Self-Reflection in the Context of Identification with Audiovisual Fiction Characters

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Watching audiovisual fiction characters’ stories, most viewers usually get familiar with a wide array of topics. Such an activity can be considered a form of experiential learning that roots in the process of character identification linked to a broader process of self-reflection. Then, deep comparison between the experience of fictional character and that of a real spectator appears as a crucial part of social and emotional learning. The substantial part of this – but also the result of fictional character-viewer identification process – is self-assessment.

This can be considered as a result of comparison that is laid between ourselves and the identified fictional characters – no matter if the fictional character we have a strong resemblance to is perceived as „better“ or „worse“ than our own personality. According to our research findings – based on a survey being conducted among more than 2000 young people deeply devoted to film and audiovisual culture – it is clear we identify ourselves with fictional characters whose personal characteristics are roughly equalled or slightly „better“ to those of ours. Self-respect and self-conception are thus positively influenced by our reflection and fictional character’s identification.

Stream: Creative Arts and Learning

Paper: Relation between a Viewer and the Fictional Character in Light of his Activity, Reflection and Experiential Learning, The

Jana Krátká, Ph.D. is an assistant professor at Department of Education, Faculty of Education, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic. At present she conducts a research project concerning Czech viewer's reception and mostly the phenomenon of spectator's identification with film/TV series/games fictional characters (Patterns of Moving Images: Film and Audiovisual Reception Among Contemporary Czech Young People). Other areas of her interest include specific branches of media eduation such as cinemapedagogy, fan studies, fictional characters' identification, Buffy studies and many others. For details see for her web page at www.janakratka.cz

Patrik Vacek, MA (1978) serves as an assistant at Department of Education (Faculty of Education, Masaryk University). While finishing his Ph.D. thesis on media education in the Czech Republic after 1989 he further focuses on problems of computer game literacy and comparative media education.