Ontology:Q6892

1. Rudolph was useful (motif)

Characteristics in draft

Properties

item type

S 1:(-)1:(-)1

label (en)

Rudolph was useful (motif)

alias (en)

Rudolph was useful (mistranslation of Japanese figure of speech; interpretation of song)

QID references [Item] 1:(-)1:(-)1

spoken pun

"yaku ni (tatsu)" = "892"

color swatch references [Item]

Difference Existentialism

instance of

fictional motif

prototype notes

plot motif in Christmas movies or similar fictional works when a character supposedly finds acceptance for being different but it falls flat. "Rudolph was useful" is a local joke in the United States about misunderstandings that happened somewhere between Japanese speakers attempting to translate the Rudolph song and Japanese students trying to make sense of the translation. we think the bigger part of the misunderstanding occurred the second time around, as "役に立つ" can be a perfectly positive and complimentary thing to say in the moment, similar to "a towel comes in handy wherever you go", and not very similar to the flat and uncaring connotation of "was useful".

Appearances

appears in work

Rudolph Rankin/Bass [1]

relevant quote

"Everyone makes fun of Rudolph because he is different. He is only ever accepted after his deformity – his red nose – is useful to them." [2]

appears in work

The Angry Birds Movie (2016) [3]