The Slow Clap

[trmiv]

My wife and I were just talking about this after watching the eleventybillionth replay of "Cool Runnings." A lot of movies love to do the "slow clap" moment. Usually it's where the underdog of the movie does some major event towards the end, finally earning the respect of the person or persons who have dogged them the entire movie. Then, while in front of a large crowd of onlookers, one of the people (usually one of the people that dogged the protagonist all movie long) starts a slow, deliberate clap. Slowly, others join in, and then the clap speeds up to the point where it is full on applause, and everyone is going nuts.

So what is the deal with this? Has this EVER at any moment happened in real life? Why is this so used in movies? Even though I've never seen it, I have a personal goal to either be a slow clap starter, or have a slow clap started for me at least once in my life.

 

[WarDemon666]

cliff notes?

 

[amol]

yeah i realized that

ive only seen it happen once

forgot where though

 

[Goosemaster]

See "Not another teen movie", and then we shall deliberate over some Fritos and Tosititos while you sing some cantitos.

 

[SchrodingersDog]

I think that was a running gag in Not Another Teen Movie.

 

[trmiv]

Originally posted by: WarDemon666
cliff notes?

If you need cliff notes to comprehend a paragraph that short, you need to go take a reading comprehension course.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: SchrodingersDog
I think that was a running gag in Not Another Teen Movie.

THINK? :Q

 

[trmiv]

I don't recall seeing Not Another Teen Movie, I might have to check that out.

 

[mobobuff]

A fast clap shows a great deal of enthusiasm. Enthusiasm functions differently when expressed by a single individual amongst a crowd. They have to clap slowly, and forcefully, so as not to appear as a lunatic, or TOO happy, but only proud. The rest of the crowd gradually joins in, and suddenly clapping rapidly becomes acceptable instead of overly fanatic.

It doesn't happen much in real life, because applause has become scheduled, it has hardwired timing in the brains of every member of an audience. It's like a semaphore flag; it is either acceptable at any given time to applaud, or unacceptable. Applause starts and ends in unison due to this metaphorical semaphore.

 

[Lorax]

reminds me of the SNL/phil hartman sketch, with the sarcastic clapping family.

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: SchrodingersDog
I think that was a running gag in Not Another Teen Movie.

What I thought of as soon as I read the OP's post.

 

[slick230]

I think the first time I saw "the slow clap" used was in the movie "Lucas", back in the 80's.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: slick230
I think the first time I saw "the slow clap" used was in the movie "Lucas", back in the 80's.

Lucas....that guy liked bugs.

 

[SchrodingersDog]

Clap...

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: SchrodingersDog
Clap...

clap............................................clap........................

 

[slick230]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: SchrodingersDog
Clap...

clap............................................clap........................

clap..................clap....................clap...................clap.................

 

[TechnoKid]

Originally posted by: mobobuff
A fast clap shows a great deal of enthusiasm. Enthusiasm functions differently when expressed by a single individual amongst a crowd. They have to clap slowly, and forcefully, so as not to appear as a lunatic, or TOO happy, but only proud. The rest of the crowd gradually joins in, and suddenly clapping rapidly becomes acceptable instead of overly fanatic.

It doesn't happen much in real life, because applause has become scheduled, it has hardwired timing in the brains of every member of an audience. It's like a semaphore flag; it is either acceptable at any given time to applaud, or unacceptable. Applause starts and ends in unison due to this metaphorical semaphore.

I always thought that you never wanna be the first to clap and neither the last to. So thats why you "cautiously" start to clap [slowly]....and wait for others to agree with you before you clap faster.

 

[Tylanner]

I thought of the Mighty Ducks for some reason

Quack.....Quack....Quack...Quack..Quack.

 

[BRObedoza]

Originally posted by: slick230

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: SchrodingersDog
Clap...

clap............................................clap........................

clap..................clap....................clap...................clap.................

clap......clap......clap......clap......clap......clap......clap......clap......clap......clap

 

[So]

Originally posted by: sleepmachine

Originally posted by: slick230

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: SchrodingersDog
Clap...

clap............................................clap........................

clap..................clap....................clap...................clap.................

clap......clap......clap......clap......clap......clap......clap......clap......clap......clap

*whistles loudly*

 

[slick230]

Originally posted by: So

Originally posted by: sleepmachine

Originally posted by: slick230

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: SchrodingersDog
Clap...

clap............................................clap........................

clap..................clap....................clap...................clap.................

clap......clap......clap......clap......clap......clap......clap......clap......clap......clap

*whistles loudly*

*Yeah! WOOOOOO!!!!!*

(Pumps fist in air and gives the :thumbsup: )

 

[rh71]

i remember seeing it in Youngblood the hockey movie with Rob Lowe (great flik for the hockey fan) when he was about to take the penalty shot in the last scene. Pretty stupid, but that was in 1986 (!) before all the other movies started doing it.

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: slick230

Originally posted by: So

Originally posted by: sleepmachine

Originally posted by: slick230

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: SchrodingersDog
Clap...

clap............................................clap........................

clap..................clap....................clap...................clap.................

clap......clap......clap......clap......clap......clap......clap......clap......clap......clap

*whistles loudly*

*Yeah! WOOOOOO!!!!!*

(Pumps fist in air and gives the :thumbsup: )

/faints from excitement

 

[KK]

Rudy......rudy........rudy

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: KK
Rudy......rudy........rudy

haha - exactly what I was going to post