In a 350-400 word , address the following: Using the Theatre textbook by Robert Cohen -9th Edition - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages... Nevertheless, in theater, the ‘witnesses’ will not do anything but will just watch the unfolding of events because they are aware that the events they are watching are simply part of art. They know that even if someone is killed in the performance, s/he will not actually die but simply acts to die in order to bring to life the character and role one has in the play.
There are certain factors influencing aesthetic distance such as the actor’s role and the audience’s empathy. The actor gets onstage to perform his character in order to keep the story going and to complete it. What happens in the story is revealed through what the actors do onstage so that they are in full control of the emotions they can draw from the audience. When an actor’s performance seems very real, the viewers will be transported to the setting of the story and will be able to respond to what they see accordingly. It is not that they will become parts of the performance but they will be able to appreciate what they see in terms of the actors’ abilities to bring to life their roles and characters.
On the other hand, the viewers are in control of their emotions or reactions toward the actors. In the example given above, the audience may feel sorry for the protagonist, understanding her situation and hopelessness but is unable to do anything but to feel sorry for her. The audience can also empathize with the helpless character, put herself in the shoes of the character so to speak, but controls her reactions. For some, they may cry because they have deeper understanding of the character’s situation but some will simply feel sorry for her. As mentioned earlier, even if the viewers are witnessing something cruel, they are just limited to ‘feeling’ toward the characters. Audiences cannot stop the actors because they know that they are just acting and the things they are witnessing are not real. In addition to empathy, ...Download file to see next pagesRead More