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| {{about|the narrative device}} | {{about|the narrative device}} | ||
| A '''flashforward''' (also spelled '''flash-forward'''; also called a '''prolepsis''') is a scene that takes the ] forward in time from the current point of the story in |
A '''flashforward''' (also spelled '''flash-forward'''; also called a '''prolepsis''') is a scene that takes the ] forward in time from the current point of the story in literature, film, television and other media.<ref>http://www.thefreedictionary.com/flash-forward</ref> Flashforwards are often used to represent events expected, projected, or imagined to occur in the future. They may also reveal significant parts of the story that have not yet occurred, but soon will in greater detail. It is similar to ], in which future events are not shown but rather implictly hinted at. It is primarily a ] ], named by analogy to the more traditional ] (or analepsis), which reveals events that occurred in the past. | ||
| == Examples in literature == | == Examples in literature == | ||
| An early example of prolepsis which predates the postmodern period is ]' novel '']'', in which the protagonist ] is |
An early example of prolepsis which predates the postmodern period is ]' novel '']'', in which the protagonist ] is shown the future following his death. The subsequent events of the story imply that this future will be averted by this foreknowledge. | ||
| ]' '']'' series features a ] who, when he sleeps, moves forwards and backwards through time to before and after a great cataclysm. This is both ] and ]. | ]' '']'' series features a ] who, when he sleeps, moves forwards and backwards through time to before and after a great cataclysm. This is both ] and ]. | ||
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| Every season of '']'' makes an extensive use of flashforwards, revealing the outcome of the season to the viewer. The whole season then revolves around discovering the circumstances that led to this outcome. For instance, the first season starts with a flashforward of the protagonist, Ellen Parsons, running in the streets of New York, covered in blood. 6 months earlier, she was only a naive young woman who had just become a lawyer in the firm of a powerful attorney, Patty Hewes. What led Ellen to the situation presented in the flashforwards is revealed little by little throughout the season. Furthermore, the series is known for its misleading use of flashforwards, which are often examples of the ] device. | Every season of '']'' makes an extensive use of flashforwards, revealing the outcome of the season to the viewer. The whole season then revolves around discovering the circumstances that led to this outcome. For instance, the first season starts with a flashforward of the protagonist, Ellen Parsons, running in the streets of New York, covered in blood. 6 months earlier, she was only a naive young woman who had just become a lawyer in the firm of a powerful attorney, Patty Hewes. What led Ellen to the situation presented in the flashforwards is revealed little by little throughout the season. Furthermore, the series is known for its misleading use of flashforwards, which are often examples of the ] device. | ||
| After making extensive use of flashbacks, the TV series '']'' used flashforwards throughout the |
After making extensive use of flashbacks in the first two seasons, the TV series '']'' used flashforwards throughout the remainder of the series. The first use of this was in the third season finale: what appeared to be a flashback to before the characters were stranded on the island, was revealed at the end to be a flashforward of them returned to civilization. A later episode featured what appeared to be flashforwards involving the couple Jin and Sun, showing him safely returned home and awaiting the birth of his baby, but it is then revealed that Jin's scenes were flashbacks and Sun's were flashforwards. | ||
| The series finale of '']'', "]", uses a |
The series finale of '']'', "]", uses a technique similar to a flashforward. It depicts a future in which the U.S.S. ''Voyager'' has returned home after decades lost in deep space with various personal tragedies, prompting the ship's captain to use ] to return to the timeframe of the series and return the crew home more directly. | ||
| The U.S. ] TV series '']'' |
The U.S. ] TV series '']'' revolves around everyone on Earth losing consciousness for 137 seconds, during which each person experiences a glimpse of events 6 months in the future.<ref>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1441135</ref> | ||
| British soap opera '']'' flashed forward six months in May 2010 for a special episode.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s13/hollyoaks/news/a191387/hollyoaks-to-air-flashforward-episode.html|title=Hollyoaks to air flashforward episode|publisher=Digital Spy|first=Kris|last=Green|date=15 December 2009|accessdate=2009-12-15}}</ref> | British soap opera '']'' flashed forward six months in May 2010 for a special episode.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s13/hollyoaks/news/a191387/hollyoaks-to-air-flashforward-episode.html|title=Hollyoaks to air flashforward episode|publisher=Digital Spy|first=Kris|last=Green|date=15 December 2009|accessdate=2009-12-15}}</ref> | ||
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| The last episode of '']'' has an extensive flashforward depicting the deaths of all the central characters as they unfold. | The last episode of '']'' has an extensive flashforward depicting the deaths of all the central characters as they unfold. | ||
| '']'' uses flashforwards throughout its second season showing a mystery regarding debris and corpses in Walter White's house and neighborhood, revealed to be the result of two planes crashing overhead. The first half of the fifth season begins with a flashforward one year into the future where |
'']'' uses flashforwards throughout its second season showing a mystery regarding debris and corpses in Walter White's house and neighborhood, revealed to be the result of two planes crashing overhead. The first half of the fifth season begins with a flashforward one year into the future where Walter is fifty-two years old, and the second half begins with a continuation of the story, where he returns to his abandoned home. The plot of these flashforwards is resumed in the ]. | ||
| == Examples in film == | == Examples in film == | ||
| Midway through the film '']'', there is an abrupt flashforward when Robert, the character played by ], is seen being thrust into a |
Midway through the film '']'', there is an abrupt flashforward when Robert, the character played by ], is seen being thrust into a jail cell by a police officer, even though he has done nothing to provoke such treatment. The audience is notified, later in the story, that Sarrazin's character would have indeed made choices that warrant his arrest. | ||
| == See also == | == See also == | ||
Revision as of 13:58, 14 October 2015
This article is about the narrative device. For other uses, see Flashforward (disambiguation).A flashforward (also spelled flash-forward; also called a prolepsis) is a scene that takes the narrative forward in time from the current point of the story in literature, film, television and other media. Flashforwards are often used to represent events expected, projected, or imagined to occur in the future. They may also reveal significant parts of the story that have not yet occurred, but soon will in greater detail. It is similar to foreshadowing, in which future events are not shown but rather implictly hinted at. It is primarily a postmodern narrative device, named by analogy to the more traditional flashback (or analepsis), which reveals events that occurred in the past.
Examples in literature
An early example of prolepsis which predates the postmodern period is Charles Dickens' novel A Christmas Carol, in which the protagonist Ebenezer Scrooge is shown the future following his death. The subsequent events of the story imply that this future will be averted by this foreknowledge.
Terry Brooks' Word & Void series features a protagonist who, when he sleeps, moves forwards and backwards through time to before and after a great cataclysm. This is both analepsis and prolepsis.
Muriel Spark makes extensive use of prolepsis in her novel The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.
Examples in television
Every season of Damages makes an extensive use of flashforwards, revealing the outcome of the season to the viewer. The whole season then revolves around discovering the circumstances that led to this outcome. For instance, the first season starts with a flashforward of the protagonist, Ellen Parsons, running in the streets of New York, covered in blood. 6 months earlier, she was only a naive young woman who had just become a lawyer in the firm of a powerful attorney, Patty Hewes. What led Ellen to the situation presented in the flashforwards is revealed little by little throughout the season. Furthermore, the series is known for its misleading use of flashforwards, which are often examples of the red herring device.
After making extensive use of flashbacks in the first two seasons, the TV series Lost used flashforwards throughout the remainder of the series. The first use of this was in the third season finale: what appeared to be a flashback to before the characters were stranded on the island, was revealed at the end to be a flashforward of them returned to civilization. A later episode featured what appeared to be flashforwards involving the couple Jin and Sun, showing him safely returned home and awaiting the birth of his baby, but it is then revealed that Jin's scenes were flashbacks and Sun's were flashforwards.
The series finale of Star Trek: Voyager, "Endgame", uses a technique similar to a flashforward. It depicts a future in which the U.S.S. Voyager has returned home after decades lost in deep space with various personal tragedies, prompting the ship's captain to use time travel to return to the timeframe of the series and return the crew home more directly.
The U.S. sci-fi TV series FlashForward revolves around everyone on Earth losing consciousness for 137 seconds, during which each person experiences a glimpse of events 6 months in the future.
British soap opera Hollyoaks flashed forward six months in May 2010 for a special episode.
The last episode of Six Feet Under has an extensive flashforward depicting the deaths of all the central characters as they unfold.
Breaking Bad uses flashforwards throughout its second season showing a mystery regarding debris and corpses in Walter White's house and neighborhood, revealed to be the result of two planes crashing overhead. The first half of the fifth season begins with a flashforward one year into the future where Walter is fifty-two years old, and the second half begins with a continuation of the story, where he returns to his abandoned home. The plot of these flashforwards is resumed in the series finale.
Examples in film
Midway through the film They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, there is an abrupt flashforward when Robert, the character played by Michael Sarrazin, is seen being thrust into a jail cell by a police officer, even though he has done nothing to provoke such treatment. The audience is notified, later in the story, that Sarrazin's character would have indeed made choices that warrant his arrest.
See also
References
- http://www.thefreedictionary.com/flash-forward
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1441135
- Green, Kris (15 December 2009). "Hollyoaks to air flashforward episode". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2009-12-15.
External links
The dictionary definition of flashforward at Wiktionary
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