A word for it

[temperance14]

In fiction or drama, is there a term for the distance between the narrator/protagonist/author's view, and that of the audience?

I've used the word "distance" and "buffer"---but is there a literary term for this? I'm trying to describe how an author eases the audience into the viewpoint of his sketch (with a comedic Fool/Trickster character at the start), but gradually reduces this buffer until his voice/view directly confronts the audience and their beliefs.

How can I phrase this in literary terms? Buehler?

Comments

[emilia-romagna.livejournal.com]

In film, its called "aesthetic distance".

[temperance14.livejournal.com]

I LOVE YOU!!!

[emilia-romagna.livejournal.com]

I love you too :)

[ribbin.livejournal.com]

I'm a little confused by what you mean. Can you give another example?

[temperance14.livejournal.com]

Using a progression of tone, voice, humor, direction of address (how directly the narrator or protagonist addresses/involves the reader/audience)...Ways of sneaking sensitive or taboo subjects into the consciousness of the audience.

Sometimes using humor, before turning serious.

And bugger it, I keep trying (and erasing) examples of other techniques without getting to wordy--or putting my essay here, and I'm not fucking succeeding. And I've got to get ready for work (I'm here because I woke up too early. Wonderful on a school night.)

Consider progressing/changing the tone of the protagonist, and whom he addresses. The piece I'm critiqing is a one sketch out of a one-man comedy.

In my view, his character is introduced in the sketch (about immigration/Latino labor class) as a Fool/Trickster. He's the butt of the joke at the start--more correctly, he's an everyman, failing desperately in an attempt to persuade an authority figure. There is gentle parody of other white European stereotypes as he tries to deny he's own status. The audience knows the topic, but the start of the piece is gentle, and does not address white middle class, directly or indirectly.

Middle portion: he moves to addressing a non-existent authority figure (not-on stage, not spoken). The authority figure is addressed as of the same nationality, so this still offers a buffer for the audience. He is more assertive in tone and topic, no longer a Fool, but using bonding, anger, pleading in rapid succession to state his case to another Latino.

Final third he is addressing harder issues. It is with fast humor, satire, comparisons, but he is definitely addressing the target audience now, and with more bite.

Mambo Mouth (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-qLlcmEMok), early 90's.