AI-powered
podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Understanding the Backstage of Narrative Seduction
Retroactive continuity, or retconning, serves as a literary device where established facts within a fictional narrative are adjusted, ignored, or contradicted by new works, emphasizing the importance of understanding the underlying structure of storytelling. This concept parallels various narrative situations, such as recurring character arcs in franchises like Star Wars or South Park, highlighting the significance of the creative 'back of house' that supports the narrative facade. To enhance screenwriting skills, understanding the structure of beats rather than just scenes is crucial, with established beats guiding audience engagement. Additionally, Hollywood employs a technique known as 'spackle' to justify illogical elements within storylines, demonstrating skillful narrative manipulation. The dual role of consumers as both passive recipients and aware participants in their own deception reveals the underlying complexity of narrative engagement. This concept resonates with professional wrestling, where fans, aware of the fiction, willingly participate in the narrative experience, illustrating that effective storytelling invites eager participation rather than coercive engagement.