Arc Words: Difference between revisions

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|''[[Doctor Who]]'', "Boom Town"}}

An enigmatic word or phrase that appears, unexplained and without context, here and there throughout an [[Arc]], and (with luck) is finally explained at or near the climax. A way of building up tension and mystery, as well as an indicator that anyone using the words knows more than they're telling. Can also be used as a [[Me Me|memetic]] way of advertising the show. A typical element of a [[Mind Screw]].

An enigmatic word or phrase that appears, unexplained and without context, here and there throughout an [[Arc]], and (with luck) is finally explained at or near the climax. A way of building up tension and mystery, as well as an indicator that anyone using the words knows more than they're telling. Can also be used as a [[Memetic Mutation|memetic]] way of advertising the show. A typical element of a [[Mind Screw]].

'''Arc Words''' can also be a way to hint at [[An Aesop|the Aesop]] or one of the themes of a show, often in the form of a question the characters must find an answer to. Alternately, they can be used for [[Foreshadowing]]. But they are not the same thing as a [[Running Gag]], a [[Catch Phrase]], or even just a phrase that ends up popping up a lot due to being used a lot in the plot.