Why the Fourth Wall? Why not the First wall or the Second wall or the Third Wall?

AMKC

It's a stupid term anyway. Who even came up with the stupid term?

Sorry its just bugging me. I am currently watching "She-Hulk" and it features a lot in it too much if you ask me. A pity as it's a good show otherwise and funny. I do not mind a little bit if it but all the time then it starts to bug me. That's my word today by the way bug.

dxhound2005

The concept is usually attributed to the philosopher, critic and dramatist Denis Diderot in 1758.

Typical stage, fourth wall being the house.

The acceptance of the transparency of the fourth wall is part of the suspension of disbelief between a work of fiction and an audience, allowing them to enjoy the fiction as though they were observing real events. Critic Vincent Canby described it in 1987 as "that invisible scrim that forever separates the audience from the stage".

Ray Palmer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058261562/why-the-fourth-wall-why-not-the-first-wall-or-the-second-wall-or-the-third-wall

Really didn't think hard on it did you? It is really easy to see why it is the 4th wall and not another number

Gregor Samsa

Breaking the first, second or third walls would just be talking to the crew back stage.

EmmetSpiceland

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058261562/why-the-fourth-wall-why-not-the-first-wall-or-the-second-wall-or-the-third-wall

If they hadn’t utilised that, particular, dramatic “device” you’d have had a load of angry nerds whinging about it not being canon.

It’s weird that some lads will get upset over slight changes to, or different interpretations of, a fictional character but they do. Can’t have a black elf or female orc.

From what I heard on a radio review of the show, She-Hulk broke the “4th wall” in the comic books and before Deadpool was doing it.

timmyntc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119560319#Comment_119560319

What a great and helpful post. You really contributed to the thread.

Now it is so obvious why it is the 4th wall and not another number - your post is truly illuminating

Ray Palmer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119560409#Comment_119560409

There are such things as dumb questions and the OP was calling others stupid for the term which he said he thought about. Some people deserve to be mocked and not answered

The Mighty Quinn

Aww I'm too late to deride the OP. Others have done it for me.

dxhound2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058261562/why-the-fourth-wall-why-not-the-first-wall-or-the-second-wall-or-the-third-wall

More usually that is "Word of the Day" among those with an interest in the English language. Or "Word for Today" among those with an interest in the Bible.

Vita nova

You could always call it the front wall.

dontmindme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058261562/why-the-fourth-wall-why-not-the-first-wall-or-the-second-wall-or-the-third-wall

and if the first then why not the fourth...etc etc ad infinitum

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119560371#Comment_119560371

Thank you. I never thought of a stage or a theatre as having walls. It very easily could have been the 1st wall so.

Gregor Samsa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119565833#Comment_119565833

You never thought of a theatre as having walls? Are you confusing theatres with the ocean? Or space?

But now that we’ve established that theatres - being buildings - generally do have walls, why would the only side of the stage that doesn’t have a wall be the “first wall”?