Inconsecvent

Inconsecvent is a term used in narrative theory to describe a device where narrative elements are presented outside their normal sequence, resulting in a story whose events are not arranged in a straightforward chronological or logical order. The effect is to foreground thematic connections, motifs, or character development rather than a linear cause-and-effect progression. While it shares territory with non-linear storytelling, inconsecvent emphasizes the deliberate disruption of sequence to reveal meaning through juxtaposition rather than through the passage of time alone.

Etymology and usage: The term is a neologism formed from the prefix in- plus consecvent, drawing on the Latin-root notion of sequential order. It is not widely standardized in major reference works, but appears in scholarly articles and critical essays discussing experimental narratives, avant-garde cinema, and some video games that restructure scenes or memories non-chronologically.

Examples and forms: In literature, a chapter may begin with the fallout of an event that is then explained later, while earlier chapters refer to its lead-up. In film, a sequence might juxtapose images from different times to suggest a shared motif. In interactive media, gameplay may present outcomes before the enabling actions, encouraging players to infer causality through contrast rather than sequence.

Reception and relation to related concepts: Critics use inconsecvent to distinguish deliberate sequence disruption from accidental discontinuities. It overlaps with non-linear narrative, flashforward/flashback devices, and montage, but centers on the intentional misalignment of narrative time to enhance thematic resonance.