| Title | Research on Characters |
|---|---|
| Subtitle | An Overview (T) |
| Contributor | Jens Eder(author) |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.11647/obp.0283.02 |
| Landing page | https://www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.11647/obp.0283/chapters/10.11647/obp.0283.02 |
| License | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ |
| Copyright | Jens Eder; |
| Publisher | Open Book Publishers |
| Published on | 2025-07-29 |
| Long abstract | Part I of the book (Chapters 2 and 3) lays the foundations for a theory of characters. Chapter 2 outlines the development of character theory over time, briefly presents important works and points out gaps and challenges. Until the beginning of the 20th century, characters were mainly studied from a normative-practical perspective. Since then, four main strands of descriptive theories have emerged that compete with each other: hermeneutic, semiotic, psychoanalytic, and cognitive theories each emphasise different aspects of characters and contradict each other in many ways. For a long time, there was a lack of dialogue between these and other approaches, but recently the exchange between them has increased. Current research trends focus, among other things, on digital, transmedia, and non-fictional characters, on audience reactions, and on characters' social uses and implications. The chapter argues for an integrated, transdisciplinary theory of characters, emphasising the need for methodological clarity and the synthesis of different theoretical insights in order to better understand characters in different media. |
| Page range | pp. 25–50 |
| Print length | 26 pages |
| Language | English (Original) |
Jens Eder is Professor of Dramaturgy and Aesthetics at Film University Babelsberg in Potsdam, Germany. His research focuses on the intersections of audiovisual media, narrative, and society. He has published books and articles on narrative theory, characters, emotions, political documentaries, video activism on social media, and image operations in societal conflicts. Currently he is heading the research group ‘Film as a Catalyst of Social Transformation’, which investigates the impact of engaged films.