From Consuming to Being Consumed: The Role of Narrative Complexity and Active Viewer Engagement in Dark

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2024-07-12

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en

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This thesis investigates how complex television series like Dark engage viewers, transforming them from passive recipients into active participants. By employing narrative complexity, the series incites active viewer engagement through its intricate storytelling, layered character development and introduction of philosophical themes, such as questions of free will, morality and fate. Using Dark as a case study, this research analyzes its impact on viewing behaviour, with a primary focus on narrative complexity and participatory culture within online viewing communities. This analysis employs a combination of close reading, affect studies and data from empirical research to understand the interplay between emotional and intellectual attachment, narrative structure and viewer engagement, highlighting the crucial role of online platforms in fostering a collaborative environment and maintaining a collective intelligence. The findings from this research suggest that contemporary television that make use of narrative complexity reshape audience interaction, creating a more intellectually and emotionally invested viewer experience.

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