Spectatorship

Definition

Spectatorship refers to the relationship between the audience and the performance, emphasizing how viewers engage with, interpret, and respond to theatrical works. It encompasses the ways in which spectators become involved in the narrative and emotional landscapes presented on stage, affecting their perception and understanding of the work. The concept is especially relevant in examining how different forms of theatre, like sentimental comedy and bourgeois drama, shape audience expectations and emotional reactions.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. During the 18th century, theatre began to shift towards a more emotional appeal in works like sentimental comedies, inviting audiences to feel rather than just observe.
2. Bourgeois drama emphasized the struggles of everyday life, allowing spectators to see themselves in the characters' situations, which enhanced their emotional investment.
3. The role of the spectator changed as theatre became more accessible to the middle class, influencing how plays were written and performed.
4. The connection between spectatorship and social commentary is strong in this period; plays often reflected and critiqued societal norms and values.
5. Direct engagement with the audience through dialogue or breaking the fourth wall became more common, altering traditional views of spectatorship.

Review Questions

• How did sentimental comedies influence the nature of spectatorship during the 18th century?
  • Sentimental comedies shaped spectatorship by emphasizing emotional experiences over plot-driven narratives. These plays encouraged audiences to empathize with characters' emotions, creating a bond that made viewers reflect on their own feelings and moral values. As a result, spectators became more actively engaged, experiencing not just entertainment but also personal introspection.
• In what ways did bourgeois drama redefine audience expectations and experiences of spectatorship?
  • Bourgeois drama redefined spectatorship by focusing on relatable characters and everyday struggles that mirrored the lives of middle-class audiences. This authenticity made it easier for viewers to connect emotionally with the storylines. The result was an increased expectation for theatre to provide not just entertainment but also insight into social issues, prompting audiences to think critically about their own lives in relation to what they witnessed on stage.
• Evaluate how changes in spectatorship during the 18th century affected theatrical storytelling and performance styles.
  • Changes in spectatorship during the 18th century prompted playwrights and performers to adapt their storytelling methods and performance styles. As audiences began to seek deeper emotional connections, theatrical narratives shifted towards exploring complex human experiences and moral dilemmas. The incorporation of techniques that invited audience interaction or reflection became more prevalent, leading to innovative ways of engaging viewers that transformed traditional performance practices into more dynamic exchanges between stage and audience.

Related terms

Empathy:

A key emotional response where spectators connect with characters, understanding their feelings and motivations, often leading to a deeper engagement with the performance.

Suspension of Disbelief: The willingness of spectators to temporarily accept the fictional elements of a performance as reality, allowing them to immerse themselves in the narrative.

Aesthetic Experience: The engagement of the audience with the artistic elements of a performance, including visual design, sound, and movement, which enhances overall spectatorship.