Dude, That Was Deep: Reflection Enhances the Tragic Film Experience for Hedonists

• In Event: Mass Communication: Elevation, Meaningfulness, Altruism

Abstract

If somber entertainment is reflective by nature, does actual reflection enrich the experience? The present study employs film drama exposure and reflective writing to investigate the impact of tragic drama on gratifications and the potential moderating effects of entertainment-focused variables, namely hedonic and eudaimonic motivations (Oliver & Raney, 2011). In a between-subjects experiment, tragic drama exposure and contemplation were manipulated in a laboratory and participants reported their levels of fun enjoyment and appreciation. Main effects of reflection on gratifications were found, as well as an unexpected gender difference in fun enjoyment. The results also show that hedonic motivations moderated the impact of contemplating tragic drama on enjoyment and appreciation as moving/thought-provoking, whereas eudaimonic motives does not moderate this effect. Thus, film hedonists stand to obtain more enjoyable and profound entertainment experiences from “serious” films through self-reflection. Practical implications and limitations are discussed.

Author

• Guan-Soon Khoo, Roanoke College