Talk:Plot twist/Archive 1

Plot twists
Now I'd have said a Plot Twist was an unexpented event that changed the viewers perspective of the parts of the film that precede it. This would be like the mentioned M. Night Sylaman films and The Usual Suspects. What is described in the article I would call a plot turn, or an unexpected ending (like the Twilight Zone) but I have no film school training and maybe there is anotehr term that describes the kind of development that I am thinking of Nli10 22:31, 22 October 2005 (UTC)


 * Does Shamalayan really need to be singled out for plot twists? I want to remove the reference (the link for film plot twists is appropriate) unless anyone feels differently. I'll remove it after January 1st. --Happylobster 20:28, 27 December 2005 (UTC)

Plot twists in TV
The plot twist is widely used in adult-oriented animated series like The Simpsons, and was used mockingly during the final episode of the Drawn Together animated TV series, where every 5 minutes a plot twist was announced with a screen showing this phrase.

I added this information about The Simpsons and Drawn Together, where the last chapter has about 7 plot twists. Da nuke 08:56, 11 January 2006 (UTC)

Plot Twists in Films
I added a bit of info about plot twists in movie.

The plot twist is also common in some films. Many directors, such as the late Stanley Kubrick (in Full Metal Jacket and slightly in The Shining) and M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, Signs, etc) use plot twists in their films, and is an effective technique when it comes to surprising and winning over the audience. StevenNemes (talk) 19:21, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

The aesthetics of the plot twist
This probably needs a more informed editor and a cite, but the mention of "expected" vs. "unexpected" plot twists makes me think we should discuss here the "aesthetics" of a plot twist. To wit: a plot twist is generally considered successful if it arises intrinsically from the plot and casts the story in an intriguing new light. Plot twists can often feel "tacked on" and extrinsic to the story. Both M. Night Shyamalan and The Simpsons have been criticized for these kinds of "tacked on" plot twists.

Also, a successful plot twist will often involve subtle foreshadowing which makes the audience feel they might have or should have guessed what the twist would be. Good plot twists should strike a balance between novelty and anticipation, leaving the audience feeling they have been surprised but not cheated (as is often the case with a "deus ex machina" plot twist).

All of the above is, in a sense, original research, but a well-informed editor should be able to produce countless citations along these lines. Starting, I imagine, with Aristotle's Poetics. Clconway 14:19, 23 April 2007 (UTC)


 * The article on foreshadowing develops some of these ideas. Clconway 14:26, 23 April 2007 (UTC)

Congrats
The article is now worthless and uninformative. GOOD JOB! JAF1970 07:21, 13 November 2007 (UTC)
 * I'm not exactly sure how an article on plot twists can be informative. It's a concept that most literate people already understand. I do agree that it is somewhat shorter than an article should be, but that's why it's called a stub. Why don't you actually contribute and fix it? It gets a lot more accomplished than just complaining....
 * -- trlkly 22:03, 19 November 2007 (UTC)