PSFK: The growth of virtual reality is guaranteed to have a transformational influence on the live entertainment industry. Offering a distinctive experience far beyond attending a concert, show or sports game, virtual reality technology provides a standout option to live entertainment enthusiasts everywhere. Below are three examples of how virtual reality will alter how we view, enjoy and engage in live entertainment.
7 comments:
I honestly think that for a lot of people, at the very least on a subconscious level, this technology will cheapen the experience for a great many people, and (at least at first) this will cause an outrage. I personally think that spreading theater is a great thing, and while the narrative aspects of the show don't excite me as much as they "should," the idea of creating a jumbled, fused evolution of theatre, film, and interconnectedness, can only lead to interesting and exciting work. Imagine peering from behind a tapestry to spy on Hamlet, only to have him turn on you and stab you, and then watch your (polonius') body fall to the floor. Gorgeous! Virtual Reality + live theatre
I don't really see virtual reality becoming an everyday entertainment device anytime soon. I see the appeal for people who really like feeling involved in the action, but I do believe that they are more like people who would be devoted enough to the subject of entertainment to actually buy tickets and go see what they want to see. The appeal must be mostly geared towards advertisements because they can be even more so in the faces of the consumer. I am interested to see the integration of virtual reality with live action theatre.
I think the virtual reality technology is very cool, but I do not think it will replace live entertainment. Even though you will seem closer to the action with the virtual reality technology, the experience does not match actually being at an event. Virtual reality devices are often very expensive, so it does not seem like a common thing for everyday people to have in their house. If they could not go to a sporting event, they would most likely watch it on tv. Virtual reality would only work for sports and concerts. It wouldn't work with theatre that well.
Live entertainment is such a huge institution in our lives! I see how virtual reality can be improved to replace the way we approach things like gaming for entertainment as well as how we may view certain types of media, however, virtual reality lacks an intrinsic practicality at this point in time. There is a threshold in technology which is defined by whether or not improving it will improve the quality of entertainment enough to spend the hours and resources to develop it. Virtual reality, in my opinion, sits right on that other side of the threshold. This isn't to say I don't think it can be improved and possibly opened up to smaller markets in the coming time, however, I don't necessarily agree that it will become a huge staple in our daily lives.
While although this article makes a fascinating claim for the use of virtual reality, I do not believe that virtual reality will have an social impact on anyone anytime soon. Take a look at Google Glass. While although technically not virtual reality, it still has the idea of wearable technology that puts artificial information in front of your face. And Google Glass has not done well in the general population. To change the way we look at entertainment (TV, concerts, sports), you have to make technology that the general population can utilize. Finally, the article mentions that there are only so many front row seats and that virtual reality can take you to places that you normally could not see. But that is not the point of most entertainment designers. They want you to see the show or event from a certain general angle, not a bizarre angle that does provide the whole view.
People probably thought that the invention of the iPod, computer, television, or tablet would slowly deteriorate the existence of live theater, concerts, and sporting events. But like many people above said, nothing beats the experience of live theater. When someone sees a broadway show, they're seeing these actors live. People who they've admired forever are standing in front of them in the flesh. That goes for concerts and sporting events too. That feeling can not be beat.
And if the case arises that virtual reality begins to take over the realm of live entertainment, that could create some interesting challenges for designers from every area, having to create for the purpose of being remotely viewed.
This article talks about how VR technology will begin to affect the viewing experience of the patrons, but what does it mean for the action and the production of the show? In theatre we often say things like “nobody will see that from 30’ away,” but with the way this article talks about “being up close and personal” I worry that it makes the job of the actor, as well as the scenery and costume department much more difficult, as they have to worry about every potential angle or “viewing experience” that the audience might have.
I also wonder if this cheapens the art of live entertainment, mostly theatre. Theatre differs from television in that it is live, and often larger than life. I wonder adding VR takes away from the theatricality of live theatre.
In general, I wonder if theatre design is changing in a big way, this makes me wonder if it’s not just changing, but it’s evolving.
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