What is the Lampshading Technique?
One of the most important aspects of writing is being intentional and aware of our choices. This means not settling for the first or easiest ideas, avoiding laziness in our writing, and staying away from overused clichés or tropes because we can't think of anything better.
When we write with purpose, any clichés, stereotypes, or tropes we include are meticulously chosen to serve the characters and story we are trying to tell.
However, if readers haven't developed trust in us as writers yet, they may see these elements as a sign of laziness.
This is where Lampshading comes in. By highlighting the questionable element and acknowledging its intentional inclusion, we can assure readers that it was purposefully incorporated to convey the message: "We acknowledge this may seem lazy, but trust us, there is a rationale behind it."
4 Techniques for Lampshading an Element
The lampshading technique may not be familiar to everyone, and its applications can be misunderstood. Most articles only mention one aspect of it: using it for comedic effect. However, the technique is far more versatile and beneficial than some blog posts suggest, which advise writers to avoid it altogether.
Lampshading involves acknowledging a jarring element in our story, such as plot holes or implausible events, in order to maintain reader immersion. The goal is to establish trust with readers by showing our storytelling and writing abilities despite any initial doubts they may have.
There are multiple methods we can use to build this trust, which can be categorized from more obvious lampshading to more subtle approaches. Let's explore these categories and discuss when and why we might choose to use lampshading in our writing...
Category #1: Humor
First on the list is the most popular way to use lampshading - making readers feel like they are in on a joke about the writing being lazy. Here, lampshading invites readers to embrace the flaws and see them as part of the story's charm. This method employs lampshading to confidently say, "Trust me!" Did you catch that? It was intentional! Some examples of using this technique successfully (depending on the style and tone of the story, as well as the author's skill) include:
- A character teasing another character about their stereotypical traits, which can make them seem less cliché.
- A character acknowledging the absurdity of plot events, like Hawkeye in Avengers Age of Ultron while fighting robots in a flying city with just a bow and arrow.
- A character setting up implausible actions (such as suddenly becoming an expert in a skill) and then ridiculously explaining how they achieved it ("Night school!").
- A character simply admitting to an illogical plot hole, as seen in Emperor's New Groove when the antagonists somehow arrive before the protagonists.
Category #2: Meta Self-Awareness:
Lampshading is commonly used in a less comical way in this category, but still provides a subtle nod to the audience's awareness. In novels, this often occurs when readers are expected to recognize a genre trope or cliché before it is pointed out - putting characters in the same position as readers who are familiar with the genre and its tropes.
This method uses lampshading to slyly say, "Trust me! We know this cliché, but bear with us." These examples show characters acknowledging familiar tropes and commenting on the situation at hand.
For example, in a contemporary romance novel that features an "arranged marriage" trope, the reader may have a hard time accepting it...unless the characters make similar observations as the readers would, pointing out how it resembles something from a historical romance novel.
A character may also remind readers of the genre in order to explain peculiarities, such as in Firefly when one character exclaims "This sounds like something out of science fiction" and another responds with "Well, you do live in a spaceship."
Other instances include a character mocking the villain for launching into an "evil-plan monologue" or pointing out a cliche, like the use of a maintenance closet as a hiding spot in The Amazing Spider-Man 2.
Category #3: Hand-waved Explanation:
Another common technique for using lampshading is to subtly provide readers with the explanation we have in mind for a questionable issue. When there's no easy way to justify or explain something within our story, we can use a lampshaded moment to provide reassurance that any seeming illogical elements are intentional and not just a mistake.
This approach is particularly useful for addressing plot coincidences or missing character motivations. We may employ techniques similar to those used in Meta or Humor categories, such as anticipating reader reactions or setting up and paying off a joke, but the goal is to sincerely address the questionable element rather than dismiss it with humor.
However, this method can be quite challenging to execute effectively. The more serious our tone, the more subtle our lampshading must be in order to avoid feeling forced or disrupting the emotional flow of the scene. Success will depend on our writing skills, the significance of the issue at hand, the persuasiveness of our explanation, and how it fits into the overall emotional context.
The underlying message conveyed through this method of lampshading is: "Trust me...I have a plan."
Here are a few sincere examples of attempting to hand wave away issues:
A character may comment on their luck in having a necessary justification or solution readily available. ("I'm so glad that store had exactly what we needed.")
A character may explain an inconsistency in the story. ("Wait, wasn't Joe supposed to be here?" "No, he had already made other plans.")
A character may acknowledge and delve into why others may not be aware of a factual or logical explanation for something.
A character may question another character's apparent lack of motivation or questionable actions, such as with a villain who deliberately chooses evil (as seen in No Country for Old Men).
Category #4: Guiding Reader Reactions:
Lampshading can be used in a less well-understood but highly effective way to direct readers' thoughts and emotions. Rather than trying to elicit a specific emotion, this method focuses on preventing readers from going down undesirable paths and instead guiding them towards the intended direction. For example, a subtle clue buried in the subtext, or a problematic issue, can steer readers' attention away from potential plot holes or inconsistencies.
This technique requires skill and subtlety, as the goal is for readers not to even notice it at all. Here are some examples of using lampshading to guide reader reactions: a character notices an inconsistency but is diverted by other events, a character realizes their inconsistent behavior without fully comprehending it yet, and explaining why characters may seem to make illogical decisions. Overall, this method helps prevent reader distractions and strengthens the story's impact.
Like any writing technique, we must strike a balance that suits our story's style and tone. Many criticisms of lampshading stem from its overuse or misuse as a cover-up for poor writing, or to avoid melodrama and criticism. Our goal should always be to build trust with our readers through effective storytelling and writing. Using lampshading as a crutch or avoidance tactic goes against this goal.
When used skillfully and seamlessly, it can enhance the reader's trust in our story without being noticeable. By evaluating its potential to enhance reader trust, we can determine its suitability for our story. With these tips and others provided in my previous guest post, we can effectively use the lampshade technique without compromising our story's integrity.
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