post #3110788 post #3387968
A term originating from the three-walled stage setup typical of theaters, the fourth wall being the imaginary wall separating the audience from the stage.

A breaking of the fourth wall occurs when a fictional character goes out of character and actively addresses the audience as an audience, or in some other way acknowledges the viewer as being outside of the character's world, or otherwise demonstrates awareness of themselves not actually being real or in a real setting. Here, a character does not necessarily have to address the viewer but a character may break the fourth wall toward others in the picture itself by referencing their fictional nature.

not to be confused with outside_border or outside_panel.