Exposition - Video Game: Storytelling - page 81

Foreshadowing
The technique of planting relies on the fact that the storyteller, during the
construction of a tale, can move forward and backward through time as
she sees fit, in order to create a satisfying cycle of setup and payoff. Fore-
shadowing is similar to planting in that it lays the groundwork for future
revelations, but it does so with more subtlety and a softer focus.
Foreshadowing is hinting at something that will either happen or will be-
come clearer and potentially important later in the story .
Foreshadowing is usually an enhancement to a story, not a core ele-
ment. A narrative containing foreshadowing could usually survive without
it, but is nevertheless enriched by its inclusion. People are genetically pre-
disposed to try to see meaning in everything, and we love to “connect the
dots.” Foreshadowing presents an unsolvable mystery that ends up provid-
ing a sense of satisfaction when all is made clear.
Foreshadowing can take many shapes, but the most common forms in-
clude warnings, theories, vague predictions, dreams, images, and feelings.
The information rarely makes sense or even seems relevant at the time,
and—like planting—is usually kept subtle so that it doesn't telegraph
something the writer wants to hold back until the right moment.
Some memorable foreshadowing examples from the movies:
▪ RoboCop's secret, classified fourth directive in RoboCop :
▪ The existence of this mysterious directive is initially only known by
RoboCop and the audience, though neither is aware of its con-
tents. Much later on, it's revealed to be a back door command
that prevents RoboCop from arresting Dick Jones, and nearly
leads to the cyborg's destruction.
▪ Doc Brown's repeated warnings to Marty McFly about his actions in
the past potentially impacting the present, in Back to the Future :
▪ Marty and the audience can't understand the true nature of these
warnings, but later on they become clear.
▪ The entire opening sequence, set in the 1950s and featuring Incredi-
Boy, in The Incredibles :
▪ This sequence is not even recognizable as foreshadowing—it's
cleverly disguised as pure setup for Mr. Incredible's eventual, de-