Description
About the Author
Karen E. Dill-Shackleford is a social psychologist who studies human relationships with fictional characters from film, television, and books. Her research explores the psychological processes that occur when we engage with fictional worlds and what we take away from those encounters. She has particular interests in the depiction of race and gender in popular culture fiction and in how meditation can help individuals cope with social issues. She is the author of How Fantasy Becomes Reality, co-author of Mad Men Unzipped, and editor of the Oxford Handbook of Media Psychology. Cynthia Vinney is a freelance writer and independent researcher who studies how audiences understand, engage with, and respond to popular media. She has published and presented on the ways audiences make meaning from narrative fiction, how stories help fans cope with personal struggles, and the impact of media use on identity development during adolescence. She is co-author of the book Mad Men Unzipped.
Reviews
"Our involvement with media characters is hard to deny-we love them, we hate them, and we learn life lessons from them. This volume is an indispensable guidebook for understanding our fascination with the characters in narratives that populate our lives, that becomes our best friends, and that occupy our imaginations." * Mary Beth Oliver, Professor of Media Studies, Penn State University *
"What a wonderful read! This book is like a lively conversation with good friends-friends who just happen to be experts on the psychology of stories and their fans. Dill-Shackleford and Vinney share the latest research in an accessible, page-turning way, providing valuable insights into our relationships with beloved television shows, books, and movies." * Melanie C. Green, Professor of Communication, The State University of New York at Buffalo *
"From thinking how one might be a magical Harry Potter, or imagining a nervous visit to Rick's Bar in Casablanca, or entering the mind of Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice, we can come to see how stories enable us to lead not one life but many, and even change within ourselves. In this worthwhile, engaging, and wide-ranging book, Dill-Shackleford and Vinney show us that stories don't just pass the time; in fact, they are more important than anyone might have thought." * Keith Oatley, Author of Our Minds, Our Selves: A Brief History of Psychology *
"A highly readable, yet knowledgeable, introduction to social science research on the role of stories from movies, TV, and books in people's lives" * Michael D. Slater, Social and Behavioral Sciences Distinguished Professor, The Ohio State University *
Book Information
ISBN 9780190643607
Author Karen E. Dill-Shackleford
Format Hardback
Page Count 296
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 567g
Dimensions(mm) 155mm * 236mm * 23mm