Eudaimonic entertainment as new Enlightenment: Critical thinking as a mind-set effect of narratives
We propose to extend the theoretical concept of eudaimonia as a media effect with critical thinking as a mind-set effect. Critical thinking as a mind-set effect means that media narratives can stimulate viewers and readers to think critically in any situation, even outside of the exposure situation...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Communication |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2022.1016325/full |
| _version_ | 1797985818594246656 |
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| author | Helena Bilandzic Janine Nadine Blessing |
| author_facet | Helena Bilandzic Janine Nadine Blessing |
| author_sort | Helena Bilandzic |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We propose to extend the theoretical concept of eudaimonia as a media effect with critical thinking as a mind-set effect. Critical thinking as a mind-set effect means that media narratives can stimulate viewers and readers to think critically in any situation, even outside of the exposure situation and applied to other topics. It denotes a generally heightened critical attitude or “mind-set” to approach issues and situations by taking different pieces of information into account, weighing and analyzing them, developing one's own arguments and drawing conclusions. People with this mind-set try to be well-informed, use credible sources and observations, are alert for alternatives, open-minded, maintain and change views according to evidence, and are motivated to hold accurate beliefs. In this article, we provide a theoretical elaboration of the idea of critical thinking as a mind-set effect, and connect it to traditions of Enlightenment literature as well as theoretical approaches on narrative effects. We also present data from a qualitative pilot study using the film “Don't look up” to explore the potential of such an extension of eudaimonic entertainment. Finally, we discuss implications of introducing critical thinking as a mind-set effect for narrative persuasion. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T07:24:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4739ecbf964e43bd809eea5e3f3411a8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-900X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T07:24:10Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Communication |
| spelling | doaj.art-4739ecbf964e43bd809eea5e3f3411a82022-12-22T04:37:07ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Communication2297-900X2022-10-01710.3389/fcomm.2022.10163251016325Eudaimonic entertainment as new Enlightenment: Critical thinking as a mind-set effect of narrativesHelena BilandzicJanine Nadine BlessingWe propose to extend the theoretical concept of eudaimonia as a media effect with critical thinking as a mind-set effect. Critical thinking as a mind-set effect means that media narratives can stimulate viewers and readers to think critically in any situation, even outside of the exposure situation and applied to other topics. It denotes a generally heightened critical attitude or “mind-set” to approach issues and situations by taking different pieces of information into account, weighing and analyzing them, developing one's own arguments and drawing conclusions. People with this mind-set try to be well-informed, use credible sources and observations, are alert for alternatives, open-minded, maintain and change views according to evidence, and are motivated to hold accurate beliefs. In this article, we provide a theoretical elaboration of the idea of critical thinking as a mind-set effect, and connect it to traditions of Enlightenment literature as well as theoretical approaches on narrative effects. We also present data from a qualitative pilot study using the film “Don't look up” to explore the potential of such an extension of eudaimonic entertainment. Finally, we discuss implications of introducing critical thinking as a mind-set effect for narrative persuasion.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2022.1016325/fullmedia narrativesnarrative persuasioncritical thinkingeudaimonic entertainmentEnlightenment |
| spellingShingle | Helena Bilandzic Janine Nadine Blessing Eudaimonic entertainment as new Enlightenment: Critical thinking as a mind-set effect of narratives Frontiers in Communication media narratives narrative persuasion critical thinking eudaimonic entertainment Enlightenment |
| title | Eudaimonic entertainment as new Enlightenment: Critical thinking as a mind-set effect of narratives |
| title_full | Eudaimonic entertainment as new Enlightenment: Critical thinking as a mind-set effect of narratives |
| title_fullStr | Eudaimonic entertainment as new Enlightenment: Critical thinking as a mind-set effect of narratives |
| title_full_unstemmed | Eudaimonic entertainment as new Enlightenment: Critical thinking as a mind-set effect of narratives |
| title_short | Eudaimonic entertainment as new Enlightenment: Critical thinking as a mind-set effect of narratives |
| title_sort | eudaimonic entertainment as new enlightenment critical thinking as a mind set effect of narratives |
| topic | media narratives narrative persuasion critical thinking eudaimonic entertainment Enlightenment |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2022.1016325/full |
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