Abstract – Flashbacks and Memory

Flashbacks

This chapter provides an overview of the flashback in cinema, including its definition and functions. It also explores the history of the flashback in cinema, tracing its origins in classical literature and discussing its early use in cinema. The chapter explains the different forms of flashbacks, including memory flashbacks and external flashbacks, and considers their use in creating meaning and emotion in film. It also provides various definitions of the flashback, highlighting the importance of the flashback in filmic form and its role in engaging with historical concepts and representing ideas. The chapter concludes by noting that, while flashbacks were used sparingly in classical Hollywood cinema, they have become a common feature of contemporary cinema.