Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

Fall 12-6-2017

Faculty Advisor(s)

Dr. Jocelyn Buckner

Abstract

The products of the theatre, film, and television industries are becoming increasingly homogenized. The modes of entertainment which feature a live audience experience (film and theatre) have seen a gradual decrease in ticket sales to these experiences, while simultaneously there has been a rapidly increasing number of subscriptions to streaming services providing access to productions from all three mediums (film, theatre, television). This fact represents the public’s divergence from the idea of traditional “liveness.” Many scholars believe that liveness has the ability to manifest itself in many mediatized forms (such as in 3D, surround sound, etc.), and while this is true, the impact of streaming the products of each industry is having a homogenizing effect on the industries. The experience has taken a back seat to accessibility, sacrificed for convenience. The experience was a key defining element of both film and theatre, and to eliminate liveness for the economic advantage will be the vehicle for permanent homogenization.

As streaming technologies begin to dominate the distribution of the three mediums, the characteristics that once defined and separated each of them are being adopted by one another in order to survive in an increasingly competitive market, or are eliminated altogether in the case of “liveness.” It is necessary, therefore, to redefine liveness, and differentiate between the forms of live experience in order to continue to preserve the individuality of the mediums.

Comments

Presented at the Fall 2017 Student Research Day at Chapman University.

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