The effect of left-right reversal on film: Watching Kurosawa reversed

doi:10.1068/i0451aap

Art and Perception

The effect of left-right reversal on film: Watching Kurosawa reversed

Marco Bertamini

Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L697ZA, UK

M.Bertamini@liv.ac.uk

Carole Bode

Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L697ZA, UK

C.Bode@liv.ac.uk

Nicola Bruno

Dipartimento di Psicologia, Universita di Parma, Parma, Italy

nicola.bruno@unipr.it

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Abstract. The mirror reversal of an image is subtly different from the original. Often such change goes unnoticed in pictures, although it can affect preference. For the first time we studied the effect of mirror reversal of feature films. People watched \textit{Yojimbo} or \textit{Sanjuro} in a cinema, both classic films by Akira Kurosawa. They knew that this was a study and filled out a questionnaire. On one day \textit{Yojimbo} was shown in its original orientation, and on another day the film was mirror reversed. \textit{Sanjuro} was shown reversed on one day and non-reversed on another day. Viewers did not notice the reversal, even when they had seen the film before and considered themselves fans of Kurosawa. We compared this with estimates from a survey. In addition, the question about the use of space (scenography) revealed that although people who had seen the film before gave higher ratings compared with those who had not, this was only true when the film was not reversed.

Cite as: Bertamini M, Bode C, Bruno N, 2011, "The effect of left-right reversal on film: Watching Kurosawa reversed" i-Perception 2(6) 528–540
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DOI: 10.1068/i0451aap

ISSN: 2041-6695 (electronic only)

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