Actually, I have spent a good deal of time on this subject- belief has
little to do with it. The ability to trigger audience responses in a
dramatic scenario is rather more dependent on the craft of the dramatist,
(and instinctive biological reactions), and there is actually the
(famous) 'willing suspension of disbelief' rather than a 'willing
submission to belief' by the observer.
Drama is much closer to the visceral than I consider belief to be. (That
may be a completely interesting and incomprehensible statement to some of
you....) While there are successful cross-cultural dramatic forms, I have
yet to encounter a successful cross-cultural belief. This is why I
consider the dramatic a true form, and religion a false one. (It is
perhaps only marginalia, but what most religions lack, to me, is the
requisite dramatic presentations. They put on poor shows....)
The aesthetics of plot is the producer of chills and tears. Not any
belief. I do not contain within any definition of 'belief' the physical
reaction to stimuli.
*****************
Wade T. Smith
morbius@channel1.com | "There ain't nothin' you
wade_smith@harvard.edu | shouldn't do to a god."
morbius@cyberwarped.com |
******* http://www.channel1.com/users/morbius/ *******