What is "in medias res"

Latin, literally "in the midst of things" (see medium).

a. begin in the middle of its storyline: said of a work of literature or a film. adv. In the middle of a storyline. n. narrative presented ''in medias res''.

A narrative work beginning in medias res ( , lit. "into the middle things" ) opens in the midst of action. (cf. ab ovo, ab initio). Often, exposition is bypassed and filled in gradually, either through dialogue, flashbacks or description of past events. For example, Hamlet begins after the death of Hamlet's father. Characters make reference to King Hamlet's death without the plot's first establishment of said fact. Since the play focuses on Hamlet and the revenge itself more so than the motivation, Shakespeare utilizes in medias res to bypass superfluous exposition.

Works that employ in medias res often, though not always, subsequently use flashback and nonlinear narrative for exposition of earlier events in order to fill in the backstory. For example, in Homer's Odyssey, we first learn about Odysseus' journey when he is held captive on Calypso's island. We then find out, in Books IX through XII, that the greater part of Odysseus' journey precedes that moment in the narrative. On the other hand, Homer's Iliad has relatively few flashbacks, although it opens in the thick of the Trojan War.

In Medias Res is a studio album by the German symphonic metal band Krypteria, released in 2005. The album was released as an enhanced CD, which includes two video tracks: "Victoriam Speramus", "Get the Hell Out of My Way".

The album name (Latin for Into the middle of things) reflects the fact, that the band considers In Medias Res their first album, while the band has worked together as Krypteria since 2001.

In Medias Res peaked at position 66 of the German album charts and at position 86 in Austria.

In medias res is a narrative technique in which a story opens in the middle or end rather than the beginning.

In Medias Res may also refer to:

• In Medias Res (band), a Canadian indie band
• In Medias Res (Krypteria album)
• In Medias Res (PMtoday album)
• "In Medias Res", a song by Los Campesinos! from Romance Is Boring

In Medias Res is also alluded to in the intentionally misspelled in media res, an online MediaCommons publication.

In Medias Res (also known as IMR) is an indie rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The band consists of Andrew Lee ( lead vocals and guitar), Ash Poon ( lead guitar), Ryan Flowers ( bass) and Robert Tornroos ( drums). The band's original drummer, Steve Watts, left in 2011. After forming in 1999, In Medias Res have released one EP and two full-length albums, Of What Was (2003) and It Was Warm and Sunny When We First Set Out (2011). They have been categorized in the media as alternative, post and math rock, while being stylistically compared to such bands as Pedro the Lion, Radiohead and TV on the Radio.

In Medias Res is the second and last studio album by progressive rock band PMtoday. The album was released on April 6, 2010. The album's name is a Latin phrase, which literally translates in English to "in the middle of things". It is a reference to the literary technique in which a story begins in mid-action. This album marks the first appearances of guitarist Cuinn Brogan and bassist Jerrod Morgan, replacing former members Kevin Middleton and Nick Hargett respectively.