What does the term "diegetic sound" mean?

Diegetic sound refers to audio that is part of the film's narrative world, meaning it originates from within the story itself and can be heard by the characters. This includes sounds such as dialogue spoken by characters, sounds made by objects in the scene, or background noises that characters would naturally hear, like traffic or music playing in a bar.

Understanding diegetic sound is crucial because it enhances the realism of a scene and helps the audience engage with the story on a deeper level. It creates a sense of immersion, allowing viewers to feel like they are part of the film's environment. This term is often contrasted with non-diegetic sound, which refers to audio elements that do not exist within the film's world, such as a film score or narrator's voice-over that characters cannot hear.

In this case, recognizing that diegetic sound is directly tied to the characters' experiences in the film clarifies why the second choice is correct.