What hooks us in a film? - the emotional impact of film narration on subjective reality

Abstract

"We are all dreaming together" (Dugdale, 2025, 01:40:23), stated Hans Zimmer in his film Hans Zimmer & Friends: Diamond in the Desert. This thesis explores how film narration influences the subjective reality and emotional responses of active viewers during the reception process. Building on interdisciplinary frameworks from psychology, sociology, and film theory, it examines the dynamic interplay between subjective reality, emotions, narration, and reception. Challenging the traditional notion of film viewers as passive observers, this thesis presents a model that emphasizes the active role of viewers in constructing subjective realities through their interactions with films. By integrating the PKS model, which focuses on narrative structures, with Jens Eder’s emotion transmission stages, the research highlights the importance of both conscious and unconscious processes in shaping emotional responses and subjective interpretations of the active viewer. A model is developed that extends existing frameworks by incorporating emotional interactions and emphasizing the co-creation of meaning between film and viewer. Films are presented as catalysts, designed to trigger memories, experiences, and emotions within viewers. These emotional responses serve as the foundation for constructing unique subjective realities, allowing viewers to connect deeply with narratives and interpret them in highly personal ways. Empathy and sympathy are identified as crucial factors in fostering emotional engagement, with emotions forming the basis for shaping subjective realities. Using Todd Phillips' Joker (2019) as a case example for the developed model, the film's depiction of systemic failures, such as economic inequality and mental health neglect, mirrors real-world struggles and fosters emotional identification among audiences. This research emphasizes the complexity of film reception as an active and dynamic psychological process, ultimately contributing to the creation of individualized subjective realities.