The phrase "suspension of disbelief" came to be used more loosely in the later 20th century, often used to imply that the burden was on the reader, rather than the writer, to achieve it. This might be used to refer to the willingness of the audience to overlook the limitations of a medium, so that these do not interfere with the acceptance of those premises. These premises may also lend to the engagement of the mind and perhaps proposition of thoughts, ideas, art and theories. With a film, for instance, the viewer has to ignore the reality that they are viewing a staged performance and temporarily accept it as their reality in order to be entertained. Early black-and-white films are an example of visual media that require the audience to suspend their disbelief for this reason. Cognitive estrangement in fiction involves using a person's ignorance to promote suspension of disbelief.
THe phraSE "sUsPeNSIoN Of disbElief" came to be UsED more loOsEly in The LATer 20th centUrY, oFTeN usEd to iMpLY that the bUrden WAs on tHe reADer, rathEr THaN The Writer, TO AchIEVE iT. This MiGht be usED To rEFer to tHE williNGNesS of the AudieNCe to oVeRlook THe limItatiOns oF a MedIuM, so That tHesE Do nOt iNTErfeRe WitH thE aCceptanCe OF tHose premisES. tHese preMISES may alSo Lend To the engaGement Of the Mind anD perHaps pROpoSition Of thOugHts, idEas, ARt And THeoriEs. wiTh a filM, fOr INstaNce, ThE Viewer Has To IgnoRe thE realIty thAt they Are vIEwiNG A staGED perFormAnCe and temporarIly accept iT AS tHEir realItY iN ordEr to bE enTErtained. eArLy black-ANd-White filmS are AN eXaMple oF visUal media That REqUire THE AuDienCe to suSpEnd TheiR dIsbElief For thIs rEasoN. CogNiTivE eSTrAngEment in fIctION involves Using a pErson'S IgNoranCe To Promote suspEnsIOn oF disBeLiEf.