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Bill W

Bill W 61,507
Monday Blues

Posted

"Flicker" originates from the Middle English flikeren and Old English flicorian, meaning "to flutter, flap quickly and lightly," originally desdcribing birds.  It is onomatopoeic, suggesting quick, repeated, or diminutive movement (Germanic suffix -er).  The meaning shifted to "shine with a wavering light" around 1600, becoming common by the 19th century. 

According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED),  the word flicker has different origins depending on whether it is used as a verb or a noun:  Verb (flicker) - The earliest known use is from the Old English period (pre-1150). It derives from Old English flicorian, meaning "to flutter, flap quickly and lightly, move the wings," originally used in reference to birds.  Noun (flicker, n.1 - wavering light): The OED's earliest evidence for the noun usage referring to an unsteady light is from 1598, found in the writing of John Florio.  Noun (flicker, n.4 - bird): The earliest evidence for the noun usage referring to the North American woodpecker is from 1849.  The sense of "shine with a wavering light" for the verb became common around the 19th century, though it appeared as early as 1600.
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drpaladin

drpaladin 107,784
Zorro

Posted

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Old movies would flicker due to a slower frame rate.

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Bill W

Bill W 61,507
Monday Blues

Posted (edited)

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"Flicker" in storytelling, often referring to the subtle, momentary, or intermittent appearance of emotion, action, or thematic light, is crucial for creating depth, suspense, and emotional resonance without explicitly stating everything to the reader. It is a tool for showing, not telling, and is essential for building a nuanced narrative. 

The Role and Importance of Flicker in Storytelling 
Evoking Emotion (Show, Don't Tell): Phrases like "eyes flashed anger" or a "flicker of fear" allow readers to visualize a character's internal state without the author explicitly stating the emotion. It creates an immediate, clear visual image of a character's reaction. 
Signifying Subtlety and Restraint: A "flicker" often indicates a micro-expression—a rapid, involuntary emotional response that a character might be trying to hide. It implies a deeper complexity where a character is feeling something intense but consciously holding it back, making them more relatable and human. 
Creating Tension and Suspense: Just as a flickering light creates unease, a "flicker" of doubt, recognition, or menace in a story acts as a subtle hint of what is to come, building anticipation without revealing too much.                          
Enhancing Pacing: A "flicker" is short and sharp. It allows a writer to convey complex, intense moments quickly, matching the rapid pacing of an exciting scene compared to a long, descriptive passage.
Thematic Illumination (Flicker as Hope or Memory): A "flicker" can represent a fleeting glimpse of hope, a distant memory, or a small, dim, yet significant detail that contrasts with a dark or melancholic atmosphere. 
 
Risks of Overuse:
While effective, using the word "flicker" or this device too often can make it a cliche, potentially annoying readers and breaking immersion. 
 
Contextual Distinctions: 
Flashbacks vs. Flicker: While a "flicker" is a brief moment, flashbacks (or "flickering" back in time) are used to provide larger, comprehensive scenes from the past to develop characters and provide motivations. 
Flash Fiction: "Flash" or "Flicker" stories are complete, highly focused narratives that rely on extreme brevity and the power of implication to deliver a punch in a small space.
Edited by Bill W
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ReaderPaul

ReaderPaul 20,363
Thinking

Posted

6 hours ago, drpaladin said:

Old movies would flicker due to a slower frame rate.

@drpaladin -- I like these observant insights you give to the Word of the Day.  Sometimes they are thoughtfully introspective, or tangential, or slightly irreverent, or sometimes absolutely brilliant.  You and @Myr and @Bill W and @sandrewn make a great team with this project.  

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