Browsing by Author "Hauptfleisch, Gaerin"
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- ItemMedia en die teater : 'n praktiese ondersoek na die gebruike van film, televisie en video in twee Suid-Afrikaanse produksies(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 1999-12) Hauptfleisch, Gaerin; Hees, Edwin; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Drama.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this essay is to research the frequent use of the electronic media in the theatre by contemporary theatre practitioners in South Africa. The term media indicates specifically television, film and video usage for the purpose of this essay. The ways in which media is used in the theatre include tools, techniques, themes and characters. The use of elements from the media, when used in the theatre, is a theatrical equivalent of the media elements within a theatrical framework with goals different from those normally applicable to the media. The research started with a look at the history of the relationship between media and the theatre on an international level, and it was found that there has been cross-fertilization between media and the theatre since the development of film. This cross-fertilization does not only imply tools and techniques, but also theatre and media practitioners, who work in both mediums and thus incorporate their ideas and expertise of one medium into the other. The reason for this cross-fertilization is that media developed, as an entertainment medium, out of live performance and that the basis of the different mediums is the same. Theatre practitioners started to incorporate aspects from the media in live performance as the media became the public's greatest source of entertainment and information, and thus an important field of reference. The use of aspects of media in theatre also gives theatre practitioners new means of expression and different levels of communication, not only through the use of media tools like television monitors but also because the medium used implies certain conventions of that medium to the audience. To evaluate the effective use of media in the theatre, two recent productions were looked at, Baal by Bertolt Brecht, translated and adapted by Arnold Blumer and Chris Vorster, directed by Chris Vorster, and The War of the Worlds, based on H.G. Wells's book, adapted and directed by Samantha Pienaar. Both were performed at the H.B. Thom Theatre, Stellenbosch, by the Department of Drama, U.S. My findings are that the media can be successfully used in the theatre. The media must though, be used as would any other design element in the theatre, to support theme; plot and concept. If used as external decoration only, media elements would undermine the creativity and imagination of theatre.