The Stage and the School

Chapter 14: Theater and Other Media

Overview

Early films are very similar to theatrical works performed in front of a camera; then, in 1915, D. W. Griffith used a variety of shots, light and shade composition, and film editing in creating The Birth of a Nation . From that point on, film could be distinguished from the stage in several ways. In film, real scenery could be used and actors played their roles in a less exaggerated, more real sense. Using dissolves and crosscut shots, film revolutionized the writer and director's ability to communicate time and space.

Television was a breakthrough because it made entertainment cheaper, more accessible, and more convenient; it brought information, tragedy, and comedy directly into the audience's living room. At first, most television was shown live. However, with the development of the one-hour drama format, over time, leaps have been made in the tone and quality of many television programs.

In all three mediums (television, film, and theater), the dramatic structure is similar: each requires exposition, conflict, and resolution. Criticism of these media can be broken up into two categories: reviews, which either recommend a piece or not; and analysis, which is a study of the theme or characterization of a piece. Success is sometimes measured by reviews, yet the success of a film is generally measured by its ticket sales. The success of a stage play may be evaluated using an outside firm to question the viewing audience. The success of a television series is measured by its ratings, or the number of people who watch the show.