Movies that Matter: Films, Personal Meaning-Making, and the Narrative Self

This research investigates innovative ways that the personal hermeneutic practices of select viewers were engaged through watching films. Taking a narrative inquiry approach, the analysis explores eight in-depth interviews through narrative identity theory (Where personal identity is understood as "story"). I argue that people engage metaphorically with films in a manner that informs their personal stories, and that through this they accomplish several narrative tasks. I develop a typology that illustrates that people involve movies in everyday meaning-making to fulfill three increasingly complex desires: to feel better about their current life circumstances; to support themselves in moving forward in their lives; and to facilitate greater insight into what they believe their lives are about. This work draws on existing theory, and contributes to narrative identity theory and film reception studies by demonstrating that select viewers integrate films into their lives to maintain, develop or enrich their narrative identities.