Does time stop when the fourth wall is broken?

Does time stop when the fourth wall is broken? - Gray Analog Clock Displaying at 10:36

Throughout the first, second, and newly third season of House of Cards, produced under Netflix, protagonist Francis Underwood often "breaks the fourth wall" and speaks directly to the audience rather frequently. This also famously known to be done in the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off as well.

Often times in House of Cards, Francis would turn and speak to the audience mid-conversation or after a big event. While he is doing this, does the conversation stop around him and does time stop? This question has been haunting me since I have started watching the series.

Does time stop in other uses of the breaking of the fourth wall in other movies and TV examples as well?



Best Answer

It's impossible to answer this question in general, because (as already stated in comments) the answer is: it depends on the movie/show.

Regarding the House of Cards: the time doesn't stop. You can see it clearly in the scenes, where Frank looks into camera. Regarding the scenes where he talks it's a bit more tricky to tell because this usually happens when he's alone. However in these two scenes first we hear (the oath scene) and later see (in the car with Doug scene) that the time didn't stop.




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What happens when the fourth wall breaks?

When plays, television shows, and movies break the fourth wall, they acknowledge the existence of the audience and speak to them directly. When they do this, the fictional world gives way to the literal reality of the medium: A group of actors is putting on a performance for a live audience or a camera.

What does stop breaking the fourth wall mean?

break the fourth wall in British English (esp of a character in a television programme, film, or play) to refer to, acknowledge, or address the audience, usually for comedic effect or as an avante-garde technique.

Can you break the fourth wall?

The audience can see and comprehend the story, but the story cannot comprehend the existence of the audience. If you break that wall, you break that accord. This is called \u201cBreaking The 4th Wall.\u201d It can also be described as the story becoming aware of itself.

Is breaking the 4th wall good?

Breaking the fourth wall can be a great storytelling technique that gives us a bit more insight into the characters on screen by including the audience in on the action.



15 Insane Fourth Wall Breaks That BLEW Gamers Minds




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