Metafasissa

Metafasissa is a term used in literary and rhetorical analysis to describe a specific type of self-referential commentary within a work of art or literature. It refers to moments when a text explicitly acknowledges its own constructedness or the act of its creation. This can manifest in various ways, such as a character directly addressing the audience, a narrator commenting on the storytelling process, or an author interjecting their own thoughts about the work. The purpose of metafasissa can be to create a sense of intimacy with the reader, to question the nature of reality and representation, or to add a layer of intellectual complexity. It often breaks the illusion of a purely fictional world, reminding the audience that they are engaging with a constructed entity. While often associated with postmodern literature, metafasissa can be found in earlier works as well, appearing in different forms and with varying degrees of emphasis. Its presence invites a more active and critical engagement from the audience, encouraging them to consider not just the story being told, but also how it is being told and the implications of that process.