History Main / LampshadeHanging

The creators are using the tactic of [[SelfDeprecation self-deprecatingly]] pointing out their own flaws themselves, thus depriving critics and opponents of their ammunition. The Website/TurkeyCityLexicon refers to this flavor of Lampshade Hanging as a "Signal from Fred", and reminds the author that if your characters are complaining about how stupid the latest plot development is, maybe your subconscious is trying to tell you something.

[[caption-width-right:250:''The Order of the Stick'' meta-lampshades Lampshade Hanging.]]
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-->-- '''[[ZerothLawOfTropeExamples Shakespeare]]''', ''Theatre/TwelfthNight'', Act 3, Scene IV

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 has a second meaning outside of the story. '''Try not to get these confused'''

Lampshade Hanging 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.

[[caption-width-right:250:The Order of the Stick meta-lampshades Lampshade Hanging.]]

->'''Fabian:''' [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall If this were played upon a stage now]], I could condemn it as an improbable fiction.

[[caption-width-right:250:The Order of the Stick meta-lampshades Lampshade Hanging.

[[caption-width-right:250:The Order of the Stick [[VisualPun meta-lampshades Lampshade Hanging.]]

[[caption-width-right:250:The Order of the Stick meta-lampshades Lampshade Hanging.]]

[[caption-width-right:250:The Order of the Stick meta-lampshades LampshadeHanging.]]

->'''Sir Toby Belch:''' Isn't possible?

->'''Sir Toby Belch:''' Is't possible?

[[caption-width-right:250:The Order of the Stick [[ParodiedTrope meta]] [[VisualPun lampshades]] [[SelfDemonstratingArticle Lampshade Hanging]].]]

[[caption-width-right:250:The Order of the Stick [[ParodiedTrope meta]] [[VisualPun lampshades]] Lampshade Hanging.]]

The creators are using the tactic of [[SelfDeprecation self-deprecatingly]] pointing out their own flaws themselves, thus depriving critics and opponents of their ammunition. The Webpage/TurkeyCityLexicon refers to this flavor of Lampshade Hanging as a "Signal from Fred", and reminds the author that if your characters are complaining about how stupid the latest plot development is, maybe your subconscious is trying to tell you something.

The creators are using the tactic of [[SelfDeprecation self-deprecatingly]] pointing out their own flaws themselves, thus depriving critics and opponents of their ammunition. The TurkeyCityLexicon refers to this flavor of Lampshade Hanging as a "Signal from Fred", and reminds the author that if your characters are complaining about how stupid the latest plot development is, maybe your subconscious is trying to tell you something.

->'''Sir Toby Belch:''' Is't possible?\\

'''Fabian:''' [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall If this were played upon a stage now]], I could condemn it as an improbable fiction.

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, and PlayingWithATrope. NoFourthWall happens when characters not only discuss {{trope}}s, but the writers as well.

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.

Commonly seen in the self-aware shows that make up the DeconstructorFleet. If large numbers of lampshades are hung, then the writers believe lampshades are BetterThanABareBulb, this {{trope}}'s LogicalExtreme.

** LampshadeHanging/MahouSenseiNegima
** LampshadeHanging/TheWorldGodOnlyKnows

** LampshadeHanging/PhineasAndFerb

Do not confuse with LampshadeWearing.