History Main / LampshadeHanging

Lampshade Hanging (or, more informally, "Lampshading") is the writers' trick of dealing with any element of the story that threatens the audience's WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief, whether a very implausible plot development or a particularly blatant use of a {{trope}}, by calling attention to it and simply moving on.

** In the first case of ''VisualNovel/ApolloJusticeAceAttorney'', Apollo lets out a very loud [[CatchPhrase "OBJECTION!"]], and promptly gets scolded by the judge and his mentor Kristoph: "Excess yelling can damage the judge's ears... and our case."
** ''VisualNovel/AceAttorneyInvestigationsMilesEdgeworth'' features a point in the final case in which, just as the true BigBad looks like he's won, some one shouts out [[CatchPhrase "HOLD IT!"]]. After some dramatic close ups of everyone's shock faces and a tense silence as you wait to see who the BigDamnHero is, it turns out that the one who saved the day is!...Some random forensic officer who has no name, profile or any relevance to anything at all...

Lampshade Hanging (or, more informally, "Lampshading") is the writers' trick of dealing with any element of the story that threatens the audience's WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief, whether a very implausible plot development, or a particularly blatant use of a {{trope}}, by calling attention to it and simply moving on.

On the other hand, Lampshade Hanging done well can make for an entertaining piece of MediumAwareness or momentary lack of GenreBlindness. It can also be used to take care of FridgeLogic, without having to actually do anything. For this reason, it can either be seen as making a bad movie even worse or as adding clever writing and humour.

At times you may even just have a PuffOfLogic, because of this.

HypocrisyNod and InspirationNod are specific types of this. MetaGuy is the fellow who does this all the time. Sometimes takes the form of ThisIsThePartWhere. Compare DiscussedTrope, PostModernism and PlayingWithATrope. NoFourthWall happens when characters not only discuss {{trope}}s, but the writers as well.

* ''Radio/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'': The Infinite Improbability Drive. Creator/DouglasAdams admitted that, having created a situation where anything that saved the heroes would be a ContrivedCoincidence, the only possible solution was to point it out, and then have them rescued with a [[ItRunsOnNonsensoleum Nonsensoleum]] space-drive that ''created'' Contrived Coincidences.

* The Warner Brother's Animaniacs animated series, though without specific citation here, likely includes this trope in each, and every, episode. Citing welcome, though the show itself is a sea of examples from SelfDemonstratinArticle page.

--->'''Lang''': The [[PluckyComicRelief comedic relief]] jumps to the aide of his master... How Cliché.

This assures the audience that the author is aware of the implausible plot development that just happened, and that they aren't trying to slip something past the audience. It also assures the audience that the world of the story is [[ThisIsReality like]] RealLife: what's implausible for you or me is just as implausible for these characters, and just as likely to provoke an incredulous response.

* The Wiki/TVTropes logo!

%% Image kept on page per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1368711771097638000

* In the third case of ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyTrialsAndTribulations'', when Phoenix meets his supposed EvilTwin, he remarks that the two of them look and act nothing alike.
** For clarification, Phoenix has been told he lost a case by several characters, with what was apparently the most miserable defense any of them have ever seen. His supposed EvilTwin was the one who lost the case pretending to be him. [[TooDumbToLive None of them ever realized he wasn't Phoenix]].

!!Example Subpages;

!!Other Examples:

* In ''Literature/{{Tasakeru}}'', two characters, a Paladin Grand Mistress and her daughter, both use {{BFS}}' with ImplausibleFencingPowers. It's stated that they're just that good and never mentioned again.

Once again, LampshadeHanging is when attention is drawn to something that is so strange it threatens to break the WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief. LeaningOnTheFourthWall is for things which make sense in the story but also have a second meaning outside of the story. '''Try not to get these confused.'''

* ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaV3KillingHarmony'': * When you go to one of the classrooms to ask Korekiyo for his alibi, he says that he was in the cafeteria eating dinner prepared by the Monokuma Kubs. Their dish was apparently called:

-->'''Monophanie''': That's too sad to make sense!
-->'''Monosuke''': That's pops for ya!

* ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'' as well is fond of these

The reason for this counter-intuitive strategy is two-fold. First, it assures the audience that the author is aware of the implausible plot development that just happened, and that they aren't trying to slip something past the audience. Second, it assures the audience that the world of the story is [[ThisIsReality like]] RealLife: what's implausible for you or me is just as implausible for these characters, and just as likely to provoke an incredulous response.

* ''VisualNovel/DAnganronpaV3KillingHarmony'': * When you go to one of the classrooms to ask Korekiyo for his alibi, he says that he was in the cafeteria eating dinner prepared by the Monokuma Kubs. Their dish was apparently called:

-->'''Monophanie''': [[LampshadeHanging That's too sad to make sense]]!