References
- ↑ "tonal whiplash" WordReference forums
- ↑ "How does one avoid Tonal Whiplash" Mystic Scribes Writing Forums
- ↑ "Mood Whiplash" TV Tropes
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Tonal whiplash, sometimes called mood whiplash or emotion whiplash, is a narrative device where, either intentionally or unintentionally, the author of a work creates a sudden and severe shift in the mood or genre between two scenes. [1] It can be invoked as a form of comedy. If done unintentionally, it can result in a lack of immersion. [2]
In episodic media, tonal whiplash can manifest as a stand-alone episode with a lighter or darker plot than the other episodes.
A common form of tonal whiplash is the appearance of an extremely disturbing antagonist in an otherwise light-hearted media. [3]
When a darker moment is juxtapose to a more light-hearted scene around it, it is called a gut punch.
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