Eristatuna

Eristatuna is a term used in contemporary narrative theory to denote a descriptive narrative mode in which scenes, states, and attributes are presented primarily through description rather than through plot-driven action. The term does not refer to a widely defined school, but appears in online glossaries and experimental criticism to categorize passages that foreground perceptual detail, context, and mood over character-driven verbs.

Origin and usage: The term appears to be a neologism that emerged in the early 21st century in discussions of description-heavy narratives and digital storytelling. Its exact origin is unclear, with multiple independent uses cited in blogs and peer-reviewed articles.

Characteristics: Central features include a high density of adjectives and nouns describing setting and state, less emphasis on dynamic verbs, and a narrative tempo that resembles a panorama or still life. Voice can be first-person or close third-person; focalization tends to be perceptual or memory-based, creating a sense of observer-distance or retrospective description.

Applications: Eristatuna has been invoked in analyses of experimental fiction, documentary-style writing, and interactive media where atmosphere and context are prioritized. It is also discussed in relation to show-don’t-tell debates, as it challenges conventional emphasis on action to convey meaning.

Critique and reception: Some critics argue the term is too vague to be a distinct category, while others see it as a useful label for describing a recognizable stylistic tendency.

See also: narratology, descriptive writing, show, don’t tell, prose style.