Wham! Line: Difference between revisions

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{{quote|''"I think it can be pretty interesting how a single line in [[Homestuck|a story]], even one that's seven words, can dramatically alter the perception of [[Darkest Hour|everything that just happened]]."''|'''[[Andrew Hussie]]''', via his former [http://dl.dropbox.com/u/40585720/Combined_Formspring_Web_Aug-28-2011.htm#mspadventures154147870025488514 Formspring]}}

Just as a [[Wham! Episode]] is an episode that radically alters the [[Story Arc]], a [[Wham! Line]] is a line of dialogue that radically alters a scene. A scene is set up, plays out as expected, a line totally at odds with the established tone of the scene is uttered, and that line changes the course of the scene dramatically from then on out. The result shocks the audience out of their current mindset, and engages them fresh in the work.

Just as a [[Wham! Episode]] is an episode that radically alters the [[Story Arc]], a '''Wham! Line''' is a line of dialogue that radically alters a scene. A scene is set up, plays out as expected, a line totally at odds with the established tone of the scene is uttered, and that line changes the course of the scene dramatically from then on out. The result shocks the audience out of their current mindset, and engages them fresh in the work.

The audience ''must not'' see the moment ~~coming -- no~~ [[Foreshadowing]], no [[Foregone Conclusion]]s, no contextual clues of any kind. This is a key component of the Wham Line; if the audience is led to believe that something big is coming, no one will be surprised when the big thing ~~happens -- in~~ other words, there will be no "Wham!" (An expected surprise which subverts your expectations as to the nature of the surprise is just that: a [[Subversion]].)

The audience ''must not'' see the moment coming—no [[Foreshadowing]], no [[Foregone Conclusion]]s, no contextual clues of any kind. This is a key component of the Wham Line; if the audience is led to believe that something big is coming, no one will be surprised when the big thing happens—in other words, there will be no "Wham!" (An expected surprise which subverts your expectations as to the nature of the surprise is just that: a [[Subversion]].)

If there was background music playing beforehand, [[Record Needle Scratch|expect it to abruptly come to a stop]] after the line is said.

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[[Category:Spoilered Rotten]]

[[Category:Dialogue]]

[[Category:~~index~~]]

[[Category:Index]]

[[Category:Wham! Line]]

[[Category:One-Liner]]