History Main / MetaFiction

Meta Fiction ("meta" meaning "beyond") is when a story (or movie or television show) comments upon another piece of fiction or upon its own fictionalism. Yes, that's a word. For example, in ''Theatre/{{Hamlet}}'', the titular prince has the play ''[[ShowWithinAShow The Murder of Gonzago]]'' or ''The Mousetrap'' put on to CatchTheConscience of Claudius. Of course, at the time ''Hamlet'' was written, ''The Mousetrap'' was fictional and later on, Creator/AgathaChristie actually wrote a play called ''Theatre/TheMousetrap'', [[{{Defictionalization}} defictionalizing]] it. Yes, that's a word, too.

[[TheTreacheryOfImages By the way, we're not actually having a conversation.]] You're actually reading this on a computer screen. [[UnsoundEffect Metafictioned!]]

[[quoteright:198:[[Webcomic/TheVanZandts https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/url.png]]]]

Once upon a time, a man named ReportSiht wrote a story. Except he didn't want it to be like other stories. He wanted to ''[[LampshadeHanging comment]]'' on other stories with his story. His story included stuff about stories. Thus it was Meta Fiction. He published it and everyone was happy. Except for the people who wrote the stories he was commenting about, of course, but don't worry, [[RocksFallEveryoneDies rocks fell and killed them]]. TheEnd.

...oh, you wanted more? But that was metafiction right there! Oh, but you want these tropers to explain it to you? Fine. Alright, pull up your chairs close to your computers and settle down. I'll tell you the tale of Meta Fiction.

For a more recent example, there's the 2002 film ''Film/{{Adaptation}}''. Directed by Spike Jonze and written by Creator/CharlieKaufman, it stars Creator/NicolasCage as... Charlie Kaufman and his (fictional) twin brother Donald Kaufman. Charlie tries to adapt the real book ''The Orchid Thief'' by real author Susan Orlean (played by Creator/MerylStreep), which Charlie Kaufman actually tried to do before getting writer's block and writing ''Adaptation''. Interestingly enough, within the movie ''Adaptation'', the fictional Charlie Kaufman writes ''Adaptation'' and gets Creator/GerardDepardieu to play him, making this an example of [[RecursiveReality meta]][[ZigZaggingTrope metafiction]].

Meta Fiction ("meta" meaning "beyond") is when a story (or movie or television show) comments upon another piece of fiction or upon its own fictionalism. Yes, that's a word. For example, in ''Theatre/{{Hamlet}}'', the titular prince has the play ''[[ShowWithinAShow The Murder of Gonzago]]'' or ''The Moustrap'' put on to CatchTheConscience of Claudius. Of course, at the time ''Hamlet'' was written, ''The Mousetrap'' was fictional and later on, Creator/AgathaChristie actually wrote a play called ''Theatre/TheMousetrap'', [[{{Defictionalization}} defictionalizing]] it. Yes, that's a word, too.

[[caption-width-right:198:Self-explanatory, really.]]

->''"Good God, this is beyond fourth wall jokes. This is like if the fourth wall had a mouse hole, and the mouse hole had four walls, and they had a termite hole, and the termite hole had four walls. That's the fourth wall we'll be looking through. You know... the twelveth wall."''

For a more recent example, there's the 2002 film ''{{Adaptation}}''. Directed by Spike Jonze and written by Creator/CharlieKaufman, it stars NicolasCage as... Charlie Kaufman and his (fictional) twin brother Donald Kaufman. Charlie tries to adapt the real book ''The Orchid Thief'' by real author Susan Orlean (played by Creator/MerylStreep), which Charlie Kaufman actually tried to do before getting writer's block and writing ''Adaptation''. Interestingly enough, within the movie ''Adaptation'', the fictional Charlie Kaufman writes ''Adaptation'' and gets Creator/GerardDepardieu to play him, making this an example of [[RecursiveReality meta]][[ZigZaggingTrope metafiction]].

-->'''WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic''' reviews ''WebVideo/ToBoldlyFlee''

Describe Meta Fiction here.

Once upon a time, a man named ReportSiht wrote a story. Except he didn't want it to be like other stories. He wanted to ''[[LampshadeHanging comment]]'' on other stories with his story. His story included stuff about stories. Thus it was Meta Fiction. He published it and everyone was happy. Except for the people who wrote the stories he was commenting about, of course, but don't worry, [[RocksFallEveryoneDies rocks fell and killed them]]. The End.

Describe MetaFiction here.

...oh, you wanted more? But that was metafiction right there! Oh, but you want these tropers to explain it to you? Fine. Alright, pull up your chairs close to your computers and settle down. I'll tell you the tale of MetaFiction.

Once upon a time, a man named ReportSiht wrote a story. Except he didn't want it to be like other stories. He wanted to ''[[LampshadeHanging comment]]'' on other stories with his story. His story included stuff about stories. Thus it was MetaFiction. He published it and everyone was happy. Except for the people who wrote the stories he was commenting about, of course, but don't worry, [[RocksFallEveryoneDies rocks fell and killed them]]. The End.

MetaFiction ("meta" meaning "beyond") is when a story (or movie or television show) comments upon another piece of fiction or upon its own fictionalism. Yes, that's a word. For example, in ''Theatre/{{Hamlet}}'', the titular prince has the play ''[[ShowWithinAShow The Murder of Gonzago]]'' or ''The Moustrap'' put on to CatchTheConscience of Claudius. Of course, at the time ''Hamlet'' was written, ''The Mousetrap'' was fictional and later on, Creator/AgathaChristie actually wrote a play called ''Theatre/TheMousetrap'', [[{{Defictionalization}} defictionalizing]] it. Yes, that's a word, too.

For a more recent example, there's the 2002 film ''{{Adaptation}}''. Directed by Spike Jonze and written by Creator/CharlieKaufman, it stars NicolasCage as... Charlie Kaufman and his (fictional) twin brother Donald Kaufman. Charlie tries to adapt the real book ''The Orchid Thief'' by real author Susan Orlean (played by MerylStreep), which Charlie Kaufman actually tried to do before getting writer's block and writing ''Adaptation''. Interestingly enough, within the movie ''Adaptation'', the fictional Charlie Kaufman writes ''Adaptation'' and gets Creator/GerardDepardieu to play him, making this an example of [[RecursiveReality meta]][[ZigZaggingTrope metafiction]].

For a more recent example, there's the 2002 film ''{{Adaptation}}''. Directed by Spike Jonze and written by Creator/CharlieKaufman, it stars NicolasCage as... Charlie Kaufman and his (fictional) twin brother Donald Kaufman. Charlie tries to adapt the real book ''The Orchid Thief'' by real author Susan Orlean (played by MerylStreep), which Charlie Kaufman actually tried to do before getting writer's block and writing ''Adaptation''. Interestingly enough, within the movie ''Adaptation'', the fictional Charlie Kaufman writes ''Adaptation'' and gets Gerard Depardieu to play him, making this an example of [[RecursiveReality meta]][[ZigZaggingTrope metafiction]].

MetaFiction ("meta" meaning "going beyond") is when a story (or movie or television show) comments upon another piece of fiction or upon its own fictionalism. Yes, that's a word. For example, in ''Theatre/{{Hamlet}}'', the titular prince has the play ''[[ShowWithinAShow The Murder of Gonzago]]'' or ''The Moustrap'' put on to CatchTheConscience of Claudius. Of course, at the time ''Hamlet'' was written, ''The Mousetrap'' was fictional and later on, Creator/AgathaChristie actually wrote a play called ''Theatre/TheMousetrap'', [[{{Defictionalization}} defictionalizing]] it. Yes, that's a word, too.

[[quoteright:198:[[Webcomic/TheVanZandts http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/url.png]]
[[caption-width-right:198:Self-explanatory, really.]]]]

[[quoteright:198:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/url.png]]
[[caption-width-right:198:Self-explanatory, really.]]

MetaFiction ("meta" meaning "going beyond") is when a story (or movie or television show) comments upon another piece of fiction or upon its own fictionalism. Yes, that's a word. For example, in ''Hamlet'', the titular prince has the play ''[[ShowWithinAShow The Murder of Gonzago]]'' or ''The Moustrap'' put on to CatchTheConscience of Claudius. Of course, at the time ''Hamlet'' was written, ''The Mousetrap'' was fictional and later on, Creator/AgathaChristie actually wrote a play called ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mousetrap The Mousetrap]]'', [[{{Defictionalization}} defictionalizing]] it. Yes, that's a word, too.

For a more recent example, there's the 2002 film ''{{Adaptation}}''. Directed by Spike Jonze and written by CharlieKaufman, it stars NicolasCage as... Charlie Kaufman and his (fictional) twin brother Donald Kaufman. Charlie tries to adapt the real book ''The Orchid Thief'' by real author Susan Orlean (played by MerylStreep), which Charlie Kaufman actually tried to do before getting writer's block and writing ''Adaptation''. Interestingly enough, within the movie ''Adaptation'', the fictional Charlie Kaufman writes ''Adaptation'' and gets Gerard Depardieu to play him, making this an example of [[RecursiveReality meta]][[ZigZaggingTrope metafiction]].

MetaFiction ("meta" meaning "referring to itself") is when a story (or movie or television show) comments upon another piece of fiction or upon its own fictionalism. Yes, that's a word. For example, in ''Hamlet'', the titular prince has the play ''[[ShowWithinAShow The Murder of Gonzago]]'' or ''The Moustrap'' put on to CatchTheConscience of Claudius. Of course, at the time ''Hamlet'' was written, ''The Mousetrap'' was fictional and later on, Creator/AgathaChristie actually wrote a play called ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mousetrap The Mousetrap]]'', [[{{Defictionalization}} defictionalizing]] it. Yes, that's a word, too.

MetaFiction ("meta" meaning "referring to itself") is when a story (or movie or television show) comments upon another piece of fiction or upon its own fictionalism. Yes, that's a word. For example, in ''Hamlet'', the titular prince has the play ''[[ShowWithinAShow The Murder of Gonzago]]'' or ''The Moustrap'' put on to CatchTheConscience of Claudius. Of course, at the time ''Hamlet'' was written, ''The Mousetrap'' was fictional and later on, AgathaChristie actually wrote a play called ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mousetrap The Mousetrap]]'', [[{{Defictionalization}} defictionalizing]] it. Yes, that's a word, too.

<<|MetafictionDemandedThisIndex|>>

By the way, we're not actually having a conversation. You're actually reading this on a computer screen. [[UnsoundEffect Metafictioned!]]

MetaFiction ("meta" meaning "referring to itself") is when a story (or movie or television show) comments upon another piece of fiction or upon its own fictionalism. Yes, that's a word. For example, in ''Hamlet'', the titular prince has the play ''[[ShowWithinAShow The Murder of Gonzago]]'' or ''The Moustrap'' put on to trap Claudius. Of course, at the time ''Hamlet'' was written, ''The Mousetrap'' was fictional and later on, AgathaChristie actually wrote a play called ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mousetrap The Mousetrap]]'', [[{{Defictionalization}} defictionalizing]] it. Yes, that's a word, too.

For a more recent example, there's the 2002 film ''{{Adaptation}}''. Directed by Spike Jonze and written by CharlieKaufman, it stars NicholasCage as... Charlie Kaufman and his (fictional) twin brother Donald Kaufman. Charlie tries to adapt the real book ''The Orchid Thief'' by real author Susan Orlean (played by MerylStreep), which Charlie Kaufman actually tried to do before getting writer's block and writing ''Adaptation''. Interestingly enough, within the movie ''Adaptation'', the fictional Charlie Kaufman writes ''Adaptation'' and gets Gerard Depardieu to play him, making this an example of [[RecursiveReality meta]][[ZigZaggingTrope metafiction]].

For a more recent example, there's the 2002 film ''Adaptation''. Directed by Spike Jonze and written by Charlie Kaufman, it stars Nicholas Cage as... Charlie Kaufman and his (fictional) twin brother Donald Kaufman. Charlie tries to adapt the real book ''The Orchid Thief'' by real author Susan Orlean (played by MerylStreep), which Charlie Kaufman actually tried to do before getting writer's block and writing ''Adaptation''. Interestingly enough, within the movie ''Adaptation'', the fictional Charlie Kaufman writes ''Adaptation'' and gets Gerard Depardieu to play him, making this an example of [[RecursiveReality meta]][[ZigZaggingTrope metafiction]].

Hhhhhhhhokay. Dont do that.

MetaFiction ("meta" meaning "refering to itself") is when a story (or movie or television show) comments upon another piece of fiction or upon its own fictionalism. Yes, that's a word. For example, in ''Hamlet'', the titular prince has the play ''[[ShowWithinAShow The Murder of Gonzago]]'' or ''The Moustrap'' put on to trap Claudius. Of course, at the time ''Hamlet'' was written, ''The Mousetrap'' was fictional and later on, AgathaChristie actually wrote a play called ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mousetrap The Mousetrap]]'', [[{{Defictionalization}} defictionalizing]] it. Yes, that's a word, too.

...oh, you wanted more? But that was metafiction right there! Oh, but you want TheseTropers to explain it to you? Fine. Alright, pull up your chairs close to your computers and settle down. I'll tell you the tale of MetaFiction.