CMU School of Drama


Monday, April 08, 2019

Harnessing the Combined Power of Theatre and TV

HowlRound Theatre Commons: “Put down your phone and live.”

Hearing this phrase is inevitable for a Gen Z child like me and being confronted with media on the subject is even more so. Countless plays and films loudly preach about kids these days being too dependent on technology, but they often fail to go deeper. Questions like why generations of people are so dependent on tech, what our lives are like without it, and what we try to gain from it are typically ignored.

6 comments:

Sidney R. said...

I love how this article begins by stating that “countless plays and films loudly preach about kids these days being too dependent on technology, but they often fail to go deeper,” (Cuzzopoli 1). This gives a purpose to the critical commentary that the play is presenting, rather than showcasing a problem with no way for the audience to act upon it. Placing this technology-themed production in an alternate universe allows metaphors to more visually explain the effects of media in our century. I find this to be an effective approach design-wise because it does not limit the performance to mobile devices and other screens. It can be unsatisfying to see actors looking down at phones, and texting messages that an audience dozens of feet away is unware of. The eventual exit from this vivid, absurd universe makes the audience ponder the theme of technological unfulfillment without it being too obviously stated. It allows one to reflect critically on how cell phones and social media have a continuous impact on their mind.

Reesha A. said...

I really like the content of this article, because it presents to the readers a production that is so relevant in today's time and age. Technology and its effects has been an ongoing discussion in the media and entertainment fields more so than ever and the production of this story is really impactful at this time.
I love the concept of how the story functions on two similar things functioning together, yet they are not able to find a solution for their technologically inclined problem, which can be both appealing or unsatisfying for the readers, based on what they planned on taking away from the production.
Overall, I feel like this article does a great job of capturing the true essence of the production, while giving honest, objective opinions of the end result of the production, allowing readers to form an informed opinion about the production. Whether or not they have been able form an opinion about the issue that the production deals with, is a question that I believe cannot be answered anytime soon, given the mixed views that this topic attracts.

Emma Reichard said...

I really wasn’t quite sure where this article was heading. I thought maybe this would turn into some sort of preachy ‘don’t be so dependent on technology’ type of article. But it seems like this production is actually taking a pretty progressive and unique approach to technology. I won’t say I necessarily agree that live television is inherently a new part of theatre, though maybe at a commercial level it is. I do wonder though, if using live ‘television’ in a show actually is considered mixing the two mediums. I mean, if something isn’t being broadcast long range, is it even TV? And if you’re watching not-tv in a theatre, that doesn’t really do the medium justice. I think there are better ways to combine the two mediums to create a conversation not only about technology, but accessibility and comfort. At the end of the day I really like this idea but think it needs more exploration.

Shahzad Khan said...

What a concept! I for one think that creating a show that combines a plethora of different medias and really establishes the immense effects of over stimulation in the modern world. Although I am a fan of classic theatrical conventions and thats really where I cut my teeth, I am excited to see new and innovative work being created through projections and the incorporation of technology as an essential part of the story. I think that live television in a show can prove to be really cool for an audience that knows exactly what they're getting themselves into, to really experience a type of theatre where they are able to be wowed. Live television, when done well, could be a great device used to tell a story and just simply show off. The only downside to theater like this, is that its just simply a pain to do and you can never trust technology because technology is unreliable and sometimes evil.

Cooper Nickels said...

This sounds like a really cool show to me. I think it is important not to discount the experiences of how my generation and the coming generations have grown up with technology. I think it is really regressive when older people complain or point out how this generation is obsessed with technology because of course we are! We live in an age where technology governs almost every part of our life. It is literally impossible to live in today’s world and not interact with technology on almost a daily basis. And that is not a bad thing! This technology is a part of our evolution. It is making us smarter, more capable, and more efficient at almost everything we do. Of course there is a point where it can be too much and it is important to step back from to get perspective about it, but as of now, it is an essential part of being an person in today’s world, and there is no way around that.

Nicolaus Carlson said...

This is an interesting concept and unique idea in commenting on the topic of technology, media, and television. The comment surrounding the lack of independence from technology and the inescapable nature of what surrounds us and has become part of us. The Images within the article very quickly make me think of a studio audience experience as it is essentially just that however, it is live performance at the same time. This isn’t dissimilar from how Friends was shot. A performance took place and the audience actually became a part of the show – the laugh track. They edited lines and other details to get the effect they wanted. The only difference between this idea and filming television is that it isn’t going to be aired, otherwise all the same components are there. So, while this is an interesting take on sending a message with some great comments, it is however feeling as though it is lacking something.