Embrace Technology!?!

The Wall Street Journal featured a wonderful take on digital books by Steve Johnson, that is both realistic about embracing technological advances and fascinating about exploring the possible positive advances to the literary form (and some of the negatives). How the E-Book Will Change the Way We Read and Write also is a perfect example of the kind of thinking we in theatre should be doing about integrating technology further into the art form and what are some positive results we can achieve in the digital age.

I find it much easier to think of the wonderful possibilities to enhance and improve the production process. Dramaturgical possibilities are endless. The support for collaboration is obvious. The impact that technology has had on lighting, sound, etc is apparent, but I imagine it is the tip of the iceberg. We talk a lot about the marketing and social media implications - certainly areas we haven't even begun to dig into, but I would also love to hear more about how people are integrating technology into the creative and collabortive process (other than the very real question - how did we ever make it through tech without the Internet?).

What I find interesting is that in Johnson's article the fundamentals of the art form are not lost. In fact several of his predictions would require a tremendous amount of precision and decisiveness in the writing process. In many ways, this holds true the technology in theatre. Digital control of lighting instruments certainly makes dimmer check easier (among other things), but it doesn't eliminate the fundamental knowledge a designer must have about light interacting with space, color, costumes, and actors.

To think about the implications to performance or performance delivery (can't think of a better word despite how cold distribution or delivery feel) is, at first, much scarier. The idea of theatre not being about gathering people in one space for a performance is challenging to imagine. Opera and dance are using simulcast and recorded performances at movie theatres and economically these are seemingly paying off. However, the visceral experience of being in the same room with the artists can't be replaced. Can it? Should it? How/can we enhance the performance experience by utilizing technology? These might be some of the most important conversations to be had about the art of theatre.

I have repeatedly stated since starting this blog that keeping theatre we create relevant and current is key to everything from community engagement to survival. Embracing technology and looking for the opportunities it may bring could be a key tool to these endeavors. It doesn't have to be a obstacle or hindrance.