Enjoyment of Unoriginal Characters: Individual Differences in Nostalgia-Proneness and Parasocial Relationships. Issue 5 (3rd September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Baldwin, Joshua A.; Raney, Arthur A.
• Is Part Of: Mass communication & society. Volume 24:Issue 5(2021)
• Page Start: 748
• Page End: 768
• Publication Date: 2021-09-03
• Subjects: Mass media -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Mass media and culture -- Periodicals; Communication -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Communication and culture -- Periodicals; Journalism -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Médias -- Aspect social -- Périodiques; Médias et culture -- Périodiques; Communication -- Aspect social -- Périodiques; Communication et culture -- Périodiques; Presse -- Aspect social -- Périodiques; Communication and culture; Communication -- Social aspects; Journalism -- Social aspects; Mass media and culture; Mass media -- Social aspects; Periodicals; 302.23
• DOI: 10.1080/15205436.2021.1916035
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1520-5436

Abstract

Abstract: The current study examined how parasocial relationships with both original (i.e., newly created and unfamiliar) and unoriginal (i.e., previously existing and familiar) characters and nostalgia-proneness can influence audience selection and enjoyment of movie adaptations. In an experiment, participants were exposed to storyboards previewing movies that could potentially be adapted from cartoon television shows to become future movies. The storyboards were manipulated to have either original or unoriginal characters. Afterward, participants reported how much they enjoyed and felt nostalgic about the stimuli, their future viewing intentions, and their parasocial interactions with the characters. Results showed that participants with stronger parasocial relationships with both original and unoriginal characters predicted greater parasocial interactions, enjoyment, and viewing intentions. Additional results partially demonstrated that those with stronger nostalgia-proneness expressed greater enjoyment and future viewing intentions for storyboards with unoriginal characters.