artsatl.com: It’s happened — I imagine — to almost everyone who attends theater, film or other kinds of arts events on a regular basis. A patron nearby brings out a cell phone, starts texting or checking their social media, and brings the show’s momentum to a halt. Not only can it disrupt the performance and an audience’s enjoyment of, but it brings with it its own litany of dilemmas.
10 comments:
This issue is one that affects almost everyone who attends theatrical performances or movie theatres, I even have friends who use their phones during movies we go to and it drives me crazy. I have an intense dependency to my phone and I probably check it more than the average person does but when I’m at a performance or a movie I silence it and let the experience take hold. Sure, two to three hours can be a super long time to sit there, especially if you aren’t particularly enjoying the performance, but you have to stick it out because someone two seats down might be having the time of their life. I also cannot believe the author was charged with assault for tapping someone on the shoulder. I don’t think that had to do with them at all and this person just had anger issues and wanted to take advantage of a well meaning person.
I don’t know how old this author is but I don’t think that he is the only one or only generation that is bothered by the constant obsession and distraction of phones. I also agree that I think it is super disrespectful to by on your phone during any kind of performance, even if it is to record. A large part of theater and live shows is being there in the here and now, experiencing what is happening right in front of you. I also find the story of this author getting in so much trouble for just asking a patron to put away his phone since it is distracting is quite upsetting. I think that it should be all theater policies for no phones to be out and there should be consequences to those who break that rule. There is no good reason to be distracted by your phone when you are at a show.
I don't think that anyone is going to disagree with this article. Everyone, EVERYONE, regardless of age or generation, is addicted to their screens. This isn't just a millennial and 2000's kids issue, when I walk around in public or when I'm on the bus, everyone around me has their head bent and they're staring at their phones. And I'll admit, it's a hard habit to break. However, when you decide to see a movie, or a theatrical show, you've entered an agreement that you will give your full attention to this piece of art for as long as it lasts. I get more mad when people are on their phone during a live theatre performance than a movie. I guess it's because when you're watching theatre, the people you're ignoring are right there in the room with you, as opposed to being recording and put onscreen. Either way though, it's rude.
I agree wholeheartedly that cell phones have not place in an audience of any type of show, performance, or movie, with the exception of certain concerts where phones have really begun to be part of the overall experience without taking much away. I did think that starting out with a story about almost getting arrested for tapping someone on the shoulder is a bit of an extreme scenario, though as he writes it is entirely possible, just unlikely, and I think that may have made the author come across as a bit extreme and harder to listen to, but I still think he made valid points regardless. I definitely think that it can really take away from a theatrical performance of movie when all you can see in front of you are the tiny glowing dots that are cell phone screens. I also question why the person stated they needed to use the cell phone for their job; you would think that they of all people would understand how distracting it is in the theatre.
This is just getting ridiculous at this point. Cell phones should not be going of in theatres anymore they just shouldn't. People are addicted to their devices I get that they just can't seem to put them down for a second let alone 2/3 hours but still we need to understand the effect that this has on others who are willing and able to block out the outside world for a little bit just to enjoy a show. It's great to just immersive yourself in another world even if it is just for a little bit. I think theatre's should start with the ideas of Dave Chappell sooner rather then later. I went to one of his shows a while back and he makes all of his audience members leave their phones at the door. Now he does it to keep filming out of his shows but i think this would be another great tool for people to step outside of the world they live in and enjoy a show fully once in awhile.
this is awful, someone was almost arrested for asking a person to not use their phones inside the theater. What is wrong with people. You can get off your phone for 2 hours. Nothing will happen on Facebook that you need to check it, if there was something important im sure it can wait. I understand that shutting your phone off might not be practical but if so do not use it. If you need to get in contact with someone just go outside and call them. Why do they have to ruin the experience of others just because they need to check their phone. One thing that really bothered me was that the person filed a suit against the man. This is just extremely over the top. What is so wrong of someone to say please do not use your phone. THIS IS MY BIGGEST PET PEEVE AND PEOPLE NEED TO STOP USING Their PHONES IN THE THEATRE.
This is a persistent problem that has plagued the entertainment world and it truly rooted in our 21st century culture. Cell phones are our source of all information, contact and much of our “social interactions”. Because of this, it feels like we our shutting ourselves from our world and the news and everything constantly feed on. However, when you walk into a theatre there should be the respect to turn it off at least until intermission. I think the reason more and more people use their phones in performance is because theatre is slowly slipping into movie culture. People used to dress formal to theatre and make an evening of it. Whereas now, people walk into broadway shows wearing T-shirts and shorts and proceed to unwrap candy and text during shows. I believe that with technology progressing, people’s attention spans are shrinking and cell phones are the solution to that craving of need for information. I think shows which include an opening line of people turn off your cell phone are smart by addressing the issue head on and I would think they have a better outcome during their shows.
I feel very polarized on most aspects of this issue. Much like the author of this article, I firmly believe that phones have absolutely no place in live theatre-- except if they are being used as a part of the media of the show or something of that nature. Live theatre is best when being experienced with full attention so the audience is immersed in the world of the show, and when someone is using their phone during it they are not only distracting themselves but everyone else around them. However, at the same time I am very guilty of using my phone at several different moments during a live concert, which I think is a pretty universal problem. I can’t help but feel the need to record most of the songs and lights during a concert, especially since I am so engrossed with both what is going on with the performers and production that is happening behind and around them. I feel a compulsive need to record nearly every moment of a concert, and I wonder what makes this so different from the theater-- I think it partially has to do with it being in a louder and perhaps less intimate environment. Either way, I don’t fully know where I stand on this issue of where and when phones belong in live performance.
I still can not believe that people think that pulling out a phone during a show is an acceptable thing to do. If it is really that important to you, take it outside, or just don’t come to a show if you know you can’t put your phone away for the full run. I will admit that people in general are getting more and more addicted to their phones, myself included. However there are some places where it is just not okay to do that. I feel like there should be a system in place like in the Pokemon games where if you try to take your bike out inside a message pops up, “Now is not the time to use that”. I think that if theaters want to handle this problem better they should make sure their ushers know that they have the authority to tell people to stop using a phone, make part of their job the enforcement of that rule.
This is kind of crazy. How could someone take such offense to being asked to put away a phone during a live performance? Especially someone who prizes themselves as a theatre lover and critic. I feel so bad for the author of this article to have to have gone through such an experience when he was just doing his job as a responsible patron of the arts. Our obsession with phones is ridiculous and, though I always have my phone on me, I feel that there are places where it is just unacceptable to have phones out. The theatre and the movies take place in a dark room lit only by what is on the stage or the screen. The light streaming from a single phone is obvious and distracting. In live theatre, it is especially horrible because it not only affects the audience but also the performers on stage who are reacting to the audience and can see that a phone is out. I just can't believe someone would actually escalate to battery accusations after just being politely asked to put away a phone that should not have been out in the first place.
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