shallow characters
[ˈʃæloʊ ˈkærɪktərz]
noun phrase
personagens superficiais
1. Literary or dramatic characters that lack depth, complexity, development, or psychological realism; one-dimensional figures with minimal emotional or intellectual nuance
The movie was criticized for its shallow characters that failed to engage the audience emotionally.
O filme foi criticado por seus personagens superficiais que falharam em envolver emocionalmente o público.
2. Characters in a narrative that are defined by stereotypes or clichés rather than individual traits and motivations
Many romance novels feature shallow characters who exist only to advance the plot.
Muitos romances de ficção científica apresentam personagens superficiais que existem apenas para avançar a trama.
This term is commonly used in both American and Brazilian literary criticism and entertainment discourse. In Brazil, film and telenovela critics frequently critique shallow characters when discussing quality of storytelling. In the USA, this is a standard critique in academic literary analysis and among cinephiles. The phrase reflects contemporary expectations for character complexity in quality entertainment across both cultures.
NYC Slang
flat characters; cardboard cutouts; cookie-cutter chars
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