Breaking the Fourth Wall

In a theatre you usually see three walls, the back wall and the two side walls, this adds up to three, the fourth wall is the invisible wall, allowing the audience to look in. Usually in a theatre show the characters/action on the stage never make themselves aware of what is behind the fourth wall, they act as if they are in a closed room with no one looking in, however some theatre shows involve the audience, particularly for interactive kids shows; *character asks* "WHERE IS HE?" *audience scream* "HE'S BEHIND YOU!" - this is known as breaking the fourth wall as the characters and action on stage are aware of what is behind this imaginary fourth wall.

Breaking the fourth wall doesn't just apply to theatres, it also applies to TV, even if characters in a film are outside, the set still has dimensions as we can see what is around them whether its walls or other houses, in TV/Film breaking the wall is to be taken less literally due to this, however it still means acknowledging the audience - it is having direct contact with the audience.

On live tv or theatre shows, breaking the fourth wall can also be done by mistake for example if the actor is stunned by the audience or looks directly into the camera - it is all considered contact with the 'outside world' aka, what is behind that imaginary wall.

Below is a youtube clip with 10 'breaking the fourth wall' moments.

Personally, I don't like when the fourth wall is broken because I feel like it ruins the drama and makes the film seem less real, if an audience is very engaged in the tension and drama of a story for example a funeral, and a character turns round and begins to break the fourth wall by talking to them, I feel like it would ruin the atmosphere. It is my personal preference to watch a film and feel like I am watching a story myself rather than feel like I'm being spoken to by characters who aren't supposed to know I'm there - it ruins the nature of a situation such as a funeral.

Aside from this, one pro to breaking the fourth wall could be in a comedy film because its less intense and more light hearted, it could be seen as funny which is the aim of any comedy genre.