Definition of 'Pulp'?

[Grimjack]

I know these sorts of questions can be irritating as they are asked so often but I just want to clarify in my own mind what the 'collective consciousness' thinks of when it sees the word 'Pulp'?

To me, it's adventures from 1919 to 1939 but also embraces Mythology like Sinbad and Robin Hood, all the way down to Weird War Two and Post-1945 Spyfi, embracing Cthullu, Noir, The X-Files, James Bond, etc.

Am I right?

[tnjrp]

HTH:
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=52393.0
http://www.vintagelibrary.com/pulpfiction/introduction/What-Is-Pulp-Fiction.php

The common way define genres on this forum does tend to be "what I'm speaking about when I say 'this is <X>' is <X>"

[Argonor]

I think the common definition hereabouts is interwar-high adventure-with fantasy/occult/horror/mythical elements. Or something 

Think Indiana Jones, and King Kong, Tarzan... whatever.

You can game almost any period in a pulp style, though. Only the imagination sets the boundaries.

[Cubs]

I see it as a byproduct of the pulp story genre. If those pulp short stories were written about it - in 'Weird Tales' or whatever - then the setting can be described as 'pulp' too. Think Conan, 30's Detective, Victorian, Edwardian & Georgian Occult, Spy stories, Sci-Fi ... it's a pretty broad brush really.

[MalcyBogaten]

I read once that "Pulp" was defined by the recycled paper used to print these "High Adventure" style short stories and comics of the time.
Not sure whether that's a myth, but it fits all of the above comments.

Don't forget that Batman, Superman and Flash Gordon all came from that era too.

[Driscoles]

I am captured in a time loop ...that is Pulp.

 

[Argonor]

I see it as a byproduct of the pulp story genre. If those pulp short stories were written about it - in 'Weird Tales' or whatever - then the setting can be described as 'pulp' too. Think Conan, 30's Detective, Victorian, Edwardian & Georgian Occult, Spy stories, Sci-Fi ... it's a pretty broad brush really.

I read once that "Pulp" was defined by the recycled paper used to print these "High Adventure" style short stories and comics of the time.
Not sure whether that's a myth, but it fits all of the above comments.

Don't forget that Batman, Superman and Flash Gordon all came from that era too.

Both are, to my knowledge, correct - we just tend to mostly use it for high adventure games set in the interwar period, whereas we define other sub-genres for other periods (like victorian sci-fi, supers, etc.) 

[v_lazy_dragon]

I think Argonor is spot on that these days 'Pulp' has come to mean inter-war adventures, with most other subjects covered in pulp magazines being known by their own genres.
As for ther periods gamed in a pulp style, I've heard modern adventure games (Tomb raider, games based off action movies, etc) referred to as 'Mulp', although as that is simply a contraction  of modern pulp I'm not sure it adds too much!