It's all been done... so just give up. Wait no don't that's not what life is about, wait no it is... wait...

Here is an interesting LA Times article on a website that chronicles the unoriginality of anything having to to with and having been done in fiction writing (TV, movies, comic books, novels, etc.). It profiles the website tvtropes.org which lists common cliches that are over used in fiction such as "the unappreciated artist genius knowing the secret to life and being an outcast because of it," "the red headed hero" and the always understood and always popular "ubermensch."

Tropes are, according to tvtropes.org "devices and conventions that a writer can reasonably rely on as being present in the audience members' minds and expectations." So basically if it's on the list you are unoriginal and a pawn of society. JK. I haven't looked too deeply into the website but it seemed cool if you want to talk about originality in writing as well as art.

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/28/entertainment/la-ca-tropes28-2010feb28

Post up any interesting and relevant tropes you find!