2026/03/01 by Cynthia Cabañas, Gaia Yonah, Miklós Kiss +3 · 1 voice
Arts and Humanities · #Ethics, Aesthetics, and Art #Media Influence and Health #Narrative Theory and Analysis
paper · doi:10.3167/proj.2026.200108
openalex publication_date 2026/03/01 · openalex created_date 2026/04/03 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/07
Abstract Mainstream complex films like Pulp Fiction and Memento have captivated audiences while challenging classical norms through narrational complexity. David Bordwell's seminal work mapped these formal strategies, emphasizing they are not qualitatively different from classical ones. However, there is growing recognition that these films offer a unique experience, where coherence is built through effortful and variable processes. Building on this, we introduce the TENCo model—Triadic Engagement with Narrational Complexity—which moves from narrative structure to how complexity is experienced. Drawing from media psychology and cognitive film theory, TENCo conceptualizes engagement as a dynamic process involving cognitive, affective, and appreciative dimensions. It distinguishes between narrational complexity (formal disruptions), complication (informational density), and perceived complexity (subjective experience), offering a framework to explain why some viewers persist through confusion while others disengage. TENCo emphasizes iterative meaning-making and emergent understanding, expanding Bordwell's analytical rigor to account for how complexity is processed, felt, and appreciated.