University of Glasgow

Engaging Television - The Viewer/Character Relationship in Contemporary Television

Academic History:

2014 - PhD in Film & Television Studies, University of Glasgow

2011 - 2013 MA in Film Studies, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

2004 - 2010 Magister Artium in American Studies & Sociology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Supervisors:

Dr Amy Holdsworth

Dr Ian Garwood

Research Interests:

• Narrative Complexity
• Viewer Engagement
• Spectatorship
• Cognitive Media Theory
• Television Theory
• Characters in Film/Television

In my PhD research project, I explore the viewer/character relationship in contemporary television. More specifically, I investigate how viewers engage with television characters on a cognitive & emotional level & examine in what ways this engagement can influence their experience of the unfolding story. My research project particularly highlights genre-specific engagement patterns since many of the already existing works on viewer engagement with television characters tend to focus on a specific television genre (e.g. drama, comedy). In contrast, in my research project, I consider how viewers engage with characters from a variety of television genres such as television drama, scripted-reality television, & television sports broadcasts.

Awards:

• 2012 - Faculty of Arts Graduate Awards, University of British Columbia
• 2011 - Faculty of Arts Graduate Award, University of British Columbia 

Publications:

"Breaking Narrative - Narrative Complexity in Contemporary Television." Critical Reflections on Audience & Narrativity. Ed. Valentina Marinescu, Bianca Mitu, & Silvia Branea. Stuttgart: ibidem-Verlag, 2014. 77 - 89. Print.

Contact Details:

Address: 73 Great George Street, Glasgow G12 8RU

Email: o.kroener.1@research.gla.ac.uk

First published: 11 September 2015