E-merl.com - The Mr. Nile Experiment

The Mr. Nile Experiment
9: The Flashback Problem

	Yesterday was an example of a certain sort of time travel that's often used in comics. \

	By using a flashback, a series of events from the past were brought into the present. \

	It's a relatively easy effect to achieve. \

	The simple insertion of a caption that reads something like: \

	6 Days ago:


	And here we are in the past. /

	But the thing is, once we're here, our options are rather limited. /

	*A flashback can only ever change our understanding* of a story.** /

	So, sure, we can bring to light a series of previously unseen events. /

	Or retell a known series of events from a new perspective. /

	But we can't actually create new history. /

	Nothing we do in the past can change the shape of the future we've travelled back from. /

	Today:


	No, to do that, you'd need a much more powerful form of narrative device. \

	You'd need an actual time machine. \

	Which is kind of a lucky coincidence, really. \

	Because next I'm going to show you how to build one. \

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