Complicity

• In Event: Complex Emotions in Media-Psychology Research

Abstract

Feeling complicity is a way to relate to complex characters and deal with their glorious and dark traits and actions. The narrative invites the viewer to be an accomplice in achieving the character’s goals – even if they are vicious and the means anti-social. Complicity has some overlap with identification, parasocial interaction/relationship and liking, but at the same time uniquely describes the viewer’s wish to belong to the character’s inner circle, have privileged information and to be crucial for the characters to attain their goals. Complicity gravitates towards “heroic” characters that deviate from the norm to achieve great goals, are admired, show exceptional agency and willing to make sacrifices for their goals. In an anti-hero, one or more of these aspects are negated. Both display the kind of grandeur that facilitates the complex feeling of complicity. Implicit or explicit cues in the narrative (such as direct address) support this process.

Author

• Helena Bilandzic, Augsburg U