When you hear the word “drama,” a few different examples come to mind. These examples range from as small as spreading gossip to larger conflicts with more significant consequences.

Although most people prefer to live a relatively drama-free life, we flock to entertainment programs that satiate our need for excitement via TV and movies. We love riveting stories filled with dramatic twists and turns. Frequently, we give up on the low-conflict storylines we deem boring. Allow us to dive into this discussion of how drama captivates an audience and how, without it, the story may lose the interest of its audience.

Seeking Conflict

There are many reasons why people seek drama-filled entertainment. According to Psych Central, it’s theorized that dramatic/conflicting situations are a familiar setting. Many people grew up in chaotic environments, even if unaware of this fact. Thus, these events become the norm, and we typically veer toward entertainment representing us or who we believe we are. Additionally, it’s an easy escapism from the mundane bleakness and unsatisfying day-to-day points. Some people live relatively low-conflict lives and seek out that thrill using the outside world.

Harshness towards No Conflict

Now that we understand why many people love high-conflict entertainment/drama let’s investigate why such negativity is directed toward its more “tranquil” opposition. A large and vocal majority of people speak negatively about genres like romcoms or those similar; why? One main reason is that it is considered boring and not emotionally engaging. For most, the story loses much of its value if the conflict is low or non-existent, leaving viewers uninvested in the plot. Another reason may be that it feels unrelatable. If the characters are unrelatable, the narrative feels less compelling and engaging.

Closing thoughts

An old saying goes, “Life imitates art,” as such, story conflicts often reflect real-life challenges and struggles. In the same breath, entertainment for many is an escape from real-life hurdles. Whether drama-filled media is better than other media is subjective. It’s not necessarily fair to consider a piece of entertainment terrible simply because it focuses on low-conflict stories.

I suppose it is all about personal preferences, and it just happens that the most vocal majority prefer high amounts of conflict. There’s an audience for every genre; what’s someone’s cup of tea is someone else’s tea to spill.

https://theableshow.com/no-drama-no-entertainment

https://psychcentral.com/blog/psychology-women/2014/08/some-people-love-conflict-and-drama#2.

Read More From The Able Show Contributors.