In response to Wm. R. Pace's request for a definition of "diegetic": The term is from narrative theory and refers to "The (fictional) world in which the situations and events narrated occur" [Gerald Prince, DICTIONARY OF NARRATOLOGY]. The term can also refer to the "telling" rather than (dramatised) "showing" of events. For applications to film, see Chapter 3 of Bordwell and Thompson's FILM ART:AN INTRODUCTION. A fuller elaboration of some implications of the term can also be found in Bordwell's NARRATION IN THE FICTION FILM, among other places. In the case of the first defintion, at least, film usually presents us with diegetic and extra (or non) diegetic elements. The former include the characters and events depicted, the rendition of setting, sounds generated from within the story world and so forth. The latter would include such things as credits, "background" music, and the kinds of odd stuff that someone like Godard likes to throw into his films. Hope that helps. Don Larsson, Mankato State U (MN) ---- To signoff SCREEN-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF SCREEN-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]