What did Rian Johnson learn in between making these two films? How to subvert expectations in a satisfying way. Why is the entire internet comparing these two movies? Because they were done by the same director in quick succession. The example that springs to mind is the fizzled mystery of who Rey’s parents are. The Last Jedi is a widely accepted example of it being done wrong. Knives Out is a widely accepted example of “subverting expectations” being done well.įor one thing, it echoes a traditional mystery in many ways, but then changes from a ‘whodunnit’ to a “how will she get away with this” type story. Popular culture gives us many examples of creators subverting the audience’s expectations–both done well and done disastrously. I don’t know about you, but isolated definitions don’t help me much. Verisimilitude helps to promote a reader’s willing suspension of disbelief. It is also one of the most essential literary devices of fiction writing. Having the appearance of truth : PROBABLEĪ theoretical concept that determines the level of truth in an assertion or hypothesis. ( ) Verisimilitude – noun (stay tuned, we’ll get to this) Usually used in the arts when analyzing the reaction of the audience to a performance or piece of writing. To behave contrary to an established belief or assumption for the purpose of being fresh and interesting. Undermine the power and authority of (an established system or institution). Subvert – verb gerund or present participle: subverting Before we begin, SPOILER ALERT! We will be ruining The Last Jedi and Knives Out, so go watch those before reading this. We will talk a lot about movies because they are the most available examples of how to subvert expectations, but this is a principle that you can, and probably should, incorporate into your writing. If you find a good example or think of something I haven’t said, please comment below so we can all learn from each other. Since I have been studying this lately and was having a hard time grasping it, I decided to write down what I have learned and share it with you. This movie felt so revolutionary and perfect, and digging deeper, I found the internet a-buzz with discussions of how this movie used this storytelling tool. By Jessica Thompson, stumbled across the concept of subverting expectations while studying the movie Knives Out.
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