Wikipedia isn't the best source of information and I knew referencing it would ultimately probably not help.
Let me go back to the fundamental premise on "suspension of disbelief" as that concept was discussed in every literature class I took in college. "Suspension of disbelief" is not the same as "belief". It is when someone ignores the elements that are implausible or impossible for the sake of the story. The person still believes or doesn't believe in what they believed and didn't believe in before starting the story, but chooses to ignore or at least not dwell on those points.
This is easily applied to many of the points that you mentioned:
1. The Superman point. A person who believes that super beings could exist does not need to suspend disbelief regarding that because there is no underlying disbelief to begin with. However, he may still need to suspend disbelief that no one can identify Superman as soon as he puts on regular clothes and a pair of glasses to become Clark Kent because it still seems implausible. Another person, who doesn't believe that Superman could exist, would have to suspend disbelief on both points. Once again, the viewer (or reader, if we're talking the comic books) must simply ignore, overlook or not dwell on the implausible elements.
2. The horror movie point. Obviously, someone who suspends their disbelief isn't going to shout out "look out behind you!" (though stupid people tend to make stupid comments like that in theatres regardless). They just don't bother dwelling on the implausibility of a vampire/werewolf/monster/zombie attack, or an undead serial killer, or whatever it is, in order to vicariously feel the thrill of the scare that ensues. Someone who believes in ghosts won't have as much to ignore in a movie about a haunting as someone who doesn't, but the person who doesn't believe in them isn't required to automatically "believe".
3. The fairy tale point. Once again, we ignore the implausibility of animals talking, of magic carpets and wands and elves and fairies, of magical secret places on the other side of wardrobes or rabbit-holes to enjoy the story. We don't believe these things can exist, but pretend that they can exist to recreate the sense of wonder and mystery that accompanied a lot of things when we were little.
In every single one of these examples, there are points when the implausible elements can be pushed to such a level that the viewer or reader finds the suspension of disbelief impossible. This is the hallmark of bad cinema or literature because it breaks the story flow. It's not that the person "stopped believing" in something fake that they had "started to believe", but that the viewer or reader's attention is drawn consciously to a point that is so absurd it cannot be ignored. Remember what watching Highlander 2 was like - "Okay, this is a load of bullshit. Now they're all aliens, and there CAN be more than one?" Remember Phantom Menace - "We can measure the Force because it's really about little bacteria in you, the best pilot in the Galaxy at the age of six".
Let me go back to the fundamental premise on "suspension of disbelief" as that concept was discussed in every literature class I took in college. "Suspension of disbelief" is not the same as "belief". It is when someone ignores the elements that are implausible or impossible for the sake of the story. The person still believes or doesn't believe in what they believed and didn't believe in before starting the story, but chooses to ignore or at least not dwell on those points.
This is easily applied to many of the points that you mentioned:
1. The Superman point. A person who believes that super beings could exist does not need to suspend disbelief regarding that because there is no underlying disbelief to begin with. However, he may still need to suspend disbelief that no one can identify Superman as soon as he puts on regular clothes and a pair of glasses to become Clark Kent because it still seems implausible. Another person, who doesn't believe that Superman could exist, would have to suspend disbelief on both points. Once again, the viewer (or reader, if we're talking the comic books) must simply ignore, overlook or not dwell on the implausible elements.
2. The horror movie point. Obviously, someone who suspends their disbelief isn't going to shout out "look out behind you!" (though stupid people tend to make stupid comments like that in theatres regardless). They just don't bother dwelling on the implausibility of a vampire/werewolf/monster/zombie attack, or an undead serial killer, or whatever it is, in order to vicariously feel the thrill of the scare that ensues. Someone who believes in ghosts won't have as much to ignore in a movie about a haunting as someone who doesn't, but the person who doesn't believe in them isn't required to automatically "believe".
3. The fairy tale point. Once again, we ignore the implausibility of animals talking, of magic carpets and wands and elves and fairies, of magical secret places on the other side of wardrobes or rabbit-holes to enjoy the story. We don't believe these things can exist, but pretend that they can exist to recreate the sense of wonder and mystery that accompanied a lot of things when we were little.
In every single one of these examples, there are points when the implausible elements can be pushed to such a level that the viewer or reader finds the suspension of disbelief impossible. This is the hallmark of bad cinema or literature because it breaks the story flow. It's not that the person "stopped believing" in something fake that they had "started to believe", but that the viewer or reader's attention is drawn consciously to a point that is so absurd it cannot be ignored. Remember what watching Highlander 2 was like - "Okay, this is a load of bullshit. Now they're all aliens, and there CAN be more than one?" Remember Phantom Menace - "We can measure the Force because it's really about little bacteria in you, the best pilot in the Galaxy at the age of six".
Political correctness is the pettiest form of casuistry.
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
Easy life of Lightside heroes and pathetic incompetence of the Shadow - so what's new in Wot...
28/11/2010 03:38:14 PM
- 2611 Views
Re: Easy life of Lightside heroes and pathetic incompetence of the Shadow - so what's new in Wot...
28/11/2010 04:05:48 PM
- 1287 Views
Re: Easy life of Lightside heroes and pathetic incompetence of the Shadow - so what's new in Wot...
29/11/2010 12:27:27 AM
- 1195 Views
Re: Easy life of Lightside heroes and pathetic incompetence of the Shadow - so what's new in Wot...
29/11/2010 12:36:49 AM
- 1176 Views
Re: Easy life of Lightside heroes and pathetic incompetence of the Shadow - so what's new in Wot...
29/11/2010 01:59:18 AM
- 1192 Views
Yes, she still lets herself be ruled by her desire to control everything
29/11/2010 02:39:34 AM
- 1150 Views
I vote it has come to pass
29/11/2010 02:48:26 AM
- 1041 Views
Re: I vote it has come to pass
29/11/2010 09:42:51 AM
- 1041 Views
Re: Easy life of Lightside heroes and pathetic incompetence of the Shadow - so what's new in Wot...
28/11/2010 04:43:46 PM
- 1224 Views
Re: Easy life of Lightside heroes and pathetic incompetence of the Shadow - so what's new in Wot...
28/11/2010 04:49:23 PM
- 1143 Views
Indeed
28/11/2010 06:16:41 PM
- 1100 Views
am i the only one who acknowledges that it's a jerk deal for jerks
28/11/2010 08:00:23 PM
- 1292 Views
Re: am i the only one who acknowledges that it's a jerk deal for jerks
29/11/2010 06:40:18 PM
- 1059 Views
And in the interest of fairness, SH should've been all up in Osangar's intimate business
29/11/2010 11:34:21 PM
- 1101 Views
Agreed. The series is formulaic and predictable, and even I expected a few more twists.
28/11/2010 07:47:10 PM
- 1173 Views
I'm sure that all the men Ituralde lost would agree with you about it being a breeze -_-
29/11/2010 12:32:56 AM
- 1049 Views
Byar was compulsed
29/11/2010 12:46:01 AM
- 1358 Views
Re: Byar was compulsed
29/11/2010 12:54:38 PM
- 1318 Views
Re: Byar was compulsed
29/11/2010 12:59:31 PM
- 1030 Views
Re: Byar was compulsed
29/11/2010 01:10:18 PM
- 1049 Views
He disbelieves in the Heroes
29/11/2010 03:33:27 PM
- 1011 Views
I think that's his mind deceiving itself
29/11/2010 07:19:05 PM
- 1071 Views
I didn't say he was necessarily Compulsed
30/11/2010 07:40:51 AM
- 960 Views
Do we have his reaction to the Heroes themselves?
30/11/2010 11:55:42 AM
- 1082 Views
They did get another thing right
29/11/2010 12:40:52 AM
- 1062 Views
Not Mat's fault, really - Verin didn't rehash her opinion of him.
29/11/2010 02:18:17 AM
- 1016 Views
It's the WOT Red Shirt syndrome
29/11/2010 04:29:12 AM
- 1137 Views
I don't want everyone to win and end up happily ever after though.
29/11/2010 04:33:06 AM
- 1014 Views
The disney ending is not realistic - or at least not as believable
29/11/2010 04:41:04 AM
- 1156 Views
Re: The disney ending is not realistic - or at least not as believable
29/11/2010 09:50:26 AM
- 1144 Views
It's a well told story with fun characters overall, but it's definitely not "War & Peace"
29/11/2010 06:33:12 PM
- 1184 Views
War and Peace was very thematic
30/11/2010 05:00:30 AM
- 1387 Views
Re: War and Peace was very thematic
30/11/2010 09:35:50 AM
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I'm not really sure if or why any reader would need to suspend disbelief to enjoy WoT
30/11/2010 10:31:49 PM
- 994 Views
I've always thought of this series (and fantasy in general) are a bit like Aesop's Fables
30/11/2010 10:44:09 PM
- 935 Views
Please tell me what drugs you're on
01/12/2010 04:04:39 AM
- 1099 Views
It's called 'reality' - I agree with LadyLorraine & Moratcorlm
01/12/2010 07:57:35 PM
- 1011 Views
You are absolutely wrong.
02/12/2010 04:53:52 AM
- 977 Views
You are incorrect - you should read the definition you reference before posting it.
02/12/2010 04:19:16 PM
- 1135 Views
No, I read the ENTIRE article, unlike you. You have to scroll down a bit.
02/12/2010 05:47:13 PM
- 904 Views
No, you need to read and comprehend. That was a THEORY.
02/12/2010 07:11:01 PM
- 820 Views
It's really very simple.
04/12/2010 12:31:16 AM
- 1084 Views
mk, I think I understand more what you meant now after reading this exchange
05/12/2010 05:42:47 AM
- 1019 Views
I still don't agree; sorry. I don't think this theory applies to everyone.
06/12/2010 05:30:41 PM
- 1128 Views
No, those are disbeliefs that you must suspend.
01/12/2010 08:18:25 PM
- 921 Views
You have to feel the characters are somehow believable to empathize with them.
02/12/2010 01:05:29 AM
- 968 Views
I don't see how WoT's writing (Before, or now) prevents that
02/12/2010 04:12:54 AM
- 827 Views
I'm not arguing that it necessarily does for everyone, just that YOU HAVE TO SUSPEND DISBELIEF
02/12/2010 04:48:51 AM
- 1022 Views
Black Tower
30/11/2010 01:50:29 AM
- 934 Views
Re: Black Tower
30/11/2010 01:57:48 AM
- 1068 Views
No, the worst case scenario is that the entire tower becomes 13+13'd and fights for the Shadow
30/11/2010 04:03:07 AM
- 888 Views
Hopper's death... oh god...
01/12/2010 01:00:12 AM
- 1175 Views
while i miss hopper
02/12/2010 04:19:28 AM
- 961 Views
Re: while i miss hopper
02/12/2010 05:30:52 PM
- 1083 Views
Hopper wasn't that important, either, though.
03/12/2010 02:32:10 PM
- 897 Views