Tragic spectatorship from ancient thought to modern experimental psychology

In this lecture prof. van Emde Boas will consider several aspects of the complex experience of watching distressing drama or films. He will focus on two much-discussed topics: (i) the paradoxical “pleasure” associated with tragic spectatorship, and (ii) the idea that fictional works allow a license to identify with fictional characters even when they perform terrible deeds. In his discussion of both these themes, he will start from ancient thinking about the issues involved (particularly in the works of Plato and Aristotle), but also bring in evidence from several empirical studies of audience response which he conducted together with colleagues in Classics, English, and Psychology. In combining these diverse strands (ancient philosophy, literary studies, and experimental psychology), he aims to show how they can mutually inform and qualify each other, but also to lay bare some of the challenges inherent in such work. In addition, then, to shedding light on fundamental questions about our experience of fiction, the lecture is also meant to offer an honest assessment of the benefits and pitfalls of genuinely interdisciplinary work.

Speaker

ISA Visiting Fellow - Evert Hendrik van Emde Boas

Aarhus University, Denmark

Visit Prof. van Emde Boas' web page

PhD students and researchers who are interested may request an attendance certificate by writing to segreteria.isa@unibo.it specifying their birthplace and date of birth.

The delivery of the attendance certificate requires the attendance of at least 70% of the lecture.