Comments on: Theatrical Play-doh Fun Factory http://theaterforthefuture.com/theatrical-play-doh-fun-factory/ The Art in the Business of Theater - Collaboration Tools and Technology and the Storefront Theater Movement Thu, 15 Jul 2010 20:12:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Nick Keenan http://theaterforthefuture.com/theatrical-play-doh-fun-factory/comment-page-1/#comment-1695 Nick Keenan Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:51:48 +0000 http://nikku.net/blog/?p=805#comment-1695 Hey Pepe, I <em>do</em>. But you're right - it's scary, and I think the way that we tend to do these things is really haphazard and often a byproduct of exploration is destruction of something that was good or at least useful - in this case, the ability of most performers to project without mechanical aids. I think we should be more conscious of our use of technology and interrogate it a bit more. But yes, I think ultimately, we can't avoid the improvement of technology and to do so is to try to freeze time and I think would ultimately be even more destructive. Even Brecht used technological advancements - such as the still emerging scientific understanding of the human mind - to inform his work. What I think we need to defend is the creative impulse that is married to that scientific quest for understanding. Art helps interpret the lessons of science and marry them with humanity. We can't skip that step, and I'm afraid our social and cultural leadership may be assuming they can do just that. Hey Pepe,

I do. But you’re right – it’s scary, and I think the way that we tend to do these things is really haphazard and often a byproduct of exploration is destruction of something that was good or at least useful – in this case, the ability of most performers to project without mechanical aids. I think we should be more conscious of our use of technology and interrogate it a bit more.

But yes, I think ultimately, we can’t avoid the improvement of technology and to do so is to try to freeze time and I think would ultimately be even more destructive. Even Brecht used technological advancements – such as the still emerging scientific understanding of the human mind – to inform his work.

What I think we need to defend is the creative impulse that is married to that scientific quest for understanding. Art helps interpret the lessons of science and marry them with humanity. We can’t skip that step, and I’m afraid our social and cultural leadership may be assuming they can do just that.

]]> By: Pepe Valdes http://theaterforthefuture.com/theatrical-play-doh-fun-factory/comment-page-1/#comment-1694 Pepe Valdes Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:35:46 +0000 http://nikku.net/blog/?p=805#comment-1694 Hello, I constantly discuss in my blog the effect of technology on Theatre. I really like your post and how we are going from big houses to small houses and the effect that has on technology not just on sound, but also in set construction, lighting design and eventually smaller shows. I have the feeling that this transition process for theatre is backwards some times for technology. Financial situations is pushing us to do smaller shows, and as technology goes forward, our technical necessities are going down. Projections is cool but its also bringing down set construction and lighting. Do you think we are working on a greater good here? · I constantly discuss topics like this in my blog if you are interested, http://boxpearapple.net · Twitter @PpValdes Hello, I constantly discuss in my blog the effect of technology on Theatre. I really like your post and how we are going from big houses to small houses and the effect that has on technology not just on sound, but also in set construction, lighting design and eventually smaller shows.
I have the feeling that this transition process for theatre is backwards some times for technology. Financial situations is pushing us to do smaller shows, and as technology goes forward, our technical necessities are going down. Projections is cool but its also bringing down set construction and lighting. Do you think we are working on a greater good here?
· I constantly discuss topics like this in my blog if you are interested, http://boxpearapple.net · Twitter @PpValdes

]]> By: Duds http://theaterforthefuture.com/theatrical-play-doh-fun-factory/comment-page-1/#comment-1624 Duds Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:04:37 +0000 http://nikku.net/blog/?p=805#comment-1624 I work in a middle school, and I have this same conversation regularly. Do we need two dozen mics in order to hear the 11-year-old who sings quietly? Is that answer made more complicated by the fact that a 12-year-old is running the sound board? These questions are universally perplexing at any level of theatre. I work in a middle school, and I have this same conversation regularly.

Do we need two dozen mics in order to hear the 11-year-old who sings quietly?

Is that answer made more complicated by the fact that a 12-year-old is running the sound board?

These questions are universally perplexing at any level of theatre.

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