Spoiler Alert? Not So Much

[Acturus]

Caught this over the weekend, didn't see it pop up in General:

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Entertainm...tories-110815/

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Spoiler Alert: Knowing the ending enhances the story
CTV News.ca Staff

Date: Monday Aug. 15, 2011 1:14 PM ET

Reading the final chapter of a book first or researching plot-spoiling movie reviews online before going to the cinema could actually enhance your entertainment experience, rather than lessen it, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego found that, quite simply, stories are not spoiled by spoilers.

Just the opposite is true, in fact. When subjects in a study conducted by the university's psychology department were asked to rate their enjoyment of various stories, they almost always picked the ones where they knew the outcome ahead of time.

Participants in the study, which will be published in an upcoming issue of the journal Psychological Science, were asked to read different versions of 12 stories written by John Updike, Roald Dahl, Anton Chekhov and Agatha Christie.

The stories were broken into three categories: ironic twist, mystery and literary.

One version of each story was presented as-is, in the original format. Another version had a spoiler paragraph at the outset that gave away the ending. A third version included the spoiler, but it was woven into the text as though it was part of the original composition.

Data from participants who had previously read the story was excluded.

When it came to the ironic twist tales, subjects significantly preferred the spoiled versions of the stories in all cases but one.

When it came to mysteries -- where it could be presumed that the element of surprise would be most important -- a strong majority of readers chose the spoiler version over the unspoiled.

And with literary, evocative stories -- which were least popular overall -- the subjects still preferred the version where they knew the ending ahead of time.

The study results prove one thing, according to one of the authors: plot is overrated.

"Plots are just excuses for great writing. What the plot is is (almost) irrelevant. The pleasure is in the writing," said Nicholas Christenfeld, a UC San Diego professor of social psychology, in a statement.

While the scope of the study didn't include a deep investigation of why people prefer to know the ending ahead of time, one possible explanation is that spoilers make it easier to follow a story. Therefore we like them better.

"So it could be," said Jonathan Leavitt, a psychology doctoral student at UC San Diego and Christenfeld's co-author, "that once you know how it turns out, it's cognitively easier -- you're more comfortable processing the information -- and can focus on a deeper understanding of the story."

Interestingly, the study found that respondents most preferred the stories where the spoiler was presented up front, as a preface to the tale. When it was woven into the narrative, the result wasn't nearly as dramatic.

The theory that it's the quality of the writing rather than the twists and turns of the plot that makes readers connect with a story, makes sense, the authors suggest.

Otherwise why would you wear out that VHS copy of "Stand By Me" with dozens of viewings, despite already knowing the ending? Or consistently return to that dog-eared copy of "Little Women"?

"Stories are a universal element of human culture, the backbone of the billion-dollar entertainment industry, and the medium through which religion and societal values are transmitted," the researchers write in the study.

In other words, while narratives are important, they don't need to be suspenseful in order to connect with their audience.

Leavitt and Christenfeld conclude their paper by suggesting that we reevaluate the importance we place on the element of surprise.

"Perhaps," they suggest, "birthday presents are better when wrapped in cellophane, and engagement rings are better when not concealed in chocolate mousse."

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So, what's the BG opinion? Is the story ruined if you know ahead of time that Rosebud was the @#$%ing sled, or that Snape killed Dumbledore, or that Vader is Luke's dad?

[Kuya]

I like the study, but i'm not so sure about the theory that it's because people like writing more than plot. I mean, it's coherent (some people might make connections with movies with shitty plots are the most popular), but the article didn't mention anything that could give anyone any reason to connect this study's results with that theory. It came out of the leftfield for me.

edit: spoilers don't usually bother me, and i can't really say it enhances a book or a movie for me. It does, however, sometimes make me want to see a movie or book if i find the spoiler very interesting or captivating. It makes me sit through a whole book or movie just to see how they work towards that spoiler.

[Dimmauk]

I worked with a Guy that would never watch a movie unless he knew the ending. His reasoning was that he wanted to know if the end justified spending money on it.

[solanis]

if a story is poorly written and the only enjoyment you get from it is the twists and turns, then reading spoilers would eliminate the point probably. I bet the people who found it improved their enjoyment are impatient sorts, who get antsy when they don't know the ending and it makes them skim the book. I definitely do that sometimes.

[Not Kuno]

Spoilers aren't spoilers if it's part of the story. Spoilers are if you find out what happens using some outside means.

[Niiro]

It does, however, sometimes make me want to see a movie or book if i find the spoiler very interesting or captivating. It makes me sit through a whole book or movie just to see how they work towards that spoiler.

I greatly agree with this, I don't watch much TV or see many movies simply because I don't enjoy the vast majority of them.

A perfect example is the movie Source Code, I actually just watched it last night but I had long before read the plot outline on Wikipedia. The movie was just as awesome knowing what would happen, it was just the manner in which the story was presented that makes it enjoyable.

Also if you haven't seen that movie, do so.

[scaevola]

SPOLIER ALERT: Two star-crossed lovers take their life.

[Timwakefield]

I wouldn't say that spoilers really bother me, but I would always prefer to not know the outcome before I start watching something.

P.S. Brad Pitt and Edward Norton are the same person.

[The Stig]

Hmm...

Titanic (lol)
Passion of the Christ
300
Harry Potter
Terminator
Star Wars

and probably many of other films either based on books, comics, or history, or where the ending/conclusion is thrown at you. All popular films I guess, we all love them I suppose

EDIT:

I forget to mention games. I guess the very top of the list I can think of is FF7, even late comers to the game would know Aerith dies, and to wind back and forth, Crisis Core, we knew Zack would die and in Advent Children, we knew Sephiroth was gonna be in the movie.

[Laugana]

I don't usually like to be spoiled. I'm one of those people who didn't realise you know who was what he was in The 6th Sense till the end. Knowing the ending would have ruined the whole film. Saying that though, there are films where I know the ending just by absorbing passing information over the years. For example, I knew about The Crying Game but I didn't actually get to see it till a couple of years ago.

[Vandole]

vader is luke's father

[Insanecyclone]

vader is luke's father

That's not true. That's impossible!

[Fhloston]

In some ways it can get me more interested in a story. If I see a TDKR photo of Bane with one arm, I'll be more curious as to how that happened, etc.

It can be rage inducing though for dramatic spoilers. Yeah, I'm talking to you, Brady Games FFVII guide!

[Kerberoz]

Best of both worlds: watch the damn movie twice.

[Skyylya]

I don't think it necessarily ruins the movie. I mean knowing the ending is one thing, knowing how you arrived at that ending is another thing altogether. If you care that much about the ending, fast forward to the final 20 minutes of the film and call it a day. I watch movies for the 90-120 minutes in between....and the ending.

[Dimmauk]

vader is luke's father

http://chzragecomics.files.wordpress...our-father.jpg

[Vandole]

obi lied about vader killing his daddy

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/2978/1263271553347.gif

[Mayareira]

It is true that focusing on the movie as a whole rather than getting carried away by the excitement of "what will happen next?" is easier and has its own fun but I still hate spoilers.

I'd prefer enjoying the spoiler-free movie on the first go and if the movie deserves it, watch it again to focus on details.

The Usual Suspects has got to be a great example for this. After you watch the movie once the second time is an entirely different experience. One of the movies that you've got to watch more than once.

[Souj]

Pretty sure knowing Memento's spoilers would completely ruin the movie.
Though I have watched the movie about 3 different times now.

[Eaglestrike]

I think it kind of depends on the movie and how complex it is. Something like Harry Potter that has many little storylines going, a spoiler here or there (Snape kills Dumbledore, derp) doesn't really matter because then you just go "I wonder how that is going to happen." and I can certainly see extra enjoyment in that. And then for The Sixth Sense seeing the hints up to the big reveal would be interesting...

But I think I'd rather just watch a movie twice if that's the case...