Abstract
In this study, we empirically investigate the enjoyment-related consequences of the TV trope of breaking the fourth wall (B4W), which is when a fictional character addresses viewers directly. Based on the model of narrative comprehension and engagement, we assume that B4W contributes to viewers’ cognitive and affective enjoyment by intensifying the parasocial interaction experience (EPSI). Alternatively, B4W could reduce enjoyment by disrupting viewers’ transportation into the narrative. We report two experiments with a total of N = 658 participants and three different stimuli based on the TV series House of Cards (HoC) and Malcolm in the Middle (MitM) as well as the movie Deadpool (DP). Analyses revealed that B4W increased the EPSI, which in turn fostered enjoyment.
Contributor Notes
Daniela M. Schlütz (PhD, Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media) is Professor of Theory and Empiricism of Digital Media at the Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf (Germany). Her research and teaching interests are popular culture (especially quality TV series), entertainment research, strategic communication, and empirical research methods. Her habilitation treatise deals with quality TV as an entertainment phenomenon and covers development, characteristics, use, and reception of complex television series like The Sopranos (David Chase, 1999–2007), The Wire (David Simon, 2002–2008), and Breaking Bad (Vince Gilligan, 2008–2013). Email: d.schluetz@filmuniversitaet.de
Daniel Possler (MA) is Doctoral Researcher in the Department of Journalism and Communication Research (IJK), Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media (Germany). In his research, he focusses on media uses and effects, media entertainment particularly resulting from digital, interactive media such as video games, and the integration of innovative computational methods in communication science. Email: daniel.possler@ijk.hmtm-hanniver.de
Lucas Golombek received his MA in Media Management from the Department of Journalism and Communication Research (IJK), Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media (Germany). He currently works as a data analyst at Otto (GmbH & Co KG).