Ancients and Moderns on Immersion

Abstract

Abstract Just as they talk about what we call identification, ancient writers discuss factors we consider when analyzing immersion. They describe how the narrated events seem to happen in front of the recipient or how the recipient seems to travel to the world of the events. They also posit several factors that enable these experiences, from the use of details to the deployment of a specific style. Modern researchers posit different sorts of immersion and present granular models of the factors that trigger an immersive experience. Some rely on introspection, but a good number build on empirical studies of audience response.