Thrilling experiences

I believe that the main reason why many people look for experiences of this kind is to remind themselves that they are alive. As our brains get used to the routines and the daily living we are prone to seek anything that brings novelty and changes, something that can revitalize the sense that we are not in a cyclical boring shared experience altogether. 

On the other hand, our senses are connected with tragedy because we seek redemption in the human spirit when we read epic stories. We often are attached to the narrative of the unexpected hero that overcomes obstacles in pursuit of a goal, and we suffer from their own adventures. When we watch an action movie, we immediately need to find a sense of common ground with the main character in order to remain attentive to his actions and how he would eventually succeed in his goal; this because in our own lives we look for that same feeling of "everything is possible".

I think that the human spirit is not only susceptible to a character's emotions but we also tend to compare our own reality with the reality of the character. When the connection is strong enough, we get to admire and copy many of his actions; and I have felt this same connection especially through film, with historical characters such as Princess Diana or Nelson Mandela.

When watching films we tune ourselves with the sensations and obstacles of the characters and we end up building a bond from within. In the case of Macbeth, and other old age theme stories I always feel transported to old times and I tend to try my best to understand the character's behavior, based also on the context of the movie. Historical dramas are my favorite because they reflect how human conflict is cyclical and no matter in what context we are in, I am always able to find patterns of behavior in historical families, in hero stories and in legends.