Beware ‘Star Wars’ Spoilers: Enjoyment Suffers When Plot Revealed
Live Science:
The much-anticipated film “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” opens in U.S. theaters Friday (Dec. 18), and if you’re not already waiting in line to see the very first screenings, you might be worried about spoilers ruining the experience.
And now you’ve got science to support your fears. A recent study found that spoilers — or giving away key plot details — may not ruin an experience entirely, but can reduce suspense and decrease overall enjoyment.
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Johnson explained that, even when a story is “spoiled,” there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that an emotional payoff is still possible. “We know from previous research that people can feel suspense even if they know how the story ends,” Johnson told Live Science. “You might watch a film for the fifth or sixth time, and even though you know all the beats, all the twists and turns, you can still feel anxiety or worry for characters,” he said.
Still, he warned, people shouldn’t take this as a go-ahead to spoil stories for others, as spoilers can and do negatively affect people’s experiences.
Read the whole story: Live Science
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