Chapter 9. The effect of suspense structure on felt suspense and narrative absorption in literature and film
-
Katalin Bálint
Abstract
The present study was to further the understanding of the conceptual relationship between narrative absorption, that is the intense engagement with a story world, and felt suspense, that is the anticipation of a narrative outcome event. To this end, a media comparative online experiment was conducted with a 2 (Media format: film vs. literature) × 2 (Suspense structure: diegetic vs. non-diegetic delay) × 2 (Stories) between subject design. Results revealed a complex relationship among felt suspense, attention, emotional engagement, and transportation, showing the high importance of attention in felt suspense, and the moderating effect of media format and gender. Findings indicate that non-diegetic suspense delay unlike diegetic suspense decreases felt suspense and narrative absorption independently of media format.
Abstract
The present study was to further the understanding of the conceptual relationship between narrative absorption, that is the intense engagement with a story world, and felt suspense, that is the anticipation of a narrative outcome event. To this end, a media comparative online experiment was conducted with a 2 (Media format: film vs. literature) × 2 (Suspense structure: diegetic vs. non-diegetic delay) × 2 (Stories) between subject design. Results revealed a complex relationship among felt suspense, attention, emotional engagement, and transportation, showing the high importance of attention in felt suspense, and the moderating effect of media format and gender. Findings indicate that non-diegetic suspense delay unlike diegetic suspense decreases felt suspense and narrative absorption independently of media format.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements ix
- Narrative absorption 1
-
Part I. Conceptualization of narrative absorption
- Chapter 1. Beyond metaphors and traditions 11
- Chapter 2. Towards a new understanding of absorbing reading experiences 29
- Chapter 3. Narrative persuasion 49
- Chapter 4. Immersion into narrative and poetic worlds 69
- Chapter 5. Into film 97
- Chapter 6. “Spellbound in darkness” 119
- Chapter 7. Antecedents of identification 133
-
Part II. Empirical studies on narrative absorption
- Chapter 8. Identifying with in-game characters 157
- Chapter 9. The effect of suspense structure on felt suspense and narrative absorption in literature and film 177
- Chapter 10. Elaboration, emotion, and transportation 199
- Chapter 11. Forms of absorption that facilitate the aesthetic and explanatory effects of literary reading 217
-
Part III. Outcomes of narrative absorption
- Chapter 12. Absorption and meaningfulness 253
- Chapter 13. The role of absorption processes in narrative health communication 271
- Chapter 14. Absorption in narrative fiction and its possible impact on social abilities 293
- Index 315
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements ix
- Narrative absorption 1
-
Part I. Conceptualization of narrative absorption
- Chapter 1. Beyond metaphors and traditions 11
- Chapter 2. Towards a new understanding of absorbing reading experiences 29
- Chapter 3. Narrative persuasion 49
- Chapter 4. Immersion into narrative and poetic worlds 69
- Chapter 5. Into film 97
- Chapter 6. “Spellbound in darkness” 119
- Chapter 7. Antecedents of identification 133
-
Part II. Empirical studies on narrative absorption
- Chapter 8. Identifying with in-game characters 157
- Chapter 9. The effect of suspense structure on felt suspense and narrative absorption in literature and film 177
- Chapter 10. Elaboration, emotion, and transportation 199
- Chapter 11. Forms of absorption that facilitate the aesthetic and explanatory effects of literary reading 217
-
Part III. Outcomes of narrative absorption
- Chapter 12. Absorption and meaningfulness 253
- Chapter 13. The role of absorption processes in narrative health communication 271
- Chapter 14. Absorption in narrative fiction and its possible impact on social abilities 293
- Index 315