The effect of suspense structure on felt suspense and narrative absorption in literature and film

Katalin Bálint, Moniek Kuijpers, Miruna Doicaru

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterScientificpeer-review

    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.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationNarrative Absorption
    EditorsFrank Hakemulder, Moniek Kuijpers, Ed S. Tan, Katalin Bálint, Miruna Doicaru
    Place of PublicationAmsterdam
    PublisherJohn Benjamins Publishing Company
    Chapter9
    Pages177–197
    Number of pages20
    Volume27
    ISBN (Electronic)9789027265135
    ISBN (Print)9789027234162
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2017

    Keywords

    • absorption
    • narrative
    • suspense
    • suspense delay
    • discourse structure
    • literature
    • film

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