Right to Left Action in Film and Television

I didn't go to film school, so this was a new concept to me when I read about it a couple months ago: "Normal action" in Western Movies and TV occurs left to right and "unnatural action" occurs right to left.  I actually read about it in connection with a Lost episode.

I'm trying in vain to find an article with a good description, so I'll do my best to give one here: The Western mind is used to reading left to right (duh!) but what you might not know is that most action in Western films also generally depict action in a left to right way.  We're so used to it that when action flows from Right to Left, that it causes a sense of uneasiness in the viewer- subconciously cluing them in that not all is well with the world.

So... what do you think?  Do you think it works?  Can you think of any good examples?  This guy http://www.brightlightsfilm.com/38/clones1.php (about halfway down, just below the "goofy couple smiling at each other and one is wearing a ridiculous hat" picture) cites the clone battle at the end of Attack of the Clones as a good example. 

It's had me thinking... is this why they flip shots sometimes?  Does unflipping them potentially disturb the left->right/right->left flow and the subconcious effect it's supposed to have?

It also seemed to me like the direction kept shifting - most of the time it was right to left, but sometimes it was left to right and even a view from behind. Perhaps it was a way to keep the viewer mentally disoriented, as in, "What is their true alignment?" Of course, it's a technique wasted in a movie where everyone knows ultimately what is going to happen.

There more I've thought of this, the more I just think it's crap.

The rebels attack the Death Star in primarily a right to left direction.  Does that make the scene more tense?  There are a few shots of the X-wings moving left to right... are those scenes supposed to make you feel safe?

What else... ?

Perhaps this had an effect at one point in time... but I'm guessing we're all so over-exposed to it that it no longer works on most of it.

Just like how I don't get motion sickness from videogames but my wife still does since she hasn't logged her 10,000 hours.

No, but according to the people who know... I get to claim to be an expert after 10,000 hours.

Octorox said:

Modern viewers are much more sophisticated...

That made me chuckle... but yeah, I know what you meant.