When we look back at the past, we may find memories that are happy, sad, or even funny. There are many ways to express our nostalgic feelings, one of which is by using the terms flashback and throwback. But do we know what the difference is between these two terms?
Flashback is a literary technique used to describe past events that relate to the current story. Flashbacks are usually used to provide background on characters, motifs, or conflicts in the story. Flashbacks can also add suspense, mystery, or emotion to the reader by showing how past events affect present circumstances.
Flashbacks can take the form of narration, dialogue, memories, dreams, or flashbacks. Flashbacks can be marked by changes in time, place, atmosphere, or language style. Flashbacks can also be inserted between current scenes or made into separate scenes.
Meanwhile, Throwback is a term used to express nostalgia or memories of the past. Usually, throwbacks are done by sharing photos, videos or stories related to special or fun moments in the past. Throwbacks are often done on social media, especially on Thursdays, where they are referred to as "Throwback Thursday" or "TBT". The purpose of a throwback is to reminisce about the past in a positive and entertaining way, as well as share the experience with others who may have similar memories.
How to Use Flashback and Throwback
Here's how to use flashback and throwback:
Flash back
Flashbacks are commonly used to provide important information about characters, motives, or conflicts in the story. Flashbacks can be in the form of dialogue, narration, or scenes that describe past events. Flashbacks should have a clear connection to current events, for example to explain why a character acted the way they did, or to show the consequences of a decision made in the past.
Throw back
Throwback is used to provide a feel of nostalgia, humor, or irony in the story. Throwback can take the form of a reference, quote, or scene that depicts past events that are not relevant to current events. Throwback should have a clear contrast with current events, for example to show the difference between the past and the present, or to mock a situation that is happening in the present.
Examples of Using Flashback and Throwback
Examples of using flashbacks are as follows:
Reminding you of something important or valuable
A mother who is caring for her seriously ill child can flashback to her child's childhood, when he was still healthy and happy. This flashback can give hope and motivation for mothers to continue fighting.
Explaining the background or reasons someone acts
A criminal who commits a crime out of revenge can flashback to the past, when he was a victim of violence or injustice. This flashback can provide readers or viewers with understanding and empathy about the villain's character.
Examples of using throwback are as follows:
Share childhood photos on social media
On her birthday, Rani shared her childhood photos with her family and friends on Instagram. He wrote a caption expressing gratitude and gratitude for all the beautiful memories he has. He also added the hashtag #throwback to show that the photos were from the past.
Make a compilation video of important moments
At the end of the year, Andi makes a compilation video of various important moments he experienced throughout the year. He includes clips of his travels, events, accomplishments, and funny things that happened to him. He uploaded the video on YouTube and entitled it "Throwback 2023: My Year in Review". He hopes the video can inspire others to appreciate every moment in life.
From the explanation above, we can conclude that flashback and throwback have different meanings and uses. Flashback is more related to fictional stories that retell past events, while Throwback is more related to personal or pop culture memories that come from the past. Both have the same goal, namely to revive our nostalgia for the past.
Hopefully this article is useful and can help you differentiate between flashback and throwback. If you have questions or suggestions, please write them in the comments column below. Thank you for reading!
