On the poetics of intradiegetic images

Abstract

The paper introduces the concept of an intradiegetic image – an image (a painting, a statue, a photo, etc.) that becomes one of the “characters” of the narrative plot in a literary or cinematic work. An intradiegetic image enters a state of forceful tension with its fictional surroundings: adapting to its environment, it deforms both the latter and itself. Such image damages the realistic illusion with its foreignness, highlights the contrast between two types of semiosis (iconic and symbolic), unfolds in narrative timing (while being initially fixed) and doubles the perceptive situation, turning the characters of the story into inside spectators. Its foreignness to the narration is indicated both by frame effects and the characters’ sacralizing actions and opinions about it. Multiplying (serialization) of intradiegetic images, increase in the number of their dimensions (flat images become tridimensional, tridimensional images start moving and changing with time) and a strong connection to human body are characteristic of intradiegetic images’ functioning in texts / films.