The identity of protagonists in persuasive narratives was varied to test the impact of audience-character demographic similarity on identification. In Study 1, sex and nationality, both traits that were pretested to be important to... more
The identity of protagonists in persuasive narratives was varied to test the impact of audience-character demographic similarity on identification. In Study 1, sex and nationality, both traits that were pretested to be important to participants’ self-identity, were varied, but demographic similarity did not increase perceived similarity, identification or persuasion. In Study 2, age and city of residence, traits that were central to the story, were varied, but again similarity on these demographic traits had no effects. Given previous research, these were surprising findings. The failure to find the expected effect of demographic similarity on identification and its implications for the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the development of identification are discussed within the framework of narrative response theory.
This study addresses the effect of narratives offering a positive depiction of gay men on the audience's change in attitude towards homosexuality. Specifically , it analyzes the relationship of character identification, inter-group... more
This study addresses the effect of narratives offering a positive depiction of gay men on the audience's change in attitude towards homosexuality. Specifically , it analyzes the relationship of character identification, inter-group contact, religiosity and gender with homophobia reduction. One hundred and fifty students of a Serbian University (M Age = 22.13, SD = 2.28) filled in a questionnaire measuring socio-demographic information and the instrument H25 assessing homo-phobia. Two months later, they watched a movie depicting gay men in a positive manner and completed a questionnaire containing the homophobia scale and questions related to identification with the main character, inter-group contact and religiosity. The results showed that watching the movie is related to a reduction of homophobia and that character identification and inter-group contact are negatively correlated with homophobia, whereas religiosity is positively correlated with it. Results also show that there is a negative correlation between religiosity and the attitude change induced by the movie, and that men express higher level of homophobia than women. The study contributes to the knowledge of the mechanisms reducing homophobia through media.
Narrative formats for teenage pregnancy prevention. The effect of the narrative modality on preventive attitudes Catalina González-Cabrera [CV] [ ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1367-9337] [ GS:... more
Narrative formats for teenage pregnancy prevention. The effect of the narrative modality on preventive attitudes Catalina González-Cabrera [CV] [ ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1367-9337] [ GS: https://scholar.google.es/citations?user=AR59BgYAAAAJ&hl=es ] Professor at the Universidad del Azuay / University of Azuay (Ecuador)-cgonzalez@uazuay.edu.ec Juan-José Igartua [CV] [ ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9865-2714 ] [ GS: Abstract Introduction: The article analyses the effect of narrative persuasion and media literacy level on attitudes, knowledge, perceptions and behavioural intention in the reception of a short video created to prevent teenage pregnancy. Methods: 220 teenage girls participated in an experiment in which they answered a pre-test questionnaire measuring their critical skill to perceive sexualised content in the media as well as dependent variables. A month later, participants were randomly assigned to two experimental conditions: half of them watched a narrative video in testimonial format and the other half watched a narrative video in dialogic format. Afterwards, female participants filled out the post-test questionnaire. Results: The level of media literacy moderated the indirect effects of the testimonial narrative video on the perception of the risks of experiencing negative situations during teenage pregnancy. Conclusions: Results are discussed as an advance in the understanding of the processes of narrative persuasion in health.
Among the historical writings that address the concept of ‘Visual Esperanto’, numerous texts have focused on Chaplin’s films and the character he portrayed: the tramp. The tramp has become emblematic of the international language of film.... more
Among the historical writings that address the concept of ‘Visual Esperanto’, numerous texts have focused on Chaplin’s films and the character he portrayed: the tramp. The tramp has become emblematic of the international language of film. It maybe that this emblem’s ubiquity has lent it a commonsensical armor that has averted critical questions, as no research has focused on this central topic. Yet the fact that the tramp has come to symbolize universality and the international language of film raises questions: Chaplin’s tramp has been repeatedly inked to migration and foreignness. Siegfried Kracauer, for example, regarded him as the personification of the outcast, the pariah. The image of the other, the stranger, is often used to delineate the social body from the outside, i.e. the group defines itself in contrast to the outcast. Therefore, the question arises as to how the character of the stranger helped define the boundaries of universality, not from without, but precisely from within? Through an examination of writings from the silent era and the years of transition to sound film, this paper will trace the paradox that lies at the heart of the concept of the universality of ‘Visual Esperanto’. An analysis of the tramp’s character traits against the backdrop of the formation of the Hollywood star system will shed new light on the deep connections between the esthetics of abstraction and the historical role of the masses at the beginning of the twentieth century.
The writer chooses this topic because of several reasons . Firstly, the writer wants to distinguish the similarities and differences of the novel and its film adaptation “Persuasion ” by analyzing the structural point of view or their... more
The writer chooses this topic because of several reasons . Firstly, the writer wants to distinguish the similarities and differences of the novel and its film adaptation “Persuasion ” by analyzing the structural point of view or their intrinsic elements of both sources. Secondly, the writer aims at recognizing how the novelist and film maker of Persuasion make use of the words and images to strengthen the story to show how the characters of the story defend their self exteem . The writer will only spotlight on the Kellynch Hall as the representative of the people who have connection to the efforts of being defensive in the consideration of the impression the writer gets from the novel, the Kellynch Hall is described mostly at the first part of the novel. When she watched the movie, she also saw an impressive and luxurious big white house with green large front yard. Consequently, it is representative enough to make use of the house as the witness of the characters’ efforts of being defensive. Thirdly, the writer wants to come across the impacts of adapting the novel into film by finding out the strengths and weaknesses of both sources after comparing them . To see whether the significance of the novel’s essence reduces or not after it is being adapted into a film.
Being able to put oneself in someone else's shoes is widely considered as one of the central element of a healthy organized society. We need this basic skill to cooperate with one another and build complex societies, create associations... more
Being able to put oneself in someone else's shoes is widely considered as one of the central element of a healthy organized society. We need this basic skill to cooperate with one another and build complex societies, create associations or even families and personal relationships with other human beings. Not being able to empathize with others, or being less proficient at it, hinders a person's ability to find his or her place in society and, more generally, to simply enjoy social interactions in a real or fictional context. In this paper, I would like to focus on fictional enjoyment in films or television programs, and how empathic abilities are crucial in the process of fictional involvement which is itself linked to enjoyment. I would like to do so through a neurological point of view by introducing firstly the findings on the mirror neuron system and by secondly linking them to the theories afiliated with the human empathic experience, and the brain structures which show activity during said experience. I will later on turn to fictional involvement and review some of the literature associated with the personality disorder known as alexithymia, where patients display a sub-normal ability to describe and identify their own emotions, and how this trait can affect character identification and film enjoyment.
We examined cosplayers' perceptions of their favorite character representing their actual, ideal, and ought self as predictors of identification with the character. In a large-scale survey study, cosplayers rated the degree to which they... more
We examined cosplayers' perceptions of their favorite character representing their actual, ideal, and ought self as predictors of identification with the character. In a large-scale survey study, cosplayers rated the degree to which they identified with their favorite character and rated the extent to which the character represented their actual, ideal, and ought self. The results revealed that both actual and ideal selves were positively associated with character identification, while perception of the character as resembling one's ought self was not associated with character identification. The findings are consistent with prior research examining cosplayers' choice of character to cosplay.
This review proposes that transportation and identification are distinct forms of engaging with narratives, that they are enhanced by different factors and that they have distinct roles in narrative persuasion. By describing and analyzing... more
This review proposes that transportation and identification are distinct forms of engaging with narratives, that they are enhanced by different factors and that they have distinct roles in narrative persuasion. By describing and analyzing 56 studies that explore the antecedents and consequences of transportation and identification, the ways in which these two processes are similar and different are highlighted. Following the review, new directions for research in this area are explicated. Finally, implications for both theory and message design are explored.
We examined associations between activist behavior, character identification, and frequency of watching the television show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Bronies—adult fans of the show—often reference the prosocial behavior... more
We examined associations between activist behavior, character identification, and frequency of watching the television show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Bronies—adult fans of the show—often reference the prosocial behavior exemplified by characters in the show and its prosocial messages and themes. Results from the cross-section study found that a history of activism predicted both frequency of viewership and identification with one's favorite character in the show. Identification with one's favorite character was also found to mediate the relationship between activism and frequency of viewing. The results reflect the prosocial correlates of media consumption, with implications for future research on prosocial television consumption.
Online streaming and DVRs have spurred the use of products placed within the storyline of a show to be an opportunity for advertisers to offer a message to their consumer about a brand even with the possibility of entirely avoiding... more
Online streaming and DVRs have spurred the use of products placed within the storyline of a show to be an opportunity for advertisers to offer a message to their consumer about a brand even with the possibility of entirely avoiding commercial pods. This study examines wishful identification as a concept that mediates the relationship between favourite fictional character attributes, and buying behaviours and brand trust of products/brands used by a favourite character in a television show. Results indicate that wishful identification does, in fact, persist beyond the viewing experience. Additionally, the attribute of admiration and a combination of attributes we label the ‘Ideal Character’ is most predictive of wishful identification and our purchase intention dependent variables.
Formatos narrativos para la prevención del embarazo. Efecto de la modalidad narrativa en las actitudes de prevención Narrative formats for teenage pregnancy prevention. The effect of the narrative modality on preventive attitudes Catalina... more
Formatos narrativos para la prevención del embarazo. Efecto de la modalidad narrativa en las actitudes de prevención Narrative formats for teenage pregnancy prevention. The effect of the narrative modality on preventive attitudes Catalina González-Cabrera [CV] [ ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1367-9337] [ GS: https://scholar.google.es/citations?user=AR59BgYAAAAJ&hl=es ] Universidad del Azuay (Ecuador)-cgonzalez@uazuay.edu.ec Juan-José Igartua [CV] [ ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9865-2714 ] [ GS: https://scholar.google.es/citations?user=qsR9fsEAAAAJ&hl=es ] Universidad de Salamanca (España)-jigartua@usal.es Abstracts [ES] Introducción: Se analiza el efecto en las actitudes, conocimientos, percepciones e intención de conducta de la persuasión narrativa y del nivel de alfabetización mediática en un video creado para prevenir el embarazo adolescente. Método: Las participantes del experimento (N = 220) cumplimentaron un cuestionario pre-test que medía la habilidad crítica para percibir el contenido sexualizado de los medios y las variables dependientes. Un mes después las adolescentes fueron distribuidas aleatoriamente a dos condiciones experimentales: la mitad vio un video narrativo en formato testimonial y la otra mitad un vídeo narrativo en formato dialógico. Luego rellenaron el cuestionario post-test. Resultados: Se observó́que el nivel de alfabetización mediática moderaba los efectos indirectos del vídeo narrativo testimonial en la percepción de riesgo de vivir situaciones negativas en un embarazo adolescente. Conclusiones: Se discuten los resultados como un avance en el conocimiento de los procesos de la persuasión narrativa en salud. [EN] Introduction: The article analyses the effect of narrative persuasion and media literacy level on attitudes, knowledge, perceptions and behavioural intention in the reception of a short video created to prevent teenage pregnancy. Methods: 220 teenage girls participated in an experiment in which they answered a pre-test questionnaire measuring their critical skill to perceive sexualised content in the media as well as dependent variables. A month later, participants were randomly assigned to two experimental conditions: half of them watched a narrative video in testimonial format and the other half watched a narrative video in dialogic format. Afterwards, female participants filled out the post
This paper is a contestation of Laura Mulvey's famous essay on Spectator identification," Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema," and the Freudian conceptualization of film spectatorship. Mulvey's work while groundbreaking has numerous... more
This paper is a contestation of Laura Mulvey's famous essay on Spectator identification," Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema," and the Freudian conceptualization of film spectatorship. Mulvey's work while groundbreaking has numerous shortcomings when we try to extend her observations concerning gender and film spectatorship across the boundaries of race and class. In proposing an alternative to Mulvey's psychoanalytic underpinnings, I use the work of famed sociologist Erving Goffman and his book," The Presentation of the Self in Everyday Life," and his concept of performance as an access point in how diverse film spectators can surrender to the narrative of a film through the performance of characters of different genders, classes, and races than those of the Spectators themselves.
El rol de la persuasión narrativa en el Edu-Entretenimiento para mejorar la salud en América Latina: Revisión de los últimos cinco años The role of narrative persuasion in Edu-Entertainment to improve health in Latin America: Review of... more
El rol de la persuasión narrativa en el Edu-Entretenimiento para mejorar la salud en América Latina: Revisión de los últimos cinco años The role of narrative persuasion in Edu-Entertainment to improve health in Latin America: Review of the last five years O papel da persuasão narrativa na Edu-Entretenimento para melhorar a saúde na América Latina: revisão dos últimos cinco anos
Legendary producer-director Cecil B. DeMille was a progenitor of Paramount Pictures, a seminal cofounder of Hollywood, and the master of the American biblical epic; but whose pioneering achievements and filmic practices still remain... more
Legendary producer-director Cecil B. DeMille was a progenitor of Paramount Pictures, a seminal cofounder of Hollywood, and the master of the American biblical epic; but whose pioneering achievements and filmic practices still remain grossly unappreciated today. One of his aesthetic trade secrets was the “deep focus construction” of his on-screen characters, that is, the engineering of pertinent correspondences between his characterizations and the actors’ idiosyncratic traits and/or previous roles to deepen the naturalistic resonance of authenticity. A brief review of the critical literature and an examination of selected DeMille films, particularly The Ten Commandments (1923 & 1956), was performed to illustrate this casting principle; utilizing humanist film criticism as the guiding analytical lens. It was concluded that DeMille was a far defter biblical filmmaker than hitherto appreciated. Further research into DeMille Studies is highly warranted, warmly recommended and already long overdue.
Are We Empathizing With the Situation, The Character or the Space? : A Methodology of Defining Space and Character using Little Miss Sunshine, Lego Friends, 50 Shades of Grey, Twilight, and Secretary. In order to connect narrative... more
Are We Empathizing With the Situation, The Character or the Space? : A Methodology of Defining Space and Character using Little Miss Sunshine, Lego Friends, 50 Shades of Grey, Twilight, and Secretary.
In order to connect narrative analysis to the actual nature of film craft, this essay offers a clear description of the craft-term character and applies it to many examples, which then helps us distinguish between narrative elements that express Character from those representing Emotions, a fundamental distinction that helps clarify the way that narrative cinema is crafted and operates.
We start with an analysis of the use of Emotional music in the child television show Lego Friends and contrast that music's narrative role and craft function with the Character music of the film Little Miss Sunshine. This allows us to define what we call the Characterological manifold which helps us recognize when narrative space becomes a tunnel of rich Character expression as opposed to expressing emotions or plot. We then apply this method to three different tryst spaces - spaces where a romantic couple first broaches their intimate issues - in the movies 50 Shades of Grey, Twilight and Secretary, showing how it distinguishes each in turn as a DisPassionate space, a Dramatic space and a Dantean space. This comparative analysis then reveals how the music of 50 Shades expresses only emotions, while that of the film Secretary shows how music can change the nature of a narrative space by expressing character and not simply emotion.
‘Society often forgives the criminal; it never forgives the dreamer.’ ― Oscar Wilde Viewers of films and TV shows become fascinated with murderers and follow the adventures of meth cooks. The impact of engagement with fictional ‘bad... more
‘Society often forgives the criminal; it never forgives the dreamer.’ ― Oscar Wilde
Viewers of films and TV shows become fascinated with murderers and follow the adventures of meth cooks. The impact of engagement with fictional ‘bad guys’ remains a matter of controversy. The idea that viewers can ‘identify’ with them only amplifies the problem. Plato considered identification as dangerous and ‘immediately morally suspicious.’ Spectatorship theories are still rooted in his ideas and insist that viewers can become ‘possessed’ by the ambitions, emotions and values of another. The term carries the weight of a long history of moral panics: from Nineteenth-Century critics describing Penny Dreadfuls as accountable for the moral degeneration of the masses to 1990s tabloids presenting James Bulger’s murderers as motivated by identification with the killer-doll Chuckie. ‘Identification’ is contentious, and famously difficult to define. The idea of identification with ‘negative’ characters has been simplified, reduced to a path of moral decline, and treated with uneasy suspicion even by viewers who experience it daily.
A positive audience research-derived account of identification would allow us to consider the function of viewer engagement with characters such as Dexter Morgan or Walter White. Instead of judging the characters by the real-life moral rules, a viewer can explore their various traits within fictional contexts and gain insight from their actions. My presentation explores identification as a complex connection between characters, their narrative situations and viewers’ actual experiences and emotions. I argue that the enduring presumption of a connection between identification and immorality is a testament to the confused history of the concept. When said connection is removed the attraction to ‘bad guys’ ceases to be illogical or pathological. Engagement with so-called ‘evil’ characters lends understanding to the dark side of human nature and allows viewers to safely confront the ‘criminal’ in themselves.
El presente estudio pretende identificar el conocimiento y uso que los estudiantes de décimo, primero, segundo y tercero de bachillerato de la ciudad de Cuenca (nativos digitales) dan a las diferentes herramientas tecnológicas con el fin... more
El presente estudio pretende identificar el conocimiento y uso que los estudiantes de décimo, primero, segundo y tercero de bachillerato de la ciudad de Cuenca (nativos digitales) dan a las diferentes herramientas tecnológicas con el fin de determinar la necesidad o no de capacitación y en qué áreas. Para esto se realizaron 400 encuestas a estudiantes de entre 14 a 18 años de los niveles mencionados. Se obtuvieron datos interesantes y novedosos en cuanto al uso tecnológico que dan los estudiantes a las redes sociales, navegadores y demás herramientas. En el área de la comunicación multimodal y multimedia falta mucho por hacer. Los resultados indican potencialidades.
