ABSTRACT
Vision is one of the most investigated aspects of the role of the senses in theatrical performance, though its mechanisms are seldom investigated. Here I want to consider the role light and movement have upon our physiological perception and the ways in which theatre practitioners have manipulated physiological traits to keep us stimulated and interested in what is happening on stage. Visual stimulation entices our brains to pay attention to what is going on during the theatrical event. In fact, it is the moving image in front of us that distinguishes the theatrical event from other visual media. Movies are made up of still images that our brain blurs together and reconstructs into moving images; therefore, it is processed differently than live action. By stimulating sight through performance, we invigorate the rest of the information that we receive from all of our sensations. What are the implications of the recent discoveries and ways of thinking about sight on the theatrical event? Can these revised means of understanding how we process visual stimuli help the theatre reclaim its importance in the role of live mimetic representation?
