Essay On Impact Of Technology On Performing Arts

Technology and its Impact on the Consumption of Performing Arts From the thought that the men who only played womanly characters were transgender, to the belief that William Shakespeare never existed, there are plenty of things in the history of the performing arts that are talked about. The influence of technology, however, deserves much more attention. Through the use of social media and media in general, many forms of performing arts have been able to see more exposure. Technology has also made the performing arts accessible to people from all walks of life around the globe. Technology has undoubtedly had a positive effect on the consumption of performing arts.
The performing arts are defined as “arts or skills that require public performance,

Historically performing was used by animals to attract mates, often with the art of dance or song. Those techniques were so effective that they have lived on and still occur today. Starting in approximately five hundred B.C. however, the performing arts that we know and love came to fruition (Hancock). Theaters started being built out of stone and mud for people to gather around and watch/listen to the acts. Since that period in time, the performing arts have gained a rich history ranging anywhere from spreading awareness for social issues such as racism and homophobia, to encouraging rebellion in oppressive governments. Technology has affected this world with its progression and as such has affected the performing arts. Theaters were once completely open, with pits for the middle class and typically less educated and platforms for the rich and sophisticated individuals (Winthrop University). If in a large venue, actors had to project so much

Many of the advancements that have happened in the technological field over millennia have increased the consumption of the performing arts. In 1438 the printing press was invented by Johannes Gutenberg (History of Printing Timeline). This type of technology allowed for the printing and distribution of music as well as the printing of advertisements for theatrical performances, thus drawing in larger audiences. In 1698 Thomas Savery patented the first practical steam engine (Interesting Engineering). This made it easier for people to travel to see popular shows. Even though the purpose of the printing press and the steam engine aren’t bringing people into the world of the performing arts, they inadvertently did so. In the last century the radio, neon lights, color photography, television, technicolor, the internet, and so many other inventions inarguably brought so much more exposure to different kinds of the performing arts (Bellis). These are just a few examples as well, since everything in our world is intertwined almost every technological innovation has had an impact on the performing arts. Without televised news we may not be able to see all of the atrocities happening in the world, without YouTube we may have never seen the video of goats jumping on a sheet of metal, and without radio, our grandparents wouldn’t have been able to enjoy Franklin D. Roosevelt's famous