diegesis

noun

di·​e·​ge·​sis ˌdī-ə-ˈjē-səs 

: the relaying of information in a fictional work (such as a film or novel) through a narrative

Verité, of course, brings closure to diegesis by placing the audience directly into the consciousness of the protagonist. We are allowed for the first time an all-access pass to all the senses as well as all the perceptions, prejudices, and narrative ticker tape that make up a worldview.

—Glen David Gold

In literary terms, acceptance of diegesis is the process that takes place when a reader willingly suspends natural incredulity in order to enter fully into the enjoyment of a narrative. In other words, if the story is good enough, no matter how fantastic, it will draw the reader in and credulity will prevail.

—Barnaby Perkins

also : the fictional world in which the events of a narrative occur

Sure, the ways that ABBA's songs are jammed into the diegesis only become more ridiculous as the film goes on, but that's all part of the fun.

—Evan Amaral

Examples of diegesis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But most viewers are unlikely to have access to that diegesis. —Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 May 2022

On the flip side, the RealWear HMT-1 is more of an informational diegesis that will aid the worker by supplying additional context, voiceovers, manuals or even diagrams all within a small picture-in-picture viewpoint. —Lorne Fade, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above