Metatextuality

Metatextuality refers to a work of art, literature, or film that self-consciously draws attention to its status as a work of art, drawing attention to its own artificiality or fictionality. This can take many forms, such as a narrator directly addressing the audience, characters acknowledging they are in a story, or the text referring to other texts or its own creation process. It is a technique that breaks the illusion of reality within a narrative to remind the audience that they are consuming a constructed piece.

The concept is closely related to metanarrative, which is a story that tells other stories, or a narrative that reflects on its own narrative structure. Metatextuality often serves to critique or comment on the conventions of a particular genre or medium, or to explore themes of authorship, interpretation, and the nature of storytelling itself. For example, a novel might include passages where the author interrupts the plot to discuss their writing choices, or characters might discuss the tropes of the genre they inhabit.

This self-awareness can create a sense of playful engagement with the audience, inviting them to consider the underlying mechanics of the story. It can also be used to foster a deeper understanding of the themes being explored by highlighting the constructed nature of the narrative. While metatextuality can be seen as a postmodern device, elements of it can be found in earlier works that challenged traditional storytelling. The intention is often to provoke thought and encourage a more critical reception of the artistic work.