diegesis
/ˌdaɪ.ɪˈdʒiː.sɪs/ IELTSAcademic
noun
The part of a story or film that belongs to the story world itself. It includes events, sounds, and details that characters can see or hear.
- The song is part of the diegesis.
- The gunshot is diegesis, not background music.
- She studied the film's diegesis carefully.
Adinary Nuance
Diegesis is more technical than story or plot. Writers use it when they want to talk about what belongs inside the story world, not outside it. It is often contrasted with non-diegetic, especially in film and media studies.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- thế giới truyện
- Spanish
- diégesis
- Chinese
- 叙事世界
- Japanese
- 物語世界
- Korean
- 서사 세계
Etymology
Diegesis comes from Greek diegesis, meaning “narration” or “account.” It entered English through literary and film studies in the 20th century.
Common phrases
diegesis in filmthe diegesis of the storywithin the diegesis
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is diegesis a common word in everyday English?
- No. It is mainly used in film studies, literature, and academic writing.
- What is the difference between diegesis and plot?
- Plot means the sequence of events. Diegesis means the story world those events belong to.
- Is diegesis used in music or film?
- Yes, especially in film. It is used to discuss sounds or music inside the story world.
- What is the adjective form of diegesis?
- The adjective is diegetic.