perscène

Perscène is a theoretical term used in theatre and film studies to describe a mode of scene construction that foregrounds the viewer's perspective as an organizing principle. It contrasts with or complements traditional notions of mise-en-scène by explicitly encoding spatial vantage and viewer position into the arrangement of space, actors, and props.

The word appears to be a neologism combining perspective and scène (scene) and has appeared in scholarly discussions since the late 20th or early 21st century; it is not widely standardized.

It emphasizes the creation of depth and the surveillance of the audience's gaze through elements like painted backdrops, diagonal lines, lighting gradients, and camera or stage viewpoints. It is applied in analysis of both stage design and cinematic mise-en-scène, especially where the composition yields a clearly delineated point of view.

Perscène is related to, but distinct from, traditional mise-en-scène, which encompasses all aspects of staging; perscène zooms in on viewpoint-driven composition. It may intersect with concepts like perspectival painting, windowing, or shot-reverse-shot framing in film.

In historical theatre, painted perspective scenery (perspective drops) created a sense of depth; contemporary productions may implement perscène through digital backdrops and camera workflows to elicit a particular audience stance. In cinema studies, analysts might refer to perscène when describing deliberate viewer-centric frame design.

The term is not universally adopted; critics caution that it could duplicate existing concepts under a new label. Proponents argue it offers a targeted vocabulary for discussing gaze, space, and layout.