>The variance of performance is a whole other discussion in itself..
>I just find that seeing films in a theater adds a lot more to the
>experience that a larger viewing screen and bigger sound. Even though you
>you may loathe certain other audience members individually I think there
>is some definite connection formed between every person in a theater that
>really engrosses themselves in the picture.
Well this is very interesting at a philosophical level, but I don't think
you could ever prove this beyond the simple "feeling" that you're all
experiencing an event simultaneously. We get the same feeling when we read
newspapers, zines, mailing lists, etc. It is how we imagine ourselves
participating in a community, instilling (or confirming) the belief that
there are other like-minded folks out there as represented to us in various
mediated forms. The key word is "imagine."
I don't believe the actual experience of watching is necessarily social.
In fact it's first and foremost a physiological event, a bodily, hence,
ultimately individual, experience. And although you're in a contained space
designed for a single purpose, the expectations and various intentions of
people seated are impossible to divine. We don't all go to the theatre for
the same reason and certainly don't have similar criteria for judging
whether that event was worthwhile, etc. As to whether or not the
understanding of mutually shared experience deepens our understanding of,
or "engrosses" us in, the film, that's a bit too speculative. A nice
thought, but unknowable in the end.
I see far too many movies by myself.
"We live as we dream. Alone."
Just a thought,
Geoff
_____________________________________________
Geoff Stahl
Graduate Program in Communications
McGill University
Home page: http://www.arts.mcgill.ca/gpc/crccii/gstahl.htm
IASPM-Canada page: http://www.arts.mcgill.ca/gpc/iaspm/
Canadian Journal of Film Studies (Editorial Assistant):
http://www.film.queensu.ca/fsac/cjfs.html
CKUT 90.3 FM (Montreal) Wednesdays at Midnight (EST) for your aural
pleasure. http://www.ckut.ca
MP3 is killing home taping
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