The research project asks whether the reduction of the information density by the temporal sequence of black phases and images leaves our brain more time for other tasks and thus for a brighter imagination and increased empathy?
The black phase has been lost with the digitization of the film projection. Analogue projectors had an rotary shutter that covered the projector's light to allow the film to be transported. To minimize the resulting flicker, the projection ran twice as fast and showed each image twice. In between, it was dark in the cinema. The inertia of the human eye allowed us viewers but still recognize continuous movement.
Much has been interpreted into the black phase. The magic of the cinema would arise just in alternation with these dark moments, it was said. Then, the results of our own research project 'Analog/Digital' were quite surprising, as the mechanical 35mm projection generated significantly higher emotional values in the audience. Question: Does the reduction in the density of information through the temporal sequence of black phases and images allow our brain more time for other tasks and thus for a stronger imagination and increased empathy?