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Diegetic and Non-Diegetic

Page history last edited by Air Dupaix 14 years, 3 months ago

Diegetic Sound 

Sound whose source is visible on the screen or whose source is implied to be present by the action of the film(1): 

  •  character voices(1)
  • sounds made by objects in the story(1)
  • music represented as coming from instruments in the story space(1)

     

Diegetic sound is any sound presented as originated from source within the film's world, digetic sound can be either on screen or off screen depending on whatever its source is within the frame or outside the frame(1). 

  • Another term for diegetic sound is actual sound(1). 
  • Diegesis is a Greek word for "recounted story(1)."  
  • The film's diegesis is the total world of the story action(1).

 

 

 

(Diegetic clip example)

 

 

 

 

Non-Diegetic 

Sound whose source is neither visible on the screen nor has been implied to be present in the action(1):  

  • narrator's commentary(1)
  • sound effects which is added for the dramatic effect(1)
  • mood music(1)

 

Non-diegetic sound is represented as coming from a source outside story space. 

 

The distinction between diegetic or non-diegetic sound depends on our understanding of the conventions of film viewing and listening.  We know of that certain sounds are represented as coming from the story world, while others are  represented as coming from outside the space of the story events.  A play with diegetic and non-diegetic conventions can be used to create ambiguity (horror), or to surprise the audience(1). 

  

  • Another term for non-diegetic sound is commentary sound(1).

 

 

(Non-Diegetic clip example)

 


 Works Consulted 

 

(1). "Diegetic and non-diegetic sounds." FilmSound.org: dedicated to the Art of Film Sound Design & Film Sound Theory. Web. 22 Oct. 2009. <http://filmsound.org/terminology/diegetic.htm>.
  

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