A journey through communication research on transportation: the future of narrative transportation on emerging forms of media

Abstract

ABSTRACT This essay discusses how storytelling conventions and entertainment delivery methods have evolved with the advent of new technologies, such as virtual and augmented reality. This paper aims to explore the psychological mechanisms involved in narrative processing for users of augmented and virtual reality spaces, focusing on transportation as an important construct. A history of presence through art performances and Greek poetry is discussed. Connections are established between Greek tragedies and audience scholarship, highlighting Nietzsche’s framework for understanding the impact of Greek tragedies on audiences and the concept of the fourth wall. The fourth wall is used to assess the similarities and differences between traditional and emerging forms of media. Finally, future research on transportation with narratives on virtual and augmented reality is proposed. These recommendations include: adapting the transportation measure to fit the affordances of emerging tech better, clarifying the relationship between transportation and flow in the context of narrative exposure within emerging tech, and conceptualizing transportation at a macro level to include transmedia experiences.