Is there a word for “flashbacks within flashbacks”?

Question

Is there any single word in English for flashbacks within flashbacks?

Lukas Eder · Answer 1 · 2012-03-11 11:12:53Z

up vote 3 down vote

I've heard the term "nested flashback" before (as in "nested stories"). A non-authoritative example:

That's not a single word, though...

answered Mar 11 '12 at 11:12

Lukas Eder
1386

Jill-Jênn Vie · Answer 2 · 2012-03-11 14:53:09Z

up vote 1 down vote

I'm joining Brett's comment. Metaflashback.

(Don't think there would be an hyphen.)

answered Mar 11 '12 at 14:53

Jill-Jênn Vie
1687

Is metaflashback a new word? – Vijin Paulraj Mar 11 '12 at 14:57

1

@Vijin: Yes, and only certain technically-minded readers would understand it. – GEdgar Mar 11 '12 at 19:07

Blessed Geek · Answer 3 · 2012-03-11 18:55:56Z

up vote 0 down vote

In computer programming that would be called

Recursive flashback.

Or

Recursion of flashbacks.

Or more descriptively, having a flashback within a flashback within a flashback would be

Third level of flashback recursion.

Perhaps, in a less technical situation, the lyrics of the song "The windmills your mind" could offer some guidance.

edited Mar 11 '12 at 18:55

answered Mar 11 '12 at 18:49

Blessed Geek
1,25118

	like recursive fn? – Vijin Paulraj Mar 11 '12 at 18:53
	exactly........ – Blessed Geek Mar 11 '12 at 18:56
	Not quite, because in programming a recursive function is specifically a function that calls itself - so it would only be a recursive flashback if it was a flashback about itself. – Benubird Mar 14 '12 at 0:31
	A recursive dream - the dream is the function. But at every level of recursion the function or the dream need not be dreaming of the same. – Blessed Geek Mar 14 '12 at 4:09

3 Answers