Darstellens

Darstellens is a term in contemporary art and media theory that denotes the act of presenting something to an audience in a way that makes it present. It foregrounds the performative dimension of conveying subject matter, stressing the conditions that enable presence—staging, timing, lighting, sound, spatial arrangement—and the viewer’s position and attention. The term contrasts with Darstellung, which centers on depiction; Darstellens treats presence as a property produced through relation rather than a static image.

Origins and usage: The term emerged in late 20th-century German criticism to distinguish the act of presenting from mere representation. It is used mainly in German-language discourse but has gained uptake in English-language scholarship on performance, installation, and interactive media.

Framework: Darstellens draws on phenomenology, theatre studies, and media archaeology. Analysts examine how framing choices—frame, distance, rhythm, gaze—help generate a felt presence. It intersects with mise-en-scène, embodiment, and presence, while emphasizing presentation as a dynamic process.

Applications: In theatre, film, photography, and installation art, Darstellens offers a lens to study how works make spectators feel present and engaged. In digital and immersive media, it helps analyze interfaces and environment cues that produce a sense of being there.

Reception: Some critics argue the term is opaque or overlaps with existing concepts; others value it for naming a distinct, action-oriented aspect of meaning-making.

See also: Mise-en-scène; Representation; Performance studies.