Some of the Technological Advancements that Shaped Modern Theater Essay Example for Free

Some of the Technological Advancements that shaped Modern business firm EssayIn 1998 the movie Shakespeare in Love took the Oscars award for surmount picture. It was a movie with a title that seems not to promise much but what it lacks in chew it made up in substance. The intimately endearing aspect of the movie was the realistic depiction of what champaign was in the Renaissance period and most importantly what adopting area was before the modern-day age.The movie willing help explain why battleground was such a powerful communication device when radio, picture and the Internet was yet a affair of the distant future. The movie was able to show its exit on the earshot and the community at large. The acclaimed movie was also able to explain the influence and the spellbinding effect it has on the artists involved in the production, from the playwright down to the wooden leg hands. in that location is integrity last thing that needs to be realized when watching Shak espeare in Love and it is something that serious students of the craft was able to position easily but perhaps other less discerning failed to do. And this is the depiction of how a play was re-create before the advent of the technological advancements that defined the modern age.This means there was no electricity at the time when Shakespeare started out as a weaver of stories and plays. There was nothing that heap be seen in terms of technological breakthroughs in sound, lighting and layer design. All of these components found in the modern household can be taken for granted by modern theater enthusiasts but it is better if one reminds himself or herself what it was like before all these inventions came to be. This study aims to contribute in the appreciation of the evolution of theater through the centuries. tho most importantly this is done to help chart the future of the present of plays, drama, comedy, opera, and so forth By doing so, the people who love theater and al l it represents can become some sort of watchmen safeguarding the consequence of theater from the possible distortion. The possible distortion of its beauty can easily come from the source of its catamenia status technology. This study aims to look at some of the technological advancements and inventions that created the modern theater. It also briefly touches on the need to preserve what is intrinsically theater so to speak.Illusions and Engineering Imagine scaffolding a play at the time when power tools and forms of heavy equipment is still in the drawing boards of some artists and not up to now scientists. After that thought begins to sink in hence imagine the implications in terms of trying to flop interpret fiction, a work of imagination. Simply put how can one show the audience a disappearing act or the appearing of a spirit from the abyss? There is no fashion to do that unless actors learned how to become The Flash. So, when stage designers came up with their first att empt in realness the audience were thrilled and how plays get to be interpreted was never the same again. Like the movies, theater seeks to bring in a level of realism to satisfy the audience, the critics and the producers of the play themselves. One of the first technological developments documented was expound by Hopkins in his book, illusions and magic on stage. It was the invention of the Trap. The author described it this wayThe narrow is one of the oldest and most primeval means of producing stage illusions, and it is in use to day in most theaters and opera houses. The principle is very simple The actor, singer, or devil who is to make his sudden appearance upon the stage stands on a platform which is hoisted to the stage level by means of winches turned by the stage hands. (1990) As seen in the above mentioned inventions most of the earlier technological advancements rely on muscle power. There were very little improvements with regards to the age old use of pulleys a nd levers etc. But in the advent of the industrial Age and the perfection of electric power technological developments in all aspects of living in worldwide and theater in particular suddenly improved to breakneck travel rapidly. Electricity brings with it many wonders, gadgets and equipment. The first major(ip) change is the ability of the director to manipulate light and sound. Lighting and Sound became part of the science of staging plays and operas. When electricity was tamed and transformed into something less dangerous, the number of applications for this invention went to the roof. The theater benefited much, especially at the advent of the Digital Age.The Computer The Computer came from humble beginnings until it dominated modern life. There is no industry or profession that was not transformed by this technological development of the 20th century. To be more dead on target there is no profession or industries that do not stand to benefit from this technological marvel. A nd of die hard theater is no exception. In the later half of the 1900s computers and software contributed to the dizzying rate of evolution in theater production. What will be discussed next are examples of what are the current trends in staging plays and operas.Computer assisted Lighting In the Stage Lighting Handbook, Francis Reid discussed some of the features of modern methods of managing stage lighting that is back up by a computer and software and he wroteSeveral software programmes have been written to incite management of the lighting process particularly organizing paperwork, keeping it up to date and printing it out bundle is also available to track the progress of each light in each cue, with instant teaching displayed on screen or in print Most of these lighting management techniques use information technology to speed up processes which have hitherto been done manually. (2002)Technology in Sound lav Leonard made an interesting study of primitive technology in t he production of sound effects in theaters more than two hundred years ago. In his book he described how men in that era tried to mimic rain. It is by the use of a device that allows peas to drop on jury and the desired effect is rain pelting on rooftops. Leonard also described a contraption that allows carom balls to roll down a trough this action produces the sound of thunder. The gadget was aptly named Thunder blend (Leonard, 2001). In the same book, Leonard made the transition of describing modern gadgets and this time computers, microchips, and complex electronics make up modern instruments for creating more realistic sounds. Still Leonard made this remarkIt is tempting to believe that because we are so go technically we should ignore the past and how our predecessors managed things we have a bewildering range of play-back options, CDs, synthesizers, digital signal processing, smart loudspeakers and the smallest of microphones that can be hidden in an actors hair. (2001) T his same sentiment was echoed by Patrice Pavis who was alarmed at the speed of development of theater which for her defeats the purpose of theater and she said, Theater tends towards simplification, minimalization, fundamental reduction to a direct swap between actor and spectator (1992).Conclusion The world of theater is indebted to technological marvels that made the staging of plays less difficult. Technology also allows producers and directors of plays/operas to have that satisfaction of achieving realism as much as possible. But purist and other serious students of theater warn against over complication that may rob theater of its reliable power. As seen on the movie Shakespeare in Love, a play can easily move the audience sans electricity, complicated stage design, expensive lighting equipment and sophisticated sound amplification and effects. If no one believes this, then just think of how Greek tragedies and Shakespearean plays survived through the ages if theater was not successful in its primitive form.ReferencesHopkins, A. (1990). Magic Stage Illusions, Special Effects and Trick Photography. Courier Dover PublicationsReid, F. (2002). The Stage Lighting Handbook. UK Routledge.Leonard, J. (2001). Theater Sound.New York Routledge.Hiram, M. (1972). The Theater of Today.Manchester, NH Ayer Publishing.Pavice, P. (1992). Theatre at the Crossroads of Culture. New York Routledge.