The Age of Information: Where Knowledge Is Infinite
We live in an age of information overload. Every day, we are bombarded with news, facts, updates, and opinions—often at an overwhelming pace. The rise of social media, constant news cycles, and instant access to information has transformed our daily lives into an endless stream of data. As a result, we are no longer starved for knowledge. Instead, what many of us crave is experience. In this era of hyper-connectivity, we turn to entertainment not for more stories or information, but for immersive, visceral experiences that allow us to feel deeply and escape from the data-driven nature of our modern world.
This shift is particularly evident in the rise of superhero films, which prioritize emotional and sensory impact over intricate narratives. These films—and entertainment as a whole—are moving away from storytelling as their core focus, and instead, they're embracing the creation of powerful experiences that stay with audiences long after the credits roll.
From Stories to Experiences: The Shift in Audience Preferences
In earlier decades, movies were largely narrative-driven. Audiences went to the cinema to see compelling stories unfold—narratives that challenged them, surprised them, and provided deeper understanding of human nature or society. However, with the deluge of information that modern audiences face every day, there's been a significant shift in what people are looking for in entertainment.
In today's world, information is easily accessible. You can read detailed plot summaries or analyses of almost any film or story online within minutes. In a sense, audiences are no longer desperate for complex plots or intricate storytelling because those elements are readily available in countless other forms. Instead, people are seeking out experiences that transcend mere information and stimulate their emotions, senses, and imagination.
This shift helps explain the immense popularity of superhero films. These movies, while offering basic narrative structures, are celebrated more for their ability to create powerful emotional and sensory experiences. They transport viewers into fantastical worlds, offering awe-inspiring visuals, high-stakes action, and moments of intense emotion that can’t be easily replicated through a simple recounting of the plot.
The Superhero Film: Experience as the Main Attraction
Superhero films, especially those in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) or the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), have come to represent this new era of experience-driven entertainment. The formula for these movies is often predictable—there's a hero, a villain, and a final battle to save the world. Yet, despite the simplicity of the narrative, audiences flock to theaters in droves.
What drives this immense popularity is not the complexity of the story, but the experience of watching these films unfold. These movies are carefully crafted to deliver breathtaking action sequences, spectacular visual effects, and emotionally charged moments that create a lasting impact on the viewer.
In Avengers: Endgame, for example, the moment when Captain America wields Thor's hammer is not significant because of any deep narrative twist—it’s significant because it delivers an emotional and sensory high. Audiences erupt in applause not because of the story it tells, but because of the excitement it creates in that very moment. These are the kinds of experiences that leave audiences with a feeling of exhilaration, something more impactful than any plot detail or story arc.
Crafting Emotional and Sensory Experiences
While superhero films are often big-budget spectacles, the trend of prioritizing experience over narrative extends far beyond blockbusters. Even on smaller budgets, filmmakers can craft experiences that resonate deeply with audiences, using techniques that amplify emotions, tension, or atmosphere to fully engage the viewer.
Take, for example, Krisha (2015). The film is about a woman, Krisha, who returns to her estranged family for Thanksgiving. While the narrative explores the unraveling of family dynamics, the film's real impact comes from the suffocating emotional experience it creates. Through intense close-ups, frenetic editing, and a dissonant score, the viewer is thrust into Krisha's mental and emotional breakdown, feeling the same tension and discomfort she experiences. The film’s power lies not in a detailed plot, but in the raw emotional immersion it provides. Audiences don’t just observe Krisha’s downward spiral—they feel it.
Similarly, the horror film It Comes at Night (2017) delivers a gripping experience through its atmosphere of dread and paranoia. The movie's narrative is deceptively simple: a family tries to survive in a post-apocalyptic world, haunted by an unseen and potentially deadly threat. Yet, the film's genius lies in its ability to build tension through what isn't shown. The sense of impending doom is amplified by the claustrophobic cinematography and the eerily quiet sound design, pulling the viewer into a state of unease that intensifies with every scene. The experience of watching It Comes at Night is one of psychological fear—less about what happens and more about how it makes you feel.
Entertainment as an Escape From Information
As our lives become increasingly saturated with information—emails, headlines, notifications—we yearn for entertainment that offers an escape from the constant mental processing of data. This is why experiences that engage our senses and emotions, rather than our intellects, are becoming more dominant in popular culture.
In this sense, entertainment is no longer just about telling stories—it’s about creating an emotional journey that transports audiences out of their everyday lives. Whether it's the heart-pounding thrill of a superhero's battle against an overwhelming foe or the quiet tension of a thriller, these experiences offer a reprieve from the endless stream of information. They allow us to shut off our analytical minds and simply feel, something that is becoming increasingly valuable in a world dominated by facts, figures, and constant mental engagement.
Experience on Any Scale: More Than Just Blockbusters
The pursuit of experience-driven entertainment doesn’t have to be limited to films with massive budgets. While superhero films and blockbuster franchises have mastered the art of creating large-scale experiences, Trey Edward-Schultz has demonstrated the same principles can apply to smaller films and other media.
In his debut, Krisha, for instance, he shows how an intimate, character-driven story can provide an immersive emotional experience. The tension and unease felt throughout the film don’t come from grand plot twists or high-stakes action but from the palpable emotional weight carried by each scene. Director Trey Edward Shults uses the camera and sound to immerse the audience in the protagonist’s increasingly fractured mental state, making the emotional experience as overwhelming for the viewer as it is for Krisha.
Similarly, his follow up It Comes at Night uses minimalism to great effect, crafting an atmosphere of dread and isolation with a small cast and limited locations. The film's psychological impact far outweighs its simple narrative. Viewers feel the claustrophobia, paranoia, and fear of the characters as the sense of impending doom builds throughout the film. It’s a masterclass in crafting an emotional experience without the need for elaborate special effects or complicated storylines.
The Future of Experience-Driven Entertainment
As we continue to navigate a world saturated with information, the future of entertainment is likely to move even further towards experience-driven content. Filmmakers and creators will prioritize emotional and sensory engagement, crafting moments that resonate deeply with audiences, regardless of the scale of the production.
The most memorable films won’t necessarily be those with the most complex or innovative stories, but those that make us feel something profound. Whether it's through the sheer spectacle of a superhero showdown or the subtle emotional tension of an indie drama, the future of entertainment will be defined by the power of experience.
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