A-Z Popular New Storytelling Search »
Storytelling
 

What is Suspension Of Disbelief?

 , updated on
Suspension of disbelief is the ability of audiences and readers to ignore the improbability of a story in order to enjoy it.

Storyteller's Responsibility

In the 19th century, suspension of disbelief was viewed purely as the responsibility of the storyteller. Techniques such as narrative threads help to make the most outlandish story somewhat believable.
Even when a story isn't at all believable, a storyteller may achieve suspension of disbelief. An audience is more willing to buy into a wild story if they are highly entertained. As such, extremely unrealistic stories can fly if they are thrilling, funny, suspenseful or dramatic.

Audience's Responsibility

In the post WWII years, suspension of disbelieve has come to imply a responsibility of audiences and readers to give a story a chance. This may have occurred in response to critics who pick at every technical flaw or far fetched idea in fiction and film. Fiction is meant to stretch beyond reality and pointing out that something isn't realistic isn't exactly insightful.
Overview: Suspension Of Disbelief
Type
Definition
An audience or readers ability to see beyond the improbability of a story in order to enjoy it.
Related Concepts

Storytelling

This is the complete list of articles we have written about storytelling.
Analogy
Archetypes
Artistic License
Atmosphere
Character Development
Callback
Character Flaws
Cliche
Dry Humor
Design Fiction
Improv
Deux Ex Machina
Kairos
Direct Language
Literary Device
Literature
Figurative Language
Macguffin
Hypothetical Question
Metaphor
Mood
Improvisation
Myth
Inside Jokes
Plot
Jumping The Shark
Quibble
Rhetorical Device
Sarcasm
Lost The Plot
Satire
Message Framing
Tone Of Text
Understatement
Metaphysical Conceit
Verbal Irony
Want To Believe
Mood
Wit
Narrative Thread
Worldbuilding
Non Sequitur
Peak-End Rule
Personification
Red Herring
Rhetorical Question
Rule Of Three
Slice Of Life
Suspension Of Disbelief
Tagline
Looking Glass
Word Of Mouth
More ...
If you enjoyed this page, please consider bookmarking Simplicable.
 

Storytelling

Examples of storytelling techniques.

How The World Became Fiction

A theory of innovation and storytelling.

Macguffin

A storytelling technique explained.

Improvisation

The definition of improvisation with examples.

Business Storytelling

The common types of business story.

Slice Of Life

A definition of slice of life with examples.

Satire

The definition of satire with examples.

Design Fiction

The definition of design fiction with examples.

Ambiguity

A complete overview of ambiguity with examples.

Culture Definition

A few possible definitions of culture.

Cosmopolitanism

An overview of cosmopolitanism.

Subcultures

A list of subcultures.

Culture Of Fear

An overview of culture of fear.

Super Culture

An overview of super culture with examples.

Cultural Superpower

A definition of cultural superpower with examples.

Cultural Lag

When culture isn't ready for the future.

Fine Art

A definition of fine art.

Cultural Capital

A definition of cultural capital with examples.

Global Culture

An overview of global culture with examples.
The most popular articles on Simplicable in the past day.

New Articles

Recent posts or updates on Simplicable.
Site Map