Szene

Szene is a German noun (plural Szenen) with several related meanings centered on the idea of a defined setting or situation. The term comes from the French scène, with adoption into German in the early modern period. In everyday use, it can refer to a specific moment or setting, as well as to a broader cultural milieu.

In the performing arts, a scene is a unit of action within a play, opera, or screenplay. A scene takes place at a particular time and location and is defined by its characters, dialogue, and change of setting. Scenes are the building blocks between acts and are used to structure the narrative, with shifts in time, place, or characters signaling a new scene. In film and television, the concept is analogous, with scenes serving as the basic units that compose the plot and are often defined during scriptwriting and editing.

The term is also used in a broader, non-theatrical sense to denote a social milieu or subculture. Phrases such as die Clubszene, die Künstlerszene, or die Clubszene Berlin describe the people, venues, and network associated with a particular cultural scene. This figurative use can refer to a local ecosystem—for example, a city district known for its nightlife or creative activity.

Related terms include Bühnenbild (stage scenery) and Schemata for the structure of scenes within a work. The dual use of Szene as both a dramatic unit and a social milieu is common in German, with context determining the intended meaning.