Rückblick

Rückblick is a German noun meaning “retrospective” or “review,” used to describe both a look back at past events and a narrative or editorial device. Etymologically, it is formed from Rück- (back) and Blick (look), literally a look back.

In media and storytelling, a Rückblick refers to a scene or passage that presents events that occurred earlier in the narrative, functioning as a flashback. The term is often used interchangeably with Rückblende, though Rückblick can convey a broader sense of reflection on the past, while Rückblende typically denotes a specific flashback moment. In literature, film, and television, Rückblicke help provide context, character backstory, or foreshadowing.

Beyond fiction, Rückblick is used in journalism, publishing, and cultural contexts to denote retrospective coverage or overviews. A Rückblick may summarize a year’s events, review an artist’s body of work, or accompany a commemorative publication or exhibition. In museums and galleries, a “Rückblick-Ausstellung” is a retrospective exhibition that presents an overview of an artist’s career or a defined period in an art movement.

Related terms include Rückblende (a flashback technique) and Retrospektive (a broader retrospective analysis or exhibit). Together, these terms describe methods of revisiting and reevaluating past material across various domains, from narrative structure to cultural remembrance.