Lampshade Hanging: Difference between revisions

The reason for this counter-intuitive strategy is two-fold. First, it assures the audience that the author is aware of the implausible plot development that just happened, and that they aren't trying to slip something past the audience. Second, it assures the audience that the world of the story is [[This Is Reality|like]] [[Real Life]]: what's implausible for you or me is just as implausible for these characters, and just as likely to provoke an incredulous response.

 

 

On the other hand, Lampshade Hanging done well can make for an entertaining piece of [[Medium Awareness]] or momentary lack of [[Genre Blindness]]. It can also be used to take care of [[Fridge Logic]], without having to actually do anything.

This practice is also known as "hanging a clock on it", "hanging a lantern on it", or "spotlighting it". In the film industry it's sometimes called "hanging a red flag" on something, after the screenwriting adage, "To hang a red flag on something takes the curse off of it," meaning that to lampshade something decreases the negative effects it might otherwise have. We went with our title because it's the one used in the [[Mutant Enemy]] bullpen.

 

 

Commonly seen in the self-aware shows that make up the [[Deconstructor Fleet]]. If large numbers of lampshades are hung, then the writers believe lampshades are [[Better Than a Bare Bulb]], this [[Trope]]'s [[Logical Extreme]].

 

'''Please note: lampshade hanging does not refer to any time a character refers to, points out, mentions, hints at or namechecks a trope or anything that can be classified as a trope. The act of hanging a lampshade has a specific purpose detailed above. Please consider before saying that something is "lampshaded" if that's truly what's happening. This trope is often misused.'''

 

* [[Lampshade Hanging/Animated Films|Animated Films]]

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