What is Diegesis & Why Storytellers Should Know It

Diegesis vs Mimesis

First, let’s define mimesis

What is diegesis? Before we answer that question, we have to first answer the question “what is mimesis?” In simplest terms, mimesis is the imitation of “reality” through art. 

Aristotle distinguished mimesis from diegesis through the use of narration. In Aristotelian terms, Diegesis, translated from the Greek diḗgēsis for “narration” is a story that is told rather than shown.

Diegesis Meaning Explained

What does diegesis mean?

Diegesis is a bit of a tricky term to understand; no doubt due to its multiple denotations. The original denotation of diegesis: “a story told by a narrator,” is somewhat out of date. Nowadays, diegesis is usually invoked in reference to “the world” of a narrative. 

DIEGESIS IN LITERATURE

In literature, diegesis is built through the use of language; each and every word affects the mood, tone, and imagery. These literary devices and techniques affect our understanding of the world. Diegesis is inherent to all written works: novels, novellas, poems, etc. By utilizing these devices and techniques, writers are able to effectively build worlds that fit in certain genres; or deconstruct the tropes that constitute them. For example, a description of “a neon-soaked city street infested with techno-druggies” would clearly connote the aesthetics of a cyberpunk world.

Literature doesn’t just have to use words to communicate diegesis however. Some books, such as Sir Thomas More’s Utopia and J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, include maps at the beginning to give the reader an impression of the size and shape of their diegesis. 

Maps are most commonly used in long-running fantasy series to help guide readers’ understanding of people and place. Literature has been a medium of storytelling for millennia; yet writers are still playing with interesting ways to communicate diegesis.

DIEGESIS IN FILM/TELEVISION

In film and television, diegesis is most often referenced in regards to sound. For example: you may have heard the terms diegetic sound and non-diegetic sound before. For more on diegetic and non-diegetic sound, check out our video below!

Diegesis is “the world” of a story – so therefore, diegetic sound is sound from the world of a story, while non-diegetic sound is sound outside the world of a story. For example: in Star Wars, the sound of lightsabers is diegetic, while John Williams’s orchestral score is non-diegetic. 

DIEGESIS IN VIDEO GAMES

Interactive media, or “video games,” play with diegesis in interesting ways. Game developers can leverage interactive technologies, such as haptics, to connect players with the “action” of the world of their story in a tactile way. But perhaps even more interestingly, developers are able to give players agency over the world itself. For example: sandbox games, like Minecraft, offer players free reign over the diegesis.

Want to build a tunnel and mine for diamonds? By all means. Want to build a dirt tower to the skybox? Knock yourself out. The diegesis of sandbox games are malleable in a way other mediums of storytelling simply can’t be.

These diegesis examples show that there are a lot of different ways artists can communicate the worlds of their stories. Don’t forget, diegesis is rooted in ancient philosophical tradition as a term used to refer to the “telling of a story.” But nowadays, diegesis is much more often used to refer to “the world” of a story itself.

Up Next

What is Atmosphere in Movies?

Perhaps you want to know more about how to create the world of a story now that you know what diegesis is. That’s where our next article comes in: where we explain what atmosphere is and how image and sound can create an awesome diegesis. By the end, you’ll know what atmosphere is and how to communicate it in your own works!

Up Next: Atmosphere in Movies Explained →