Influence of an Audience
Subject: (I think I covered that in the title?)
The audience at any event has a pre-supposed expectation for what they are about to witness. In going to see a movie, they may have seen previews or critics’ reviews. As for seeing a play, it is possible that they have read the book it may have been based on or heard from friends about its content. In any case, audience members have some idea about how they will react to actions and events in the spectacle they are about to witness.
The culturally diverse backgrounds of the audience definitely structures how they view what is going on. Where one Christian might see witchcraft and evil, another Hindu might see free expression of self. What a person takes away from a play, movie, or any other type of art will vary according to their religious and political background. The most recent “documentary” made by Michael Moore created an uproar within the community around me. Personally, I think Moore is an idiot, and thus never saw his movie. My personal background in experience with Moore’s work swayed me from ever seeing a very controversial movie.
Every person has beliefs that influence their take on society. Audience members are a society in and of themselves, and the influence they have on one another will make or break any form of art.
posted by Anonymous @ 12:13 AM
1 comments
1 Comments:
I take your point that "what a person takes away from a play ... will vary according to their religious and political background." Is it possible, then, for a person to take something from a play that challenges or contradicts the world-view provided by their religious and political background? Consider that in Childress' play, the white artists feel that CHAOS IN BELLEVILLE challenges white prejudice, while the black artists feel that this play-within-the-play simply reinforces prevailing stereotypes.
One other point: you hold that Michael Moore is an idiot, based on your personal experience with Moore's work; however, you admit that you "never saw his movie." What, then, is the basis of your experience with Moore's work - if you've never seen it?
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