These contradictions can also serve a satirical purpose. We can create environments and characters from nothing more than pixels ⏤ even live, in real-time. How that's for conflicting terms.

He’s also written articles for sites like Cracked and Ranker. Why is my life an oxymoron?

Oxymoron definition is - a combination of contradictory or incongruous words (such as cruel kindness); broadly : something (such as a concept) that is made up of contradictory or incongruous elements. Home. Phrases like “perfectly imperfect” and “my end and my beginning” show the depths of Legend’s love. Variations of the word “legend” are used in rapid succession of each other.

O heavy lightness!

One of the most famous oxymoron examples in literature comes from William Shakespeare. Some of us are another person’s doppelganger. To enable Verizon Media and our partners to process your personal data select 'I agree', or select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices. Although an oxymoron is paradoxical in nature, the key difference between the two is how a paradox presents a situation with the unlikely coexistence of two events, while an oxymoron is simply a figure of speech. This idea that the purpose of books themselves makes them illegal is a powerful use of an oxymoron. Some common oxymoron examples include “pretty ugly,” “only choice,” and “same difference.”. Since firefighters are supposed to put out fires, them starting them is an oxymoron. Oxymorons also create more playful tones. You may fawn over the person you adore one second and abhor something else they do the next. This literary device lets you have fun with language. Another place you’re more likely to see an oxymoron is in the title. (more…), Stereotypes in Movies and How Filmmakers Can Avoid Them, Ultimate Guide to Film Terms: The Definitive Glossary of Film Terminology, What is Dramatic Irony? The progress needle for non-white character representation hasn’t moved nearly as far. This particular oxymoron meaning changes later in the film when Simba runs away from his responsibilities.

Other times they are used to make readers stop and think about what was just read and ponder what exactly the author meant. Required fields are marked *, Over the last century, we made some extraordinary advances in storytelling technology. The word “oxymoron” is itself an oxymoron. Dialogue and song lyrics are just the beginning of oxymoron examples in film. His lover’s contradictions are what attracted him to her in the first place. “His honour rooted in dishonour stood, And faith unfaithful kept him falsely true.” — Alfred, Lord Tennyson. An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which contradictory words appear in conjunction. Turns out, some of the most well-known novels, plays, and movies of all time have utilized this most confusing of essential literary devices. "The firefighters start the fires." For example, the term "business ethics" might be a contradiction in terms. This new commandment laid out by Napoleon the pig points out such hypocrisies that came about after the Russian Revolution. Oxymorons, by their nature, are thought-provoking, however, let's look at some that are more perplexing than others.The same difference. Generally, an oxymoron phrase is a combination of an adjective or noun modifier, proceeded by a noun with contrasting meanings, such as a silent scream or paper towel. Or plastic silverware.

We’ve included as many film terms as humanly possible all on one page, so let’s get into it. I flee above the wind, yet can I not arise;Sir Thomas uses the contradictory terms of peace and war, burn and freeze, flee above and can I not arise for purposeful dramatic effect. The greatest thing that can come from hate is love. What a pity that youth must be wasted on the young. Anyone who has ever been madly, hopelessly in love could probably tell you. But you don’t need zombies to use contradictory phrases. Anonymous.

Even the word oxymoron is an oxymoron. It’s an unfortunate accident of birth. Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health! Some songs use oxymorons and contradictions to convey a sense of an impossible desire or an inner struggle, which is most probably what this song is striving for. At first glance, oxymorons appear to be absurd due to this contrast. "Intelligent life" is more like it, in some cases. There are all kinds of ways to incorporate oxymorons into your writing. Your email address will not be published. The song contains the phrase, “I’m brushing up on looking down.” Simba’s singing about his excitement in learning how to be king even though it sounds like it will mostly consist of looking down on other animals as they serve him. It must never be taken literally, otherwise, the statement may be misinterpreted. Follow the image link to download a complete PDF of Orwell's staggeringly good literary satire. Life. So, in this post, we’re going to talk about how we can be better, more inclusive storytellers by avoiding stereotypes in movies — in our writing, our casting, and other production aspects. Oxymorons seem like they shouldn’t exist. Turns out, the difference all comes down to how their respective contradictions are expressed. Whether it’s to reveal a deeper meaning or to have fun with the English language, at the end of the day, oxymorons just stand out. So why does Shakespeare do this? If one class of people is “more equal” than another, then true equality doesn’t exist. There can be no discussion of an oxymoron in drama without quoting from Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.“Why, then, O brawling love! And these oxymoron examples illustrate that fact. The power a writer or director can yield with a firm grasp of dramatic irony is huge. He becomes lazy and doesn’t brush up on anything.

Oxymorons have been used for centuries by some of the greatest writers who ever lived. And, yes, we'll talk about Back to the Future and how a paradox works according to Doc Brown.

Petrarch’s 134th Sonnet by Sir Thomas Wyatt (1503-1542) provides lovely imagery through the use of an oxymoron.I find no peace, and all my war is done And, yet, stereotypes in movies still exist. It's often referred to as a contradiction in terms.As with other rhetorical devices, oxymorons are used for a variety of purposes.Sometimes they're used to create a little bit of drama for the reader; sometimes they're used to make a person stop and think, whether that's to laugh or to wonder. If you want to let readers know they’re in for a twisted ride filled with deception, why not name your movie True Lies? You no longer have to be in the dark about what's an oxymoron. When that happens the alpha member of the doppelgangery (my spell checker just fainted dead away) gets all the good things in life while the lesser member gets all the crap. Updated March 06, 2020 An oxymoron is a figure of speech, usually one or two words, in which seemingly contradictory terms appear side by side. And it’s known as tautology. We will also discuss the stages of dramatic irony and a subtype called tragic irony. Definition and Examples for Screenwriters, The Ultimate Guide to Call Sheets (with FREE Call Sheet Template), How to Break Down a Script (with FREE Script Breakdown Sheet), The Only Shot List Template You Need — with Free Download, Managing Your Film Budget Cashflow & PO Log (Free Template), A Better Film Crew List Template Booking Sheet, Best Storyboard Softwares (with free Storyboard Templates), 13 Best Screenwriting Contests You Need to Enter Now, Interstellar Explained — Plot, Meaning & the Ending Explained, Best Guy Ritchie Movies – His Entire Filmography Ranked, Road to Perdition: Revisiting the Sam Mendes Classic, What is Claymation — A History of Claymation Movies. Did You Know? This contradiction is also known as a paradox. Answer: People are basically the same and yet individually very different.Bittersweet. When you need to update your film terminology, this resource will be your best friend. In other words, oxymorons are contradictive words or phrases used intentionally to create an effect. However, the phrase is not an oxymoron because the term has no deeper meaning.