Enjoyment of films as a function of narrative experience, perceived realism and transportability

Abstract

This study investigates the relations between narrative experiences (transportation, identification, immersion and telepresence) and film enjoyment, and explores the possibility that transportability (the disposition for narrative experience) and perceived realism facilitate narrative experience and indirectly influence enjoyment. The study measured narrative experience and realism in three films from different genres. Results demonstrate that transportability, and both external realism (perceived match to the actual world) and narrative realism (perceived coherence in the story) positively influence at least one aspect of narrative experience, and that narrative experience in turn is a significant predictor for enjoyment.