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True Story? Men Prefer 'Chick Flicks' When They Are Explicitly Fictionalized
Science Daily ^ | 1-10-2008 | University of Chicago Press Journals

Posted on 01/10/2008 3:10:48 PM PST by blam

True Story? Men Prefer 'Chick Flicks' When They Are Explicitly Fictionalized

ScienceDaily (Jan. 10, 2008) — Characterized by a heart-tugging plot, emotional melodrama is a subtype of dramatic entertainment that fosters deep emotional reactions on the part of the consumer. Often labelled "chick-flicks," "tearjerkers," or "human interest stories," the importance of this form of entertainment is underscored by the popularity and success of movies like Titanic and the "Oprah Winfrey Show." However, despite the apparent popularity of melodramatic entertainment, scant academic attention has been paid to the genre.

Now, new research examines emotional melodrama and finds a significant difference between how men and women view stories about protagonists who overcome challenges through sacrifice and bravery. While women tended to prefer stories that seem to be true, men enjoyed stories more when they were specifically told that they are fictionalized.

"Providing explicit information that the story is make-believe may have enabled low empathizers (males in this case) to relax emotion norms and become more involved in the story, in turn resulting in more favorable evaluations of the entertainment," explain Jennifer J. Argo (University of Alberta), Rui (Juliet) Zhu and Darren W. Dahl (both University of British Columbia). "The more empathetic a person is, the more s/he will be involved and immersed into the story and transported into the world of the narrative."

In fact, the researchers found that men were less likely to endorse gender stereotypes, such as "men should not cry," when they thought the story was fictitious versus true, supporting this idea that they were temporarily discarding social norms and allowing themselves to enjoy the story, according to the researchers.

"At a practical level our research findings speak to an increasingly popular trend in the entertainment industry wherein publishers and producers indicate at the outset of the story or program its level of fictionality (i.e., whether it is based on actual facts)," the researchers write. "Signaling the nature of the fictionality of a story or program may be one possible way of targeting specific segments in audiences."

Jennifer J. Argo, Rui (Juliet) Zhu and Darren W. Dahl, "Fact or Fiction: An Investigation of Empathy Differences in Response to emotional Melodramatic Entertainment." Journal of Consumer Research: February 2008.

Adapted from materials provided by University of Chicago Press Journals


TOPICS: Science; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: chick; flicks; story; true
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1 posted on 01/10/2008 3:10:52 PM PST by blam
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To: blam

I really like the Die Hard and Terminator movies. Never liked romance, gushy garbage. Probably just a carry over from childhood, since I preferred toy guns and baseball to dolls. LOL.


2 posted on 01/10/2008 3:15:30 PM PST by SatinDoll (Fredhead and proud of it!)
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To: blam
Men Prefer 'Chick Flicks' When They Are Explicitly Fictionalized

Yea, "chick flicks" like "Alien", and it's sequel, "Aliens".

Hudson: "Hey Vasquez, have you ever been mistaken for a man?"

Vasquez: "No. Have you?"


3 posted on 01/10/2008 3:20:22 PM PST by holymoly (Molon labe.)
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To: blam

Uh, no thank you.


4 posted on 01/10/2008 3:23:55 PM PST by SouthTexas
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To: blam
I dunno. I loved Beaches (sniff!). Especially when Bette Midler grabbed that grenade and took on that pillbox mano a mano.

OK, well, maybe I didn't see the whole thing...

5 posted on 01/10/2008 3:26:47 PM PST by Billthedrill
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To: blam

My husband loves that sentimental stuff. I think that my viewing time is wasted if there are no zombies or chainsaws...


6 posted on 01/10/2008 3:34:55 PM PST by mrs. a (It's a short life but a merry one...)
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To: SatinDoll

I was never a tomboy but I prefer the Die Hard type movies.

However, I can’t wait for 27 Dresses. Only for the cast.


7 posted on 01/10/2008 3:36:34 PM PST by netmilsmom (Financing James Marsden's kid's college fund, 1 ticket, 1 DVD at a time.)
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To: SatinDoll

I refer to the “Die Hard” type movies as “d*ck flicks”. No offense to you, I hope. I mean, they’re fine to watch, but if softer movies MUST have a label, so should shoot-em up and action flicks...in my never humble opinion.


8 posted on 01/10/2008 3:44:05 PM PST by coop71 (Being a redhead means never having to say you're sorry...)
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To: blam

NO!

Not another article to ‘EFFEMINATE’ me and my gross, guy ways.


9 posted on 01/10/2008 3:45:50 PM PST by max americana
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To: mrs. a

I’m glad there’s another female who doesn’t like chick flicks. Only difference is, I think that my viewing time is wasted when there are not enough spaceships, guns, explosions, sarcasm, awesome weapons, etc.


10 posted on 01/10/2008 4:04:08 PM PST by Hyzenthlay (I aim to misbehave.)
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To: holymoly

Hard to believe it's all the same actress (Jenette Goldstein)

11 posted on 01/10/2008 5:48:02 PM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: Hyzenthlay

I was at Target the other week and bought some videos for the weekend. I bought “March of the Penguins” for my husband and “Saw III” for me.

It’s a happy marriage!


12 posted on 01/10/2008 6:00:35 PM PST by mrs. a (It's a short life but a merry one...)
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To: max americana

“Not another article to ‘EFFEMINATE’ me and my gross, guy ways.”

Pretty much, yeah. More “Who you gonna believe, me or your lying eyes?”


13 posted on 01/10/2008 7:50:28 PM PST by L98Fiero (A fool who'll waste his life, God rest his guts.)
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To: martin_fierro

You kidding me??? That’s the same actress?

Ive got both movies on my laptop.


14 posted on 01/10/2008 7:55:02 PM PST by max americana
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To: netmilsmom

I like semi-chickflicks.

Best movie (one of the few I bought a copy of) was “The Outsider” with Tim Daly and some girl (Naomi Watts)

Dang, hot guy
romance,
great plot,
kids, animals
sex
and a happy ending!


15 posted on 01/10/2008 7:57:27 PM PST by najida (Every tried to explain to Alltel that the cockatoo ate your cell phone?)
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To: max americana
Yep! She's been in a bunch of movies, including a small role in Titanic.
16 posted on 01/10/2008 8:05:35 PM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: martin_fierro

off topic: are u her by some chance (wink?)

on topic: I dont mind a good chick flick as long there’s nudity, ....nudity...and at least one person dies by gunshot.


17 posted on 01/10/2008 8:11:42 PM PST by max americana
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To: max americana

You’d love “The Outsider” then....
more than on death and the bad guys get theirs in the end.

And you see Tim Daly nekkid (and that girl too....I think)


18 posted on 01/10/2008 8:15:57 PM PST by najida (Every tried to explain to Alltel that the cockatoo ate your cell phone?)
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To: najida

ummm, no dudes nekkid...just hot chicks pls.


19 posted on 01/10/2008 8:33:09 PM PST by max americana
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To: max americana

Well, I gotta have nekkid dudes. Nekkid chicks make me go look for ice cream.


20 posted on 01/10/2008 8:34:03 PM PST by najida (Every tried to explain to Alltel that the cockatoo ate your cell phone?)
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