diegézis

Diegesis is a term used in narrative theory to refer to the fictional world in which a story takes place. It encompasses all the elements of the story, including the characters, setting, plot, and any events that occur within the narrative. The diegesis is essentially the story's reality, as presented to the audience.

The concept of diegesis is often contrasted with nondiegetic elements, which are aspects of a film or narrative that are not part of the story's world. A common example of a nondiegetic element is a musical score that plays over a scene, which the characters within the story do not hear. Similarly, a narrator's voice-over that comments on the action but is not a character within the story is also considered nondiegetic.

The distinction between diegetic and nondiegetic elements helps audiences understand what is happening within the story's universe and what is being added for aesthetic or thematic effect. For instance, a character speaking dialogue is diegetic, as they are interacting within the world of the story. However, a sound effect that is meant to heighten suspense for the audience but is not audible to the characters themselves would be nondiegetic. Understanding diegesis allows for a deeper analysis of how a narrative constructs its world and communicates with its audience.