Relationship between Setting Description and Immersion in Fiction in Algeria

Authors

  • Djamal Cherak University of Tamanrasset

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47672/ajls.2020

Keywords:

Setting Description, Immersion, Fiction

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between setting description and immersion in fiction in Algeria.

Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries.

Findings: The study found that vivid and detailed depictions of settings significantly enhance reader immersion. The Study have shown that richly described settings contribute to a more immersive reading experience by allowing readers to mentally visualize and emotionally connect with the story world. Moreover, descriptive passages that engage multiple senses, such as sight, sound, smell, and texture, have been found to deepen immersion by creating a more sensory-rich environment. Additionally, the effectiveness of setting description in fostering immersion seems to be influenced by factors such as reader preferences, genre conventions, and the narrative context. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of thoughtful and evocative setting descriptions in enhancing reader engagement and immersion in fictional narratives.

Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Schema theory, transportation theory and reader-response theory may be used to anchor future studies on assessing the relationship between setting description and immersion in fiction in Algeria. In terms of practical implications, findings from research on setting description and immersion can inform authors, educators, and practitioners in the fields of literature, media, and education. From a policy perspective, research on setting description and immersion in fiction can inform initiatives aimed at promoting literacy, cultural diversity, and media literacy.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

African Journal of Information Systems (AJIS). (2018). The Role of Mobile Technology in Storytelling in Sub-Saharan Africa. DOI: 10.18489/sacj.v30i3.778

Brazilian Association of Cultural Enterprises (ABRADEC). (2021). Digital Platforms and the Evolution of Fiction Consumption in Brazil. Retrieved from https://www.abradec.org.br/pesquisa

Brown, A. (2019). Effects of Interactive Fiction Platforms on Reader Immersion: An Experimental Study. Computers in Human Behavior, 91, 103-118.

China Audiovisual and Digital Publishing Association (CADPA). (2021). Online Literature Platforms and the Evolution of Fiction in China. Retrieved from http://www.cadpa.cn/

Garcia, M., et al. (2018). Cross-Cultural Variations in the Immersion Effects of Setting Descriptions in Fiction: A Comparative Study. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 49(4), 532-549.

Green, M. C., & Brock, T. C. (2000). The Role of Transportation in the Persuasiveness of Public Narratives. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79(5), 701-721.

Herman, D. (2019). Immersion and Interaction: On the Study of Literature in the Age of Brain Science. New Literary History, 50(1), 1-23.

Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB). (2020). The Entertainment Economy: Defining the Future of India's Creative Economy. Retrieved from https://www.iimb.ac.in/sites/default/files/inline-files/The_Entertainment_Economy.pdf

Johnson, E. (2021). Exploring the Role of Sensory Imagery in Setting Description on Reader Immersion: A Qualitative Study. Narrative Inquiry, 30(3), 245-263.

Kenya Film Commission (KFC). (2018). Digital Distribution Platforms and the Global Reach of Kenyan Fiction. Retrieved from https://kenyafilmcommission.com/

Lee, K. (2022). Cognitive Processes Underlying Reader Immersion in Response to Setting Descriptions: An Eye-Tracking Study. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 28(1), 78-95.

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). (2019). Entertainment Market Trend Survey: Final Report. Retrieved from https://www.meti.go.jp/english/statistics/tyo/2019/2019entertainmentMarketTrendSurvey.pdf

National Book Trust of India (NBTI). (2022). Fiction Consumption Trends in India: Navigating Digital Platforms. Retrieved from https://www.nbtindia.gov.in/

Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG). (2020). The Impact of Digital Technology on Nigeria's Creative Industries. Retrieved from https://nesgroup.org/publications/the-impact-of-digital-technology-on-nigerias-creative-industries

Nogueira, J. (2018). Brazilian Fiction: From Literature to Cinema. Brazilian Journal of Literature, 3(2), 87-104.

Oatley, K. (2016). Fiction: Simulation of Social Worlds. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 20(8), 618-628.

Oatley, K. (2018). Fiction and its Study: A Conversation with Keith Oatley. Poetics Today, 39(4), 729-737.

Okome, O. (2015). Nollywood: Spectatorship, Audience and the Sites of Consumption. Journal of African Cinemas, 7(1), 85-95. DOI: 10.1386/jac.7.1.85_1

Patel, R. (2020). Longitudinal Effects of Exposure to Immersive Fiction on Reader Empathy: A Mixed-Methods Study. Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics, 15(3), 275-292.

Rosenblatt, L. M. (1978). The Reader, the Text, the Poem: The Transactional Theory of the Literary Work. Southern Illinois University Press.

Rumelhart, D. E. (1980). Schemata: The Building Blocks of Cognition. In R. Spiro, B. Bruce, & W. Brewer (Eds.), Theoretical Issues in Reading Comprehension (pp. 33-58). Erlbaum.

Schwarz, D. (2022). Exploring Immersion in Fiction: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. Journal of Literary Studies, 38(1), 56-72.

Smith, J. (2019). The Impact of Vivid Setting Descriptions on Reader Immersion: A Quantitative Study. Journal of Literary Research, 45(2), 123-140.

Smith, J. (2020). The Role of Setting Description in Fictional Immersion. Journal of Narrative Theory, 50(3), 285-304.

South African Book Fair (SABF). (2020). Promoting Literacy and Diverse Voices in South Africa. Retrieved from https://www.southafricanbookfair.co.za/

Statista. (2022). Virtual reality (VR) headset shipments worldwide from 2017 to 2021 (in million units). Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/687059/worldwide-virtual-reality-headset-shipments/

Storymoja. (2021). Fostering a Culture of Reading and Storytelling in Kenya. Retrieved from https://storymojafestival.co.ke/

University of Cape Town (UCT). (2019). Storytelling in South Africa: Preserving Cultural Heritage and Fostering Social Cohesion. Retrieved from https://www.uct.ac.za/

Zhang, Y. (2018). A Meta-Analysis of the Relationship Between Setting Description and Immersion in Fiction. Psychological Bulletin, 144(4), 371-389.

Zhang, Y., & Li, X. (2019). Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence in Chinese Fiction: Trends and Implications. Chinese Journal of Communication, 12(4), 381-399. DOI: 10.1080/17544750.2019.1672109

Downloads

Published

2024-05-13

How to Cite

Cherak, D. . (2024). Relationship between Setting Description and Immersion in Fiction in Algeria. American Journal of Literature Studies, 3(1), 36–46. https://doi.org/10.47672/ajls.2020

Issue

Section

Articles