When Viewers Drift Off: A Brief Phenomenology of Cinematic Daydreaming

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademicpeer-review

    305 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Inspired by Jean-Pierre Meunier and expanding some of his original ideas, this article looks at cinematic daydreaming as an act of consciousness viewers are sometimes engaged in over and above the perception of the film. After defining the term ‘cinematic daydreaming,’ I distinguish three relations the daydream can have to the film. Subsequently, I offer a concrete description of the cinematic daydreaming experience by focusing on five aspects: (1) the degrees of controllability, (2) the declining attentiveness to the perceptual surroundings, (3) the attenuated ‘power’ of the film, (4) the shift into a more private mode, and (5) intrusive day-dreams that interfere with the film vs. extensive daydreams that enrich it.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationThe Structures of the Film Experience by Jean-Pierre Meunier
    Subtitle of host publicationHistorical Assessments and Phenomenological Expansions
    EditorsJulian Hanich, Daniel Fairfax
    PublisherAmsterdam University Press
    Pages336-352
    Number of pages17
    ISBN (Electronic)978-90-485-3784-6
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Sept-2019

    Keywords

    • film theory
    • Film phenomenology
    • daydreaming
    • screen studies

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'When Viewers Drift Off: A Brief Phenomenology of Cinematic Daydreaming'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this