berättelsemedium

Berättelsemedium is a term used in narrative theory to refer to the channel or form through which a narrative is conveyed. It covers a wide range of channels, including oral storytelling, written texts, film, television, radio, comics, theatre, and digital or interactive media such as video games, podcasts, and social media storytelling.

The concept distinguishes between the narrative content (the events and meaning of the story) and the medium that presents it. The medium shapes how the story is experienced, influencing tempo, focalization, embodiment, and audience involvement. Attributes such as modality (audio, visual, text), temporality (linear versus non-linear), and the level of interactivity all affect interpretation and reception. The same narrative can therefore yield different effects when told through different berättelsemedium.

In scholarly usage, berättelsemedium is employed to analyze adaptation, media hybridity, and the transfer of stories across platforms. It helps account for how genre, technology, and performance practices condition meaning and memory. The term is common in Swedish-language media and narrative studies and is related to broader discussions of mediality and how meaning travels through different storytelling forms.