ABSTRACT
Summarizing the conclusions drawn from the previous chapters, this closing section mirrors the introduction by answering the questions put forth in the latter. One of the main conclusions of the study is that the perceptual and cognitive mechanisms involved in the viewer’s understanding of film flashbacks have a natural basis. Moreover, it is our natural perceptual, cognitive, and communicative capacities (e.g., gaze following, joint attention) that “inspire” filmic narrative devices and conventions. Second, the blending theory framework is proven to be a fruitful tool to dissect the cognitive workings of movie flashbacks. Furthermore, the analysis of flashbacks following Dancygier’s (2012b) model shows that conceptual blending lies at the core of the intelligibility of retrospection scenes in film. The model also explains how the diverse components of a filmic narrative, organized around a number of narrative mental spaces, ultimately make sense at the level of the story-blend. The chapter closes with some suggestions for future research.
Dancygier, B. (2012b). The language of stories: A cognitive approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
