Author Question: Discuss the use and limitations of space in live theater. What will be an ideal ... (Read 48 times)

Collmarie

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 569
Discuss the use and limitations of space in live theater.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Why is it that the human being is central to the aesthetic of the theatre, whereas it is not in cinema? Explain this contradiction in detail.
 
  What will be an ideal response?



TDubDCFL

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 357
Answer to Question 1

The action in live theater takes place in a unified area that has specific limits,
usually defined by the proscenium arch. Drama, then, almost always deals with closed
forms: We don't imagine that the action is being continued in the wings or the dressing
rooms of the theater. In the theater, it's more difficult to withhold information in this
manner. In the live theater, the viewer remains in a stationary position. The distance
between the audience and the stage is constant. Of course, an actor can move closer to an
audience, but compared to the fluid space in the cinema, distance variation in the live
theater is negligible. In the live theater, space is three dimensional, is occupied by
tangible people and objects, and is therefore more lifelike. That is, our perception of
space is essentially the same as in reality. The living presence of actors, with their subtle
interactionsboth with other actors and the audienceis impossible to duplicate in film.
The stage player interacts with viewers, establishing a delicate rapport with each different
audience.
In the live theater, the audience generally must be more active. All the visual elements
are provided within a given space, so the viewer must sort out what's essential from
what's incidental. Disregarding for the moment the importance of language in the theater,
drama is a medium of low visual saturation. That is, the audience must fill in certain
meanings in the absence of visual detail.

Answer to Question 2

The human being is central to the aesthetic of the theater: Words must be
recited by people; conflicts must be embodied by actors. The cinema is not so dependent
on humans. The aesthetic of film is based on photography, and anything that can be
photographed can be the subject matter of a movie. For this reason, adapting a play to the
screen, although difficult, is hardly impossible, for much of what can be done on the
stage can be duplicated on the screen.



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
 

Did you know?

HIV testing reach is still limited. An estimated 40% of people with HIV (more than 14 million) remain undiagnosed and do not know their infection status.

Did you know?

A recent study has found that following a diet rich in berries may slow down the aging process of the brain. This diet apparently helps to keep dopamine levels much higher than are seen in normal individuals who do not eat berries as a regular part of their diet as they enter their later years.

Did you know?

There are 60,000 miles of blood vessels in every adult human.

Did you know?

The average office desk has 400 times more bacteria on it than a toilet.

Did you know?

Drying your hands with a paper towel will reduce the bacterial count on your hands by 45–60%.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library