Weekly Theme

Weekly Theme for September 22: Breaking the Fourth Wall

For those who are not familiar with this phrase, according to the fourth wall entry in Wikipedia: The fourth wall is the imaginary wall at the front of the stage in a proscenium theater, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play. It was made explicit by Denis Diderot and spread in nineteenth century theatre with the advent of theatrical realism. Critic Vincent Canby described it in 1987 as "that invisible screen that forever separates the audience from the stage.'"

Therefore, "Breaking the fourth wall" refers to a situation in which a character reveals his or her awareness of the audience (this can also be called metatheatre). The technique has been used for millennia: it was standard practice in Greek comedy. (also quoted from Wikipedia)

Are you still following me? It's like that scene in Animal House when John Belushi's character climbs the ladder to peep into the girls dorm window, then as he arrives at the top, he turns to the camera and winks at the audience. This occurs quite often in comedies, especially Mel Brooks type spoofs.

The Muppets and Looney Toones are also notorious for interfacing with the audience in this way.

I think my favorite example of breaking the fourth wall is Michael Haneke's Funny Games. This film not only breaks the fourth wall, it does it in way to deliberately frustrates the audience and let us know who's really in charge. I haven't seen the American remake yet, but I'm a little skeptical that he used as much of this technique as he did with the original.

So that's about it. What is your favorite scene that breaks the proverbial fourth wall? Or, do you hate the whole concept? I like it.

Re:Weekly Theme for September 22: Breaking the Fourth Wall

This is a really weird one. Not something you think about very often, good topic. I find that this has a very long lineage in drama in general; just look at Shakespeare. Kenneth Bragnaugh's "Hamlet" has more than the other version I have seen, but "Titus", "Richard III", and "A Mid Summers Night Dream" are the fourth wall breakers that come to my mind. Clearly this goes past Shakespeare stuff but that is what came to mind. Good topic.

Re:Weekly Theme for September 22: Breaking the Fourth Wall

You can't do this list without mentioning "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." That movie is almost halfway composed of fourth-wall shattering moments. Plus it's just awesome.

Re:Weekly Theme for September 22: Breaking the Fourth Wall

The_American_Dream:

This is a really weird one. Not something you think about very often, good topic. I find that this has a very long lineage in drama in general; just look at Shakespeare. Kenneth Bragnaugh's "Hamlet" has more than the other version I have seen, but "Titus", "Richard III", and "A Mid Summers Night Dream" are the fourth wall breakers that come to my mind. Clearly this goes past Shakespeare stuff but that is what came to mind. Good topic.

Yes, I was hoping someone would mention Titus because the way Taymor directed that one was very odd. It was like a movie of a play within a movie. Keep in mind, this was Julie Taymor's first film but she was allready an award winning and very accomplished theatrical director.

Re:Weekly Theme for September 22: Breaking the Fourth Wall

indieabby88:

You can't do this list without mentioning "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." That movie is almost halfway composed of fourth-wall shattering moments. Plus it's just awesome.

He he good stuff.

Re:Weekly Theme for September 22: Breaking the Fourth Wall

Eddie Murphy, before he wore fat suits in every movie, turned to the audience and smiled that great smirk that said you and I both know what's going on in Beverly Hills Cop.

And all of "Jack'"'s monologues in Fight Club broke the fourth wall.

Re:Weekly Theme for September 22: Breaking the Fourth Wall

leeroy711:

I think my favorite example of breaking the fourth wall is Michael Haneke's Funny Games. This film not only breaks the fourth wall, it does it in way to deliberately frustrates the audience and let us know who's really in charge. I haven't seen the American remake yet, but I'm a little skeptical that he used as much of this technique as he did with the original.

That's one of my favorite moments in Funny Games.  What brilliance.  I haven't seen the new one either, so I don't know how to comment.

Meta-theatre and meta-film have always been subjects of great fascination for me, and what I tend to gravitate towards in writing.  I've written a few pieces of meta-theatre and am currently writing a film scrip that is extreme meta-film.  I can't reveal the idea to you because I don't want anyone to steal it.  But my opinion is that every movie that uses this concept so far has totally pussied out.  No one has gone far enough.  And if you don't go far enough, it really doesn't make any sense.  There are all kinds of contractions that really just pisses me off.  I have a very logical mind about it.  Maybe I'm not making any sense since I'm not giving any practical examples, but maybe once my movie is made some day and I'm rabidly advertising it on Spout you will see what I mean.

Re:Weekly Theme for September 22: Breaking the Fourth Wall

In honor of my sister Christi I must mention the Muppet's Christmas Carol as an excellent example of 4th wall breakage!

Also, that terrible movie with Brendan Frazier, George of the Jungle, where some of the character actually interact with the narrator.

Re:Weekly Theme for September 22: Breaking the Fourth Wall

leeroy711:

The_American_Dream:

This is a really weird one. Not something you think about very often, good topic. I find that this has a very long lineage in drama in general; just look at Shakespeare. Kenneth Bragnaugh's "Hamlet" has more than the other version I have seen, but "Titus", "Richard III", and "A Mid Summers Night Dream" are the fourth wall breakers that come to my mind. Clearly this goes past Shakespeare stuff but that is what came to mind. Good topic.

Yes, I was hoping someone would mention Titus because the way Taymor directed that one was very odd. It was like a movie of a play within a movie. Keep in mind, this was Julie Taymor's first film but she was allready an award winning and very accomplished theatrical director.

Yeah, thanks for highlighting the complexity of that one. There is allot more to her presentation of it than meets the eye; the speaking characters break it to us, the audience, as is somewhat common place. But there is also another spectator to the whole ordeal which throws a whole different perspective on the movie giving it allot of depth. "Titus" is unique really and Taymor's work with it draws allot on choreography and stage work that other directors lack.

"Titus" is also just really bad-ass.

Re:Weekly Theme for September 22: Breaking the Fourth Wall

I dont know about first examples or whatever,but Groucho did it all the time didnt he?. Not so remarkable really 'coz they were a music hall (vaudeville) act. When the "filmspotting" podcasters talked about this a while back,one glaring omission was "A Clockwork Orange".."viddy well little brother" delivered to the camera as Alex is about to rape Adrienne Corri..in fact i think the very first shot is Malcolm McDowell staring insolently straight at "us".. A recent "all over the place" "fourth wall" "mockumentary" that comes to mind is "A **** And Bull Story" ,with a great double act from Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon...untill the very end,on first viewing, Kelly MacDonald and Coogan were together and had a baby, as a far as knew.  This film broke the "fifth" wall,let's say ,with the only slightly exaggerrated bickering between Coogan and Brydon extending to the radio and T.V. promotion.( That may have been real after all.!).Another instance that everyone will remember is Woody Allen ,in "Annie Hall" ,upbraiding the guy in the queue for the cinema,and bringing Marshall McLuhan ,the writer being mis-quoted, in to refute the argument.