What is Diegesis: A Film Definition for Independent Filmmakers
In story writing and filmmaking, various rules and stylistic techniques are tools to produce the elements of the fictional worlds that characters are a part of. In the film world, diegesis is a term that is frequently used to describe the unique made-up worlds within a story. Essentially, a diegesis film definition would make sense to include details about the interior view of the world in which the story is taking place. We refer to this as the diegetic world. But what does all of this mean?
What is Diegesis?
Diegesis is a term that comes from the Greek for “to narrate.” The term often describes fiction storytelling. And represents the “world” in which the story takes place. Diegesis is the interior view of the fictional world in which a character resides.
Diegesis includes:
- Details about the fictional world and the experiences that characters reveal through their narrative within the world.
- The way the world appears through the fictional sharing of the story. And how it is recounted is not necessarily how the fictional world is shown visually.
- A detachment from the story world for both the speaker and the audience.
Diegetic Elements
Diegesis represents the world that the narrator creates when they tell the story. Through narration, they present various actions. As well as thoughts which represent the world in which character’s interact and live as part of the story.
Within the fictional world or diegesis are fictional elements known as diegetic elements. Outside the fictional world are elements which are not part of the world. These are known as non-diegetic elements.
These stylistic elements represent a core element of the storytelling but they are not necessarily part of the world.
Diegesis Film Definition
Moreover, in filmmaking, diegesis is the term that describes the fictional world of the story that the screen depicts. The fictional world of diegesis may include characters within the fictional world of the story. As well as events and items that are part of the fictional world.
Within this fictional world, additional elements that are not part of the current world may also be brought up. These are referred to as non-diegetic or extradiegetic elements.
In Summation
To help you understand how diegesis in film works it makes most sense to address elements of diegetic vs non-diegetic nature. Diegetic elements are those craft as a part of the fictional story to serve as part of the film.
Whereas non-diegetic elements are those which are not part of the fictional world. Thus, the simplest diegesis film definition is that diegesis is the fictional world in which the film’s narrative takes place.
And in which all diegetic elements including characters are in reference to the outside world.
