The Emergence Machine

Dramatic Tension

property · Theater · Level 9 · E9

E9Cultures

Each concept here is mapped to its prerequisites — the ideas you'd need first to understand it — all the way down to four foundations: Space, Time, Energy, Pattern. Click any prerequisite to drill down, or scroll for the chain graph.

Trace. Question. Emerge.

Emergence definition

Dramatic tension is a property of storytelling that creates a sense of uncertainty and anxiety in the audience.

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Wiktionary senses

External reference — all senses of the word “dramatic tension” on Wiktionary. This atlas concept maps to only the slice of meaning relevant to the prerequisite graph.

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Source: Wiktionary — “dramatic tension”. Content available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Historical origin

Origin word
dramatic tension
Origin language
English

Prerequisite chain

Possible path of this concept down to the fundamental substrate.

thisfoundationsL9L8L7L6L5L4L2L1L0Dramatic TensionConflictWeaponMilitaryGovernmentPlayInteractionPoliticsTension… intermediate l…ConsequenceForceFormLandActionChangeExistenceMatterEnergyPatternSpaceTimeE1 concrete → E14 abstract

Neighborhood

Direct prerequisites above, concepts that depend on this one below.

thisprerequisitesDramatic TensionL9TensionL4PlayL5ConflictL8E1 concrete → E14 abstract

In other languages

Prerequisites

What you need to understand first.

  • Tension L4 (requires)
    dramatic tension builds on the concept of tension
  • Play L5 (requires) Theater sense
    Dramatic tension is the sense of uncertainty and anxiety created by unresolved conflicts that keeps audiences engaged and interested.
  • Conflict L8 (requires)
    Dramatic tension is the sense of uncertainty and anxiety created by unresolved conflicts that keeps audiences engaged and interested, and understanding conflict is essential for grasping this concept.