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Chapter 1. Beyond metaphors and traditions

Exploring the conceptual boundaries of narrative engagement
  • Helena Bilandzic and Rick Busselle
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Narrative Absorption
This chapter is in the book Narrative Absorption

Abstract

Scholars have used a range of labels to describe the subjective experience of entering a narrative and losing awareness of the actual, immediate world (e.g., absorption, transportation, engagement). This chapter begins by considering these labels at metaphorical and conceptual levels, suggesting that metaphoric descriptions of the phenomena are insufficient for understanding the experience at conceptual and theoretical levels. The chapter then conceptually describes constructs that are central to research on narrative engagement and locates them as core to a narrative experience, partially overlapping with narrative experience or distinct from but correlated with the experience. It concludes with considerations related to the measurement of different aspects of experiences with narratives.

Abstract

Scholars have used a range of labels to describe the subjective experience of entering a narrative and losing awareness of the actual, immediate world (e.g., absorption, transportation, engagement). This chapter begins by considering these labels at metaphorical and conceptual levels, suggesting that metaphoric descriptions of the phenomena are insufficient for understanding the experience at conceptual and theoretical levels. The chapter then conceptually describes constructs that are central to research on narrative engagement and locates them as core to a narrative experience, partially overlapping with narrative experience or distinct from but correlated with the experience. It concludes with considerations related to the measurement of different aspects of experiences with narratives.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgements ix
  4. Narrative absorption 1
  5. Part I. Conceptualization of narrative absorption
  6. Chapter 1. Beyond metaphors and traditions 11
  7. Chapter 2. Towards a new understanding of absorbing reading experiences 29
  8. Chapter 3. Narrative persuasion 49
  9. Chapter 4. Immersion into narrative and poetic worlds 69
  10. Chapter 5. Into film 97
  11. Chapter 6. “Spellbound in darkness” 119
  12. Chapter 7. Antecedents of identification 133
  13. Part II. Empirical studies on narrative absorption
  14. Chapter 8. Identifying with in-game characters 157
  15. Chapter 9. The effect of suspense structure on felt suspense and narrative absorption in literature and film 177
  16. Chapter 10. Elaboration, emotion, and transportation 199
  17. Chapter 11. Forms of absorption that facilitate the aesthetic and explanatory effects of literary reading 217
  18. Part III. Outcomes of narrative absorption
  19. Chapter 12. Absorption and meaningfulness 253
  20. Chapter 13. The role of absorption processes in narrative health communication 271
  21. Chapter 14. Absorption in narrative fiction and its possible impact on social abilities 293
  22. Index 315
https://doi.org/10.1075/lal.27.02bil

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgements ix
  4. Narrative absorption 1
  5. Part I. Conceptualization of narrative absorption
  6. Chapter 1. Beyond metaphors and traditions 11
  7. Chapter 2. Towards a new understanding of absorbing reading experiences 29
  8. Chapter 3. Narrative persuasion 49
  9. Chapter 4. Immersion into narrative and poetic worlds 69
  10. Chapter 5. Into film 97
  11. Chapter 6. “Spellbound in darkness” 119
  12. Chapter 7. Antecedents of identification 133
  13. Part II. Empirical studies on narrative absorption
  14. Chapter 8. Identifying with in-game characters 157
  15. Chapter 9. The effect of suspense structure on felt suspense and narrative absorption in literature and film 177
  16. Chapter 10. Elaboration, emotion, and transportation 199
  17. Chapter 11. Forms of absorption that facilitate the aesthetic and explanatory effects of literary reading 217
  18. Part III. Outcomes of narrative absorption
  19. Chapter 12. Absorption and meaningfulness 253
  20. Chapter 13. The role of absorption processes in narrative health communication 271
  21. Chapter 14. Absorption in narrative fiction and its possible impact on social abilities 293
  22. Index 315
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