of every ten debates concerning what is or isn't 'right' or 'canon' in a verse. An excellent example is the Rasengan vs Chidori debate, which has happened both here and elsewhere. You can build arguments for both sides, but in the end, it's the readers expectations that rule what they themselves believe.
Naruto is the hero and main character of Naruto. The series is named after him. His place in it should be obvious. Knowing that, most would side with the Rasengan. Not because its mechanics are superior, because it uses less chakra, or anything like that. Fans of the series would mostly side with the Rasengan because it's Narutos Super-Special Technique that was created by his father and taught to him by his fatherÆs sensei. The Rasengan has a legacy. When someone uses the Rasengan, everyone recognizes it for what it is. From the perspective of the reader, the Rasengan is superior to the Chidori simply because itÆs Narutos jutsu, and heÆs the main character. Of course itÆs stronger! ItÆs his special thing! The father he never got to meet invented it, and he was taught it by his fatherÆs teacher, who was himself a legendary ninja. The Rasengan is steeped in prestige. ItÆs a legacy of both the Village Hidden in the Leaves, and of Naruto himself. Compared to the Chidori, which was invented by a shinobi inferior to all three known Rasengan users, requires a Kekkei Genkai to work to its fullest effect, and is associated in every conceivable way with the concept of innate genius and skill, which is (or was) a recurring antagonistic theme in the series? ItÆs no contest, both from a reading perspective and the readerÆs expectations.
Now, is the Chidori superior to the Rasengan as a jutsu? Possibly. In mechanics, IÆd even go so far as to say ælikelyÆ. But just like a plot problem you canÆt quite put your finger on, you simply know that the Rasengan æshouldÆ be the better jutsu, if not by itself, then in the hands of Naruto as the Main Character and Hero.
In the same way, there are some Deus ex Machina that simply defy classification. ItÆs not quite OoC, itÆs not outright uncanonical, and thereÆs nothing you can identify about it that makes it æwrongÆ. But despite that, thereÆs still something that bothers you about it, and that is something that defies logical classification or any rules we might try and make regarding it.
Like I said before, the simplest and most basic definition is when your suspension of disbelief is broken. Most notably when solving a supposedly unsolvable problem, but it can happen at other times as well. And suspension of disbelief varies from person to person. It depends on how analytical and logical they are, how likely they are to immerse themselves in the story as opposed to looking at it objectively, and how much their emotions get involved in the events taking place. What one might see as Deus ex Machina, another might see as nothing more than a Plot Device.
True, there are some things that are so blatantly Deus ex Machina that thereÆs an almost universal consensus about them. Yes, there is an æofficialÆ definition of what Deus ex Machina actually means, and you could apply that to get your answer in the strictest sense of the word. But your suspension of disbelief is a variable that is never quite the same between two people, which in turns causes discussion, debate, and ever out-and-out arguments over the story aspects that are more grey than they are black or white.
Trust me. If itÆs a Deus ex Machina, youÆll probably know as soon as you see it. Everything else (to me, anyway) is nothing more than semantics, nothing more than a never-ending source of fuel to feed the fires of debate. There are certain things people will never stop arguing about, because they ultimately boil down to difference of opinion, either because canon gives nothing one way or the other, or because canon contradicts itself in a way that is never outright resolved by the author. While they can be entertaining to discuss, thereÆs ultimately no point in doing so other than to pass the time, as a consensus will almost certainly not be reached. Not even close.
For everything else? Just use you head. Like that link you provided. While Fallacies has a point, one that I readily admit is mostly correct, you ultimately have to remember the setting in question. Ranma ¢ is a Shonen, a comic aimed at preteen adolescents, mostly boys, which is a group not known for their flawless grasp of reality and physics. ItÆs a place where martial artists level mountains in a single blow, where gods walk the earth, slipping on banana peels in the process, and where a normal teenage human manages to summon the strength necessary to jam a boulder weighing several tons down the throat of a legendary dragon monster. Saving the First Lady from terrorists? ThatÆs par for the course as far as Ranma is concerned. Would it be pushing it in another setting? Given an even standard for what is and isnÆt expected, yes, it probably would. Is it here? No, not at all. If you can swallow Ranma making the Yamata no Orochi swallow a small hill with his bare hands in his female form underwater with no visible effort or strain, then being in the right place at the right time for stopping a terrorist attack is nothing. A trifle at best. Something he does, goes out to lunch, then does again before dinner. A day-to-day occurrence. ItÆs one of the reasons IÆd never want to live in Nirn. Crazy nonsense is going down at all hours of the day. Even on holidays. Leave it to some psychotic klutz of a villain to try and steal Christmas and New Years to keep time from passing, thereby making him immortal. And itÆs not like Ranma can wait until after Labor Day to save humanity. Nooo, he has to do it now. Yes, that means now. No you canÆt finish setting off the fireworks first. You can blow him up instead, though. ThatÆs good enough, isnÆt it? I thought so.
Fantastic things happen in Nirn, because Nirn itself is a fantastic place. For me, thatÆs really all there is to it. My suspension of disbelief for events in the Ranmaverse is nearly unlimited, provided said events are handled in a reasonable and somewhat plausible manner.
And sorry about the essay. I didnÆt mean for it to get quite that long. My bad.
As a general rule for myself, I try to avoid setting an ironclad standard for what is and isn't DeM. It changes from situation to situation, setting to setting, and may or may not be plausible given the context.
Example: In the verse in question, there are certain people who can manifest their spirits into objects, most of which have supernatural powers and abilities. The hero in question has always loved to wander and find new things since he was an infant, and one day as a teenager, finds himself trying to deliver a message from a neighboring city that warns that a military group from an enemy nation is approaching. He gets turned around in the woods as night starts to fall, and is utterly lost. Fearing for his family and loved ones, his spirit manifests in the form of a magical compass to guide him to his goal.
This is not a Deus ex Machina. It is perfectly plausible in the context of the verse, as it explains both the sudden appearance of the device and why said device can solve the problem at hand.
Modified Example: Pondering the skating challenge issued for Akanes hand, Ranma steps outside to get some fresh air. Not looking where he's going, he gets lost in the city, and it's almost time for the showdown. Then, someone shows up and points him in the direction of the rink.
Now, this has the hallmarks of a Deus ex Machina, but this ultimately depends on four things:
1.) Who gave Ranma directions?
2.) Why did they give Ranma directions?
3.) Is it believable to you as a reader? Did you go accept the event, or did it raise an eyebrow?
4.) Is Ranma getting directions from this person going to be important later on? That is to say, is it setting up something to happen later?
If it's just a random bystander, I'd say it's a DeM.
If it's someone from the series who could have believably been wandering the streets at the time, knew about the contest, and would be willing to help him, it isn't DeM, but it's pushing it. Also, it's both DeM and OoC if Ryoga is the one that gives him directions (I doubt I have to explain why).
Did Ranma approach them, or the other way around? Does the event fit with the characters personalities? Is Ranma likely to ask this person (take into account his level of desperation)? Is said person likely to help him? If it's a no to any of these, it's OoC, and by extension, DeM.
Then we have No. 4. Let's say Happosai has been tailing Ranma for some time now, assessing his capacity and ability as a fighter and as a person. Ranma gets lost, and seeing an opportunity to garner influence, appears and offers Ramna directions. This is plausible in an AU situation, and it fits Happosais disposition. He can be surprisingly conniving when he wants to be, and wouldn't pass up the chance to get a potential favor later on. He does this, and Ranma is in his debt, which is something he could take advantage of later on. I would rule that an AU fic that has Happosai appearing 'out of nowhere' (to Ranma, but not completely to the reader) and offering help is plausible and in-character for him.
Also, it's important to note that there's an inherent difference between a Deus ex Machina and a Plot Device. A Plot Device is a device designed to move the story forwards. The One Ring and the Spirit Compass I used in my example are Plot Devices, as is Kage Bushen no jutsu, S2 organs, Excalibur, and any number of other aspects from various stories and series. Most of them aren't Deus ex Machina, but they are Plot Devices.
Plot Devices aren't a bad thing. Indeed, they're necessary to tell an acceptable story, to the extent that I don't think it's even possible to write a story without at least one Plot Device. It's an essential component of a stories structure.
A Deus ex Machina is, simply put, something that breaks your suspension of disbelief. We could get all technical and philosophical about it, but that's essentially what it is. If something doesn't fit, doesn't make sense, or seems strange or out-of-context, even if you can't quite put a finger on what it is about it that irks you, it's probably either a DeM, or some other structural error in the story.
And finally, I'd like to underline just how important the context is. Something acceptable in one verse could be totally unacceptable in another verse or setting. Ultimately, the best tool to tell whether something is DeM or not is your own reaction to it. It's your eyebrow that's being raised, and that should be your yardstick.
I also firmly believe that this is the source of nine out of every ten debates concerning what is or isn't 'right' or 'canon' in a verse. An excellent example is the Rasengan vs Chidori debate, which has happened both here and elsewhere. You can build arguments for both sides, but in the end, it's the readers expectations that rule what they themselves believe.
Naruto is the hero and main character of Naruto. The series is named after him. His place in it should be obvious. Knowing that, most would side with the Rasengan. Not because its mechanics are superior, because it uses less chakra, or anything like that. Fans of the series would mostly side with the Rasengan because it's Narutos Super-Special Technique that was created by his father and taught to him by his fatherÆs sensei. The Rasengan has a legacy. When someone uses the Rasengan, everyone recognizes it for what it is. From the perspective of the reader, the Rasengan is superior to the Chidori simply because itÆs Narutos jutsu, and heÆs the main character. Of course itÆs stronger! ItÆs his special thing! The father he never got to meet invented it, and he was taught it by his fatherÆs teacher, who was himself a legendary ninja. The Rasengan is steeped in prestige. ItÆs a legacy of both the Village Hidden in the Leaves, and of Naruto himself. Compared to the Chidori, which was invented by a shinobi inferior to all three known Rasengan users, requires a Kekkei Genkai to work to its fullest effect, and is associated in every conceivable way with the concept of innate genius and skill, which is (or was) a recurring antagonistic theme in the series? ItÆs no contest, both from a reading perspective and the readerÆs expectations.
Now, is the Chidori superior to the Rasengan as a jutsu? Possibly. In mechanics, IÆd even go so far as to say ælikelyÆ. But just like a plot problem you canÆt quite put your finger on, you simply know that the Rasengan æshouldÆ be the better jutsu, if not by itself, then in the hands of Naruto as the Main Character and Hero.
In the same way, there are some Deus ex Machina that simply defy classification. ItÆs not quite OoC, itÆs not outright uncanonical, and thereÆs nothing you can identify about it that makes it æwrongÆ. But despite that, thereÆs still something that bothers you about it, and that is something that defies logical classification or any rules we might try and make regarding it.
Like I said before, the simplest and most basic definition is when your suspension of disbelief is broken. Most notably when solving a supposedly unsolvable problem, but it can happen at other times as well. And suspension of disbelief varies from person to person. It depends on how analytical and logical they are, how likely they are to immerse themselves in the story as opposed to looking at it objectively, and how much their emotions get involved in the events taking place. What one might see as Deus ex Machina, another might see as nothing more than a Plot Device.
True, there are some things that are so blatantly Deus ex Machina that thereÆs an almost universal consensus about them. Yes, there is an æofficialÆ definition of what Deus ex Machina actually means, and you could apply that to get your answer in the strictest sense of the word. But your suspension of disbelief is a variable that is never quite the same between two people, which in turns causes discussion, debate, and ever out-and-out arguments over the story aspects that are more grey than they are black or white.
Trust me. If itÆs a Deus ex Machina, youÆll probably know as soon as you see it. Everything else (to me, anyway) is nothing more than semantics, nothing more than a never-ending source of fuel to feed the fires of debate. There are certain things people will never stop arguing about, because they ultimately boil down to difference of opinion, either because canon gives nothing one way or the other, or because canon contradicts itself in a way that is never outright resolved by the author. While they can be entertaining to discuss, thereÆs ultimately no point in doing so other than to pass the time, as a consensus will almost certainly not be reached. Not even close.
For everything else? Just use you head. Like that link you provided. While Fallacies has a point, one that I readily admit is mostly correct, you ultimately have to remember the setting in question. Ranma ¢ is a Shonen, a comic aimed at preteen adolescents, mostly boys, which is a group not known for their flawless grasp of reality and physics. ItÆs a place where martial artists level mountains in a single blow, where gods walk the earth, slipping on banana peels in the process, and where a normal teenage human manages to summon the strength necessary to jam a boulder weighing several tons down the throat of a legendary dragon monster. Saving the First Lady from terrorists? ThatÆs par for the course as far as Ranma is concerned. Would it be pushing it in another setting? Given an even standard for what is and isnÆt expected, yes, it probably would. Is it here? No, not at all. If you can swallow Ranma making the Yamata no Orochi swallow a small hill with his bare hands in his female form underwater with no visible effort or strain, then being in the right place at the right time for stopping a terrorist attack is nothing. A trifle at best. Something he does, goes out to lunch, then does again before dinner. A day-to-day occurrence. ItÆs one of the reasons IÆd never want to live in Nirn. Crazy nonsense is going down at all hours of the day. Even on holidays. Leave it to some psychotic klutz of a villain to try and steal Christmas and New Years to keep time from passing, thereby making him immortal. And itÆs not like Ranma can wait until after Labor Day to save humanity. Nooo, he has to do it now. Yes, that means now. No you canÆt finish setting off the fireworks first. You can blow him up instead, though. ThatÆs good enough, isnÆt it? I thought so.
Fantastic things happen in Nirn, because Nirn itself is a fantastic place. For me, thatÆs really all there is to it. My suspension of disbelief for events in the Ranmaverse is nearly unlimited, provided said events are handled in a reasonable and somewhat plausible manner.
And sorry about the essay. I didnÆt mean for it to get quite that long. My bad.
That isn't a DEM - that falls under a different classification, that of a 'unicorn in the garden'. See the appropriate section here. Both of these fall under the suspension of disbelief, really. In your case, the question becomes:
The author is forcing the story to start in some manner. Is this believable? Generally, the answer is that you are allowed one unicorn in the garden. That is, you are allowed one coincidence or extremely unlikely event as a trigger to start off a story. More than that, and suspension of disbelief is broken. Thus, as Lord Raine has said, Ranma is a series wherein the unlikely and strange is overly common; therefore the plot devices that kick off the story don't count as even a single unicorn in the garden. Maybe it's 1/10th of one.
In general, you are allowed a little bit of leeway on this, since suspension of disbelief varies. Possibly, you may be allowed more than just a unicorn - you have both a unicorn and a TARDIS in your garden. Of course, this is only permissable because there is only one unlikely event that spawned both unlikely consequences, and you have to show that this is true before your reader gives up in disgust.
On the other hand, a DEM violates the following issue:
The author is forcing the story to end in some manner. Is this believable?
For this issue, you are allowed no coincidences. The latter the issue that must be resolved, the more stringent this requirement becomes. A good story flows from start to end and is entirely self-contained during the latter half - this means that no new characters, concepts, or plot devices are introduced.
This concept is also related to 'Chekov's Gun', which is the opposite of a DEM - literally, it states that if a gun shows up in the introduction of a play, it must be fired by the third act.
To see an example of how a DEM can be removed, consider the case of the magic compass. For the story to avoid the DEM, you need:
1 - The compass to show up early on in the story and fall into the possession of the character. It may not necessarily need to be introduced as being a magic compass at this point in the story (see: Time Turner, HP&tPoA)
2 - A reasonable explanation must be given to explain why the character has completely ignored the magic compass until he needed it (see: Communication Mirrors, HP&tOotP)
3 - A reasonable explanation must be given to explain how the character suddenly remembers having the magic compass.
In general, if you can show the device or character that will eventually resolve the conflict early on in the story, you avoid DEM. For an example of an author who has really good writing but is horrible in terms of plotting, especially with DEM, see: Terry Goodkind.
The author is forcing the story to start in some manner. Is this believable? Generally, the answer is that you are allowed one unicorn in the garden. That is, you are allowed one coincidence or extremely unlikely event as a trigger to start off a story. More than that, and suspension of disbelief is broken. Thus, as Lord Raine has said, Ranma is a series wherein the unlikely and strange is overly common; therefore the plot devices that kick off the story don't count as even a single unicorn in the garden. Maybe it's 1/10th of one.
In general, you are allowed a little bit of leeway on this, since suspension of disbelief varies. Possibly, you may be allowed more than just a unicorn - you have both a unicorn and a TARDIS in your garden. Of course, this is only permissable because there is only one unlikely event that spawned both unlikely consequences, and you have to show that this is true before your reader gives up in disgust.
On the other hand, a DEM violates the following issue:
The author is forcing the story to end in some manner. Is this believable?
For this issue, you are allowed no coincidences. The latter the issue that must be resolved, the more stringent this requirement becomes. A good story flows from start to end and is entirely self-contained during the latter half - this means that no new characters, concepts, or plot devices are introduced.
This concept is also related to 'Chekov's Gun', which is the opposite of a DEM - literally, it states that if a gun shows up in the introduction of a play, it must be fired by the third act.
To see an example of how a DEM can be removed, consider the case of the magic compass. For the story to avoid the DEM, you need:
1 - The compass to show up early on in the story and fall into the possession of the character. It may not necessarily need to be introduced as being a magic compass at this point in the story (see: Time Turner, HP&tPoA)
2 - A reasonable explanation must be given to explain why the character has completely ignored the magic compass until he needed it (see: Communication Mirrors, HP&tOotP)
3 - A reasonable explanation must be given to explain how the character suddenly remembers having the magic compass.
In general, if you can show the device or character that will eventually resolve the conflict early on in the story, you avoid DEM. For an example of an author who has really good writing but is horrible in terms of plotting, especially with DEM, see: Terry Goodkind.
So a DEM generally solves problems for the character/story in a way that breaks suspension of disbelief.
On the other hand, something that solves the Author's problems is a type of plot device. From what I've read, one story should generally stick to having only one unicorn, which appears in the beginning of the story.
Is there a rule against adding more unicorns to your stable as the story as the story progresses? Intuitively, I'd think that the unicorns wouldn't be able to get along, but what do you think?
Also, it seems to me that adding one crazy assumption in the middle of the story would work both as a plot device and a deus ex. For example: Ranma is sent to the Naruto world, and in one of the arcs, Ranma meets a badguy that he can't defeat unless he creates a miraculous new technique which comes from discovering a third type of energy that exists between chi and chakra, called chikra.
A DEM can be a cliche at the same time if the DEM itself has been used enough times. This whole concept of pretty much every method of getting Ranma into another verse having been done also has no logical conclusion. It just means that Ranma into another universe has been written in many different variations, which has nothing to do with the whether or not the well of near infinite variations and concepts yet to be thought up has run dry.
Even if something already "been done", there's absolutely no reason why anyone with more than two braincells shouldn't be able to add a novel twist of their own.
On the other hand, something that solves the Author's problems is a type of plot device. From what I've read, one story should generally stick to having only one unicorn, which appears in the beginning of the story.
Is there a rule against adding more unicorns to your stable as the story as the story progresses? Intuitively, I'd think that the unicorns wouldn't be able to get along, but what do you think?
Also, it seems to me that adding one crazy assumption in the middle of the story would work both as a plot device and a deus ex. For example: Ranma is sent to the Naruto world, and in one of the arcs, Ranma meets a badguy that he can't defeat unless he creates a miraculous new technique which comes from discovering a third type of energy that exists between chi and chakra, called chikra.
A DEM can be a cliche at the same time if the DEM itself has been used enough times. This whole concept of pretty much every method of getting Ranma into another verse having been done also has no logical conclusion. It just means that Ranma into another universe has been written in many different variations, which has nothing to do with the whether or not the well of near infinite variations and concepts yet to be thought up has run dry.
Even if something already "been done", there's absolutely no reason why anyone with more than two braincells shouldn't be able to add a novel twist of their own.
Frankly, Ranma pulling new techniques/new ways to use his techniques out of his ass is canon.
I've encountered some DeM's in my time that weren't too annoying, but then I've seen some that make me want to break the author's hands so he/she can't writer ever again.
"Unicorn in the Garden" huh? You can throw as many of those as you want in a story as long as they're reasonable and you eventually reveal exactly why you've got a whole stable now. If you've got a good reason, possibly something the reader never expected, you can get away with it. But unless you really think you have something, it's best to limit yourself to one.
If you actually write a story where Unicorns keep appearing in the garden and nobody has any idea why... I'd really salute you. I mean, actual unicorns, not metaphorically. If you did it well. For the total WTF!? factor.
Then of course, there's the matter of whether it's crack or not. Crack allows maximum suspension of disbelief, but ONLY if it's funny. Like Bob And George. There's so many Dues Ex Machinas and Mary Sues in that comic that it ain't even funny. But it is funny, so it isn't annoying. And, of course, one of the characters actually states he's the latest Mary Sue. I think DeM was mentioned too.
I've encountered some DeM's in my time that weren't too annoying, but then I've seen some that make me want to break the author's hands so he/she can't writer ever again.
"Unicorn in the Garden" huh? You can throw as many of those as you want in a story as long as they're reasonable and you eventually reveal exactly why you've got a whole stable now. If you've got a good reason, possibly something the reader never expected, you can get away with it. But unless you really think you have something, it's best to limit yourself to one.
If you actually write a story where Unicorns keep appearing in the garden and nobody has any idea why... I'd really salute you. I mean, actual unicorns, not metaphorically. If you did it well. For the total WTF!? factor.
Then of course, there's the matter of whether it's crack or not. Crack allows maximum suspension of disbelief, but ONLY if it's funny. Like Bob And George. There's so many Dues Ex Machinas and Mary Sues in that comic that it ain't even funny. But it is funny, so it isn't annoying. And, of course, one of the characters actually states he's the latest Mary Sue. I think DeM was mentioned too.
For me, it works like this:
Plot Device - An item/skill/ability that gives a character a set advantage. This advantage may improve as the item/skill/ability is improved or the character becomes more familiar with it (i.e. the variations of the Rasengan seen in PTS).
Deus Ex Machina - A person, place or thing that is used to resolve most/all of the issues currently troubling the character.
To me, a Deus Ex Machina is usually used for no significant reason other than to end the story as quickly as possible, though usually a prerequiste is that the characters cannot solve the problems/situation they're faced with using their current knowledge/abilities/items (at least not the ones presently known to the audience).
Plot Device - An item/skill/ability that gives a character a set advantage. This advantage may improve as the item/skill/ability is improved or the character becomes more familiar with it (i.e. the variations of the Rasengan seen in PTS).
Deus Ex Machina - A person, place or thing that is used to resolve most/all of the issues currently troubling the character.
To me, a Deus Ex Machina is usually used for no significant reason other than to end the story as quickly as possible, though usually a prerequiste is that the characters cannot solve the problems/situation they're faced with using their current knowledge/abilities/items (at least not the ones presently known to the audience).
Deusn Ex Machin lives in real life. Lifke finding twenty quid when youre borke and want a duinrk.
I think Stephent Kinh mentioned somethingh about DEM when he got s his first writing opaychheck to opay a past overdue bill. Or something.
I read it.
can't remenber where,.
Introductiiobny to Bachman boook s maybe?
DEM is litterallty the God from the Machinr who fixeas everything. wikipedophile the thing...
I think Stephent Kinh mentioned somethingh about DEM when he got s his first writing opaychheck to opay a past overdue bill. Or something.
I read it.
can't remenber where,.
Introductiiobny to Bachman boook s maybe?
DEM is litterallty the God from the Machinr who fixeas everything. wikipedophile the thing...
Well most have already stated what I believe a Deus Ex Machina is. Something, a person, thing, entity, etc. used to quickly resolve a problem... without the use of say, a characters skill or intelligence. Or as Wiki put it, "any resolution to a story that does not pay due regard to the story's internal logic and is so unlikely that it challenges suspension of disbelief".
Of course Lord Raine and others added some 'complexity' by asking "Is so-and-so really a DEM?" And I'll agree in that, some things may not be a DEM if it is properly explained in the story. Whether it is canon or fanfiction.
Obvious examples of DEM were, again, the ending of "The Stand" as mentioned (and slightly analyzed) in this thread. Deus Ex Machina in its most... literal form.
Another example was a Star Trek: DS9 episode. A whole fleet was coming through the worm hole ready to cause major destruction. End of the Federation? Yet right before the episode ending, the fleet be gone! THAT is a Deus Ex Machina. I forgot the details on how this miracle happened (not a Trekkie), but yeah. It was hard not to consider this a Deus Ex Machina.
What isn't a DEM? Well, using the 'magic compass' as an example, something that fits into the story's 'internal logic'. If in the third act of a story, the hero JUST so happened to come across a magic compass that points him towards the way, DEM. But, if said magic compass was introduced early, and had a reason the hero didn't think much of it (old. Silly, etc.), not a DEM. Also, there has to be reason why the magic compass is... magical. I.e. if you have a pure sci-fi story, having Harry Potter/Lord of the Rings/Negima/King Arthur/etc. Arcane Magic does not work. Now if it was a compass built by an ancient and advanced species where the arrows always point to a certain crystal that the hero just so needed to head towards, that is something else.
This also goes with the idea of 'suspension of disbelief'. Law and Order, if they started adding magic runes that actually has magic, people would be jumping that shark faster than you could say "Objection!" Yet add a magic wand in Negima, depending on how you explain it, perfectly acceptable. Suspension of disbelief obviously varies given the series. And so, what might be a DEM in one story, use it in another one, wouldn't be one.
At most, you could call the magic compass a plot device of some sort in the example above. Though if you go by Wiki (and who doesn't? :unsure: ), Plot Device is a pretty general term for anything to move the story (and eventually resolve it). A DEM is a Plot Device a bit, some may consider to be a poor one.
Of course Lord Raine and others added some 'complexity' by asking "Is so-and-so really a DEM?" And I'll agree in that, some things may not be a DEM if it is properly explained in the story. Whether it is canon or fanfiction.
Obvious examples of DEM were, again, the ending of "The Stand" as mentioned (and slightly analyzed) in this thread. Deus Ex Machina in its most... literal form.
Another example was a Star Trek: DS9 episode. A whole fleet was coming through the worm hole ready to cause major destruction. End of the Federation? Yet right before the episode ending, the fleet be gone! THAT is a Deus Ex Machina. I forgot the details on how this miracle happened (not a Trekkie), but yeah. It was hard not to consider this a Deus Ex Machina.
What isn't a DEM? Well, using the 'magic compass' as an example, something that fits into the story's 'internal logic'. If in the third act of a story, the hero JUST so happened to come across a magic compass that points him towards the way, DEM. But, if said magic compass was introduced early, and had a reason the hero didn't think much of it (old. Silly, etc.), not a DEM. Also, there has to be reason why the magic compass is... magical. I.e. if you have a pure sci-fi story, having Harry Potter/Lord of the Rings/Negima/King Arthur/etc. Arcane Magic does not work. Now if it was a compass built by an ancient and advanced species where the arrows always point to a certain crystal that the hero just so needed to head towards, that is something else.
This also goes with the idea of 'suspension of disbelief'. Law and Order, if they started adding magic runes that actually has magic, people would be jumping that shark faster than you could say "Objection!" Yet add a magic wand in Negima, depending on how you explain it, perfectly acceptable. Suspension of disbelief obviously varies given the series. And so, what might be a DEM in one story, use it in another one, wouldn't be one.
At most, you could call the magic compass a plot device of some sort in the example above. Though if you go by Wiki (and who doesn't? :unsure: ), Plot Device is a pretty general term for anything to move the story (and eventually resolve it). A DEM is a Plot Device a bit, some may consider to be a poor one.
I was sure they gave it some reason for it to happen. After all, can't have the Federation go bye bye by some massive fleet. But at the same time, when getting rid of said fleet before it arrives, had to give it some plausible reason or you'd lose half the audience.
And I think most DEMs do have 'some' reason for why they happen in the series. They may not be good enough to make them 'not' DEMs, but they have their reasons.
Of course, now the aliens in the wormhole... you can still call it a DEM. After all, they had 'God like powers' to litterally wipe out a fleet. Yeah, controlling an interstellar wormhole can do that. Still... pretty convenient all the same.
And I think most DEMs do have 'some' reason for why they happen in the series. They may not be good enough to make them 'not' DEMs, but they have their reasons.
Of course, now the aliens in the wormhole... you can still call it a DEM. After all, they had 'God like powers' to litterally wipe out a fleet. Yeah, controlling an interstellar wormhole can do that. Still... pretty convenient all the same.
There were several episodes in the Star Trek Voyager series where Janeway ended up traveling in time. A couple to past earth, Harry Kim went to an alternate earth, she has dealt with The Department of Temporal anomalies. Oh, and DEM Year of Hell solution was an big series annoyance and a cop out IMO.