Troperiffic Tuesday: Lampshade Hanging

Chick 1 says:

What does this week’s trope have in common with your crazy Uncle Irwin?  Both wear a lampshade!  The trope this week is a trope about tropes.  Confused yet?  Then let’s learn about Lampshade Hanging.

Lampshade Hanging is sometimes used when a particular trope is glaringly obvious and threatens to distract from the story.  A trope is standing in the middle of the room in all it’s naked glory and the writer thinks that if he puts a lampshade on it, the audience will simply think it’s part of the scenery.  How does he do this?  By addressing the trope directly and calling it out.  Does it work?  If done correctly it does.

Take the show Lost.  After the first few episodes of Lost, it became a little strange that none of the survivors of the plane crash, with the exception of the US Marshal who died, had any serious injuries or scars.  To address this, the writers had Sayid note that very fact when he and Kate were discussing their situation on the island.  He took the same position as the audience, “Don’t you think it’s a little odd?”  With that sentence, the survivors’ good health went from being a contrivance to another piece of the mystery they were trying to solve.

This also let the audience know that the characters expect the rules that apply to our world to apply to the world they inhabit too.  Once again, this helps the audience know what to expect.  Lost was a fantasy show but the writers wanted the fans to relate to the characters (Lost was very character driven in its heyday) and see them respond as the audience would.

Lampshade Hanging can be used in a drama like Lost or in mysteries when the plot doesn’t quite make sense or something is a little too convenient.   You’ll often hear a character question why everything happens to him/her.  Because you’re the hero; that’s why.  Like in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince when McGonagall asks, “Why is it always you three?”  Ron wonders too, “Believe me, Professor, I’ve been asking myself the same thing for the past six years.”

In the most recent Star Trek movie, director JJ Abrams practically addressed the audience directly, especially the Trekkies, during the conversation where the crew figures out that Nero has come from the future and changed their lives. When Spock states, “Whatever our lives might have been if the time continuum was disrupted — our destinies have changed,” he’s basically saying, “Look, the entirety of Star Trek history is intact but now we’ve rebooted and can start over with a whole new universe.” Genius, in my opinion.

It can also be played for comedy, especially with modern audiences that are so familiar with tropes.  In The Mummy, after Evy mentions the Book of the Dead a mysterious breeze flickers the fire.   Rick notes, “That happens a lot around here.”  The Muppets make frequent use of this trope too.  “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were reciting some sort of important plot point.”

This is a very popular trope in animation.  The Emperor’s New Groove is packed with them.  “What are the odds of that trapdoor leading me here?”  The lead characters even have a discussion about how Yzma and Kronk managed to beat Kuzco and Pancha back to the “secret” lab.  “By all accounts, it doesn’t make sense.”  And one of my favorites, “For the last time, we did not order a giant trampoline!”  “Ya know, pal, ya could have told me that before I set it up.”

Movies like Shrek and Galaxy Quest use this trope to actually create a sort of deconstruction of their genre, taking apart the typical plot (fairy tales and scifi, respectively) and lampshading trope after trope.

This week for your viewing pleasure, I present two different Lampshade Hangings on the same trope.  First up, professional Lampshade Hangers, The Muppets, deftly use Montage to their advantage.

Next up, Robot Chicken personifies the Montage trope itself with…Montage Man!

Posted on by Chick 1 in Tropes 240 Comments

240 Responses to Troperiffic Tuesday: Lampshade Hanging

  1. Belindaatomi

    Nicely put. Kudos!
    best online live casino sites https://uscasinoguides.com/betting-sites/ gta online casino heist how to unlock all crew members

  2. Donogbrit

    Cheers. Ample advice.
    make money on online casino new usa online casinos real money casino online betasia.top

  3. Buintondof

    Well voiced truly! !
    dreams casino online no deposit bonus codes best online casinos for usa casino film online free

  4. Olaflok

    Thank you. Quite a lot of postings.
    free online casino games with friends casino online play free agen judi sbobet slot casino online

  5. BeadutunRef

    Wonderful write ups. With thanks!
    are online casinos legit new casino online casino online mexico paypal

  6. GilleskaM

    Thanks, Ample information.
    new hampshire casino online best online casino bonuses sweeps casino online

  7. Donogbrit

    Superb data. Regards.
    1 online casino canada online usa casinos hack online casino software

  8. Buintondof

    You made your point!
    best online blackjack casinos biggest online casino royal casino vegas online

  9. BeadutunRef

    Regards. Ample info!
    apply online soaring eagle casino casino online no deposit bonus youtube online casino

  10. Quentfaups

    Very good write ups, Kudos.
    dragonara casino malta online new usa online casinos with no deposit bonuses 500 no deposit bonus online casinos accepting usa players

  11. GilleskaM

    Effectively expressed truly! .
    alantic city gden nugget casino online new online usa casinos new online casino 2014

  12. Awinitabrorb

    You actually explained that perfectly.
    tango casino online new casino online online sportsbook and casino

  13. Buintondof

    Thank you! Valuable information.
    new casino online europe no deposit online casino usa dansk online casino

  14. BeadutunRef

    With thanks. I enjoy this.
    gta online diamond casino cars casino games online free slotsmillion online casino review

  15. Olaflok

    Thanks a lot! Quite a lot of posts!
    what online casino accepts paypal online casinos with no deposit bonus electric avenue online casino

  16. HalimahPex

    You reported that effectively!
    free online casino multi line slots casino games online free best online casino low deposit

  17. SewardRer

    Kudos. A lot of forum posts.
    online casino free spins win real money no deposit online casino casino online ecopayz

  18. Quentfaups

    Kudos. Useful stuff.
    play money casino games online american casino online 2019 online casino bonus codes

  19. Donogbrit

    Thanks a lot, Lots of data.
    game juwa online casino online casino welcome bonus online casino sites uk

  20. Awinitabrorb

    Very well spoken certainly! !
    10 dollar deposit online casino us online casinos online casino complaints

  21. Buintondof

    You said it nicely..
    buy seo backlinks for online casino no deposit bonus online casino pa online casino site

  22. CiprianaObjef

    Thank you. Quite a lot of information!
    online casino casino games deposit bonus casino online online casino bg

  23. SewardRer

    You made your point.
    online casino payout percentages no deposit casino bonus usa online casinos online live casino malaysia

  24. GilleskaM

    Beneficial material. Appreciate it!
    casino days online casino play casino online starburst casino game play free online

  25. Donogbrit

    You’ve made your position quite clearly..
    casino online colorado online gambling casino best online casino bonus nz

  26. Buintondof

    Useful data. Thanks a lot!
    online casino test chip best paying online casino online casinos outside uk

  27. BeadutunRef

    You have made your point extremely clearly!!
    real casino games online real money free casino games online list of online casinos in italy

  28. HalimahPex

    Incredible quite a lot of superb data.
    west virginia online casino promotions new online usa casinos como se juega al casino online

  29. cryptoboss casino официальный сайт зеркало

    Удача ждет вас на сайте Cryptoboss Casino
    cryptoboss официальный сайт игорный клуб криптобосс официальный .

  30. Quentfaups

    Regards. I value this!
    free sign on bonus online casino best online casinos unibet pa online casino

  31. Awinitabrorb

    Wonderful forum posts, Thanks.
    vegas casino online free spins best online usa casino how do you know if an online casino is legit

  32. Donogbrit

    With thanks! Helpful stuff.
    a online casino united states online casino rich palms casino online

  33. CiprianaObjef

    Superb information. Many thanks!
    online casino quick payout online casinos with no deposit bonus best 2019 online casino us

  34. Olaflok

    With thanks! A good amount of stuff.
    bandar casino dadu online casino online no deposit online casino android real money

  35. BeadutunRef

    With thanks. Lots of forum posts.
    best online casino real money philippines top online casinos bch online casino

  36. HalimahPex

    You actually mentioned it well!
    bwin online casino philippines free casino online games paysafe online casino australia

  37. Quentfaups

    Wow a good deal of useful data!
    utah casino online online casino for real money usa how to do diamond casino heist gta 5 online

  38. cryptoboss casino вход

    Увлекательное казино Cryptoboss ждет вас, станьте победителем вместе с королем криптовалютных игр, возможность выиграть крупный джекпот, попробуйте удачу в казино Cryptoboss, Cryptoboss casino – ваш путь к успеху, Cryptoboss casino – ваш лучший выбор, испытайте свою удачу в казино Cryptoboss, участвуйте в захватывающих играх в Cryptoboss casino, взломай банк с Cryptoboss casino, играйте и выигрывайте с лучшим криптовалютным казино, достижения и успехи вместе с Cryptoboss casino, Cryptoboss casino – ваш путеводитель в мире криптовалютных игр, получите криптовалютные призы в Cryptoboss casino, встречайте криптовалютного короля в казино, Cryptoboss casino – ваше казино удачи, присоединяйтесь к лидерам в мире криптовалютных игр с Cryptoboss casino.
    сайт cryptoboss casino сайт cryptoboss casino .

  39. GilleskaM

    Seriously many of useful advice!
    online casino neteller deposit gambling casino online accounts teller online casino

  40. Donogbrit

    Fine content. Thanks!
    lucky 88 online casino best online casinos usa google pay online casino

  41. CiprianaObjef

    Kudos! Lots of material.
    nl online casino online casinos with no deposit bonus online casino advertised on tv

  42. Buintondof

    You said it well!
    speedy online casino no deposit online casino real money online casino free spins no deposit

  43. BeadutunRef

    Very good posts, Appreciate it.
    casino online baccarat best online casino games dr slot online casino

  44. Buintondof

    You said it perfectly.!
    ny casino online online casino sites uk online casino no deposit bonus

  45. BeadutunRef

    Information effectively regarded..
    are online casinos legal in usa online casino sign up bonus online casino with free sign up bonus

  46. HalimahPex

    With thanks. Loads of data!
    no deposit online casino bonus codes usa 2020 new usa online casinos with no deposit bonuses best online casino gambling sites

  47. Olaflok

    Fantastic posts. Thanks!
    milky way 777 online casino usa casino online bangladeshi online casinos

  48. Awinitabrorb

    Appreciate it! Quite a lot of content!
    mohegan sun online casino customer service casino online canada free online casino games win real money no deposit australia

  49. Awinitabrorb

    With thanks, Plenty of knowledge.
    treasure mile casino online free online casinos pulze online casino

Add a Comment