'Willing Suspension of Disbelief'

http://izquotes.com/quote/40129

In the last article I read (and blogged about) I came across a wonderful phrase that hit exactly, how I tend to feel about games and films. When I watch a film or play a game, I want to be immersed in it. I want too feel the emotions that the characters and scene is trying to portray. If a game or film is successful in doing so then for me, it's a great piece of media. I have always found it difficult to explain in words what I mean when I really like the atmosphere of games and films hence I like there to be no talking during a movie or whilst playing a game so  I can get lost within the medium and become immersed. This is a very personal thing which differs for everyone. Recently I found this quote that describes how anyone can be immersed within a certain media but they have to want it and allow it;

'Willing suspension of disbelief'

Samuel Taylor Coleridge was a poet who had a deep interest in numerous things including the human imagination. He published this phrase/theory although it was believed that this concept came from the work of Erasmus Darwin, Charles Darwin's grandfather. Sadly I cannot find the direct reference - the best I can give is the book citation:

'Coleridge published the theory, however, and made it accessible by extricating it from the mass of Darwin's somewhat unreadable prose. (Schneider 1996, p 103)'

Even though Coleridge used this phrase with regards to poems it is still used today with respect to all different kinds of media. What the phrase really means is that even if something in a media is unrealistic - e.g teleportation in a science fiction movie - the viewers are willing to ignore all the unrealistic traits and become engaged in wanting to believe what they are seeing. In many instances they know it is impossible but they ignore that disbelief in order to enjoy the entertainment that is being shown to them.

Focusing on the important matter - the phrase itself, I find it an extremely accurate phrase that in my opinion is the root of atmosphere. If you want atmosphere you need to want it and hence, have a willing suspension of disbelief in whatever you are watching/playing in order to become immersed and benefit the atmosphere being created.

Personal Note

Every time I play a game or watch a film, I desperately try to get immersed in it. I willingly suspend my disbelief's and become engrossed and immersed in the media. This is something I quite often wish a lot of people would do in order to truly appreciate a film or game. I would love to accomplish this idea in my interactive piece and after finding this quote, I feel I can really develop a unique way of capturing the audience and keeping them immersed in my experience, much like I often do.

'Willing Suspension of Disbelief: Poetic Faith in Film' by Anthony J. Ferri