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diegetic

[ dahy-uh-jet-ik ]

adjective

  1. (of a story) told by a narrator:

    Interspersed throughout the movie are diegetic scenes in which the offscreen present-day protagonist comments—usually scathingly—on the behavior of his former self.

  2. happening within or being the created world of a story: In the Marvel cinematic universe, multiple separate superhero films take place within a single diegetic world.

    Diegetic sound—the creaking timbers of a ship at sea, the cries of gulls on the beach—pulls the viewer into the world of the movie.

    In the Marvel cinematic universe, multiple separate superhero films take place within a single diegetic world.



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Word History and Origins

Origin of diegetic1

First recorded in 1895–1900; from Greek diēgētikόs “(pertaining to a) narrative”
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Example Sentences

Even committed realists can work within the musical genre, with an entirely diegetic score and a narrative framed around a concert or a performance.

Anchored by its intricate sound design, which expertly blends score, diegetic sound and the thoughtful use of aural perspective, the series rejects potboiler rhythms in favor of a foreboding psychological chill.

That’s apparent in “Mean Girls,” which seems lightly embarrassed by any number that can’t be rendered diegetic or discounted as a dream sequence.

The music, in this case, arises not from a conventional score, but rather from the diegetic accompaniments of soup bubbling in a pot, butter sizzling in a pan and utensils scraping against crockery.

But the finished film, which featured a landmark diegetic soundtrack, a vibrant young cast and a strong vein of hopeful, Kennedy-era nostalgia, captured the imagination of audiences and redefined the teen movie.

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