The Persuasive Effects of Narrative Entertainment: A Meta-Analysis (2025)
Classical theories (Adorno & Horkheimer, 1944) framed popular media as a "culture industry" producing standardized goods. Later scholars (Jenkins, 2006) celebrated participatory culture, where fans actively remix and reinterpret content. We argue that both positions are incomplete in the current landscape. Today’s platform capitalism does not simply standardize content (too fragmented) nor empower fans (too controlled). Instead, it engineers micro-participation —swipes, likes, shares, and second-screen interactions—that masquerades as agency while training users to conform to machine-readable emotional patterns.
Some potential solutions to these issues include:
Beyond the Scroll: How Pop Culture Became a 24/7 Living Organism