Final answer:
The comic technique that arises from the gap between expectations and reality is known as incongruity, a strategy that leverages audience anticipation and imagination to create humor or engagement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The comic technique being described is known as incongruity, which is the gap between expectations and reality. This technique rests on presenting situations or information in a way that defies normal expectations. When an artist presents the facts dryly, but truthfully, leaving a gap, the audience is compelled to use their imagination to bridge the gap between their own expectations and the reality being presented. This can often create humor or a moment of realization, as the gaps make the audience question what they anticipated versus what actually happens.
Additionally, this literary technique can be used to create anticipation, making the audience eager to see what happens next, especially in serialized forms of storytelling, such as TV shows or comic series. Here, the tension between the Personal vs. the Universal can be a driving force of engagement.
According to LibreTexts™, "The more the relationship between the two juxtaposed realities is distant and true, the stronger the image will be — the greater its emotional power and poetic reality". This statement captures the essence of how incongruity can elicit strong emotional responses from an audience and become a powerful storytelling tool.