(no subject)

[caramelsilver]

So what's the rule with flashbacks? Can you have a flashback in a flashback or is that just too confusing?

Comments

[ironychan.livejournal.com]

Ovid does it like six times in the Metamorphoses, but I don't know what the rule is when you're not doing epic poetry.

I think The Fly has a flashback within a flashback... but then the whole movie is a flashback.

They gave the dog a flashback in Dracula's Dog.

[caramelsilver.livejournal.com]

So... flashbacks: totally okay?

[ironychan.livejournal.com]

I have no idea... I think really the only thing you should draw from my statements above is that I watch a lot of really weird movies.

[ayascythe.livejournal.com]

Hmm, that's a good question, actually. I guess it depends on how it's done and what effect you want to achieve. You could try to make it understandable or you could leave it confusing on purpose - a little mindfuckery from time to time can be very intriguing. ;)

[caramelsilver.livejournal.com]

I'm really on the very uncomplicated stage as in... Well, I'm telling the story in a flashback, so my question is, is it weird to let another character have a flashback within that um... flashback scene?

[ayascythe.livejournal.com]

I guess it's okay as long as it doesn't happen all the time and the scene in its entirety is still understandable.
You could also mark it as a flashback by writing it in italics. That is done very often.