Reveal (narrative)
The reveal (also known as the big reveal) is a plot device in narrative structure, and is the exposure to the reader or audience of a previously unseen key character or element of plot or of the performance.
A reveal is different from Aristotle's anagnorisis, in which something is revealed to a character rather than to the audience.
Narrative
The reveal may result in a plot twist, and could be the key plot turn or unexpected coda in the story – in the mystery genre, for example. It may have scenes in the future that reveal consequences of actions to provide a lead for what will occur in the plot or side plot, this may be the overarching plot line in mystery or soap opera. It may also be used as a device (particularly in the climax) in stage magic by an illusionist or escape artist.[1]
Stage magic
In a magician's act, "the reveal" may refer to[1]
- the normal culmination of a trick
- the unexpected (to the audience) culmination of the trick
- an explanation of the trick – which itself may be immediately eclipsed by a version of the trick that the first reveal can't explain.
Film
Reveal is also used for two distinct cinematographic techniques:
- A slow, theatrically presented image of an important character or item not seen previously in the film;
- A close-up, wide shot, or other unusual camera point-of-view that shows the audience an important visual clue not known to characters in the same scene.
In the sense of first-time showing of a character, a reveal is similar to, but usually not same as, the opening shot or Establishing shot that gives the location or context of a new scene.
References
- Clark, James L. (2012). "Performing the Corkscrew". Mind Magic and Mentalism for Dummies. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Retrieved 10 July 2012.