Spotlight on spectators

Emotions in the theater

Bibliographic Data

ID11273437
AuthorsElly A Konijn (0000-0002-6134-8700, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, corresponding author)
Year1999
Volume28
Issue2
Pages169-194
Publication date1999-01-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueDiscourse Processes (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0163-853X • E-ISSN: 1532-6950
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/01638539909545079
OpenAlexW1996452123
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited19

In investigating theater spectators and their aesthetic experiences, a sociological and a psychological orientation on contemporary theater research were compared. Field studies usually concern sociological variables (e.g., age, education, and appreciation). If occasionally the spectator's emotional experience is explored, the Aristotelian viewpoint prevails, resulting in the identification hypothesis. This study opts for a broader perspective based on contemporary emotion psychology. Over 350 spectators completed a questionnaire that represented viewpoints from sociological, psychological, and theater studies perspectives. High‐status audiences found the selected performances neither complex nor unconventional and hardly experienced identification emotions but rather experienced empathy and positive task emotions. Their overall appreciation referred mainly to the actor's performance, which was also the strongest source for spectators’ emotions in the theater

Aesthetics · Art · Empathy · Field (mathematics · Identification (biology · Perspective (graphical · Sociology · Viewpoints · Visual arts · Aesthetic Perception and Analysis · Creativity in Education and Neuroscience · Media Influence and Health · Psychology · Social Psychology

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