The Puzzle of Engagement: Exploratory study on the subjective experience of engagement with narrative complexity

This research explores the subjective viewing experience of complex narratives in TV and films (features with nonlinear chronology, disrupted causality). Unlike previous research, which centered on linear narratives and comprehension ease, this project seeks to understand the engagement with narrative complexity. A multidisciplinary approach will be used to categorize complex narrative experiences. In-depth interviews with fans of complex narratives will help refine these categories, employing open-ended questions and think-aloud methods to uncover the psychological and aesthetic dimensions of viewing complex narratives. The findings will inform a new Complex Narrative Engagement Scale (CNES), enriching theoretical frameworks and advancing cognitive film studies.