Desktop Theater

Desktop Theater was a digital performance project created by Adriene Jenik and Lisa Brenneis that ran from 1997 to 2002. The project consisted of a series of early experiments in network performances using online discussion rooms and visual chat applications such as The Palace.^[1] The objective was to introduce a compelling way for the public to interact with theater online and the audiences responses in the chat room were seen as an important element of the work.^[2] The project created over 40 web-based performances during its lifetime.^[3]^[4]^[5]

Using The Palace, the company would enter the online environment and using avatars, create adaptations of stage performances. One adaptation performed was waitingforgodot.com, based on Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett.^[6] Everything that would conventionally be seen on a live stage (e.g. scenery, gestures, emotions, and speech) was compressed into 2D and computer speech.^[7] This subgenre of digital performance is also known as cyberformance.

Besides adaptations of plays, the Desktop Theater project also created improvisations, activities, active verses, and workshops. With each work, the project strove to eliminate the distance between performer and audience.^[8]

References

^ "Avatar Chat - Worlize". ThePalace.com. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
^ Jamieson, Helen. "From Paper and Ink to Pixels and Links" (PDF). Retrieved 1 February 2014.
^ John Markoff, The Time Is Now: Bust Up the Box!, New York Times, October 5, 2005
^ "Adriene Jenik". Adriene Jenik. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
^ "Desktop Theater: How-To". Ajenik.faculty.asu.edu. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
^ Christiane, Paul. Digital Art, Thames and Hudson, 2003. retrieved 2012-10-29
^ Glesner, Julia. "Internet Performances as Site-Specific Art". Retrieved 1 February 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Desktop Theater: Archive". Ajenik.faculty.asu.edu. Retrieved 2012-10-29.

External links

Desktop Theater archive

[1] "Avatar Chat - Worlize". ThePalace.com. Retrieved 2012-10-29.

[2] Jamieson, Helen. "From Paper and Ink to Pixels and Links" (PDF). Retrieved 1 February 2014.

[3] John Markoff, The Time Is Now: Bust Up the Box!, New York Times, October 5, 2005

[4] "Adriene Jenik". Adriene Jenik. Retrieved 2012-10-29.

[5] "Desktop Theater: How-To". Ajenik.faculty.asu.edu. Retrieved 2012-10-29.

[6] Christiane, Paul. Digital Art, Thames and Hudson, 2003. retrieved 2012-10-29

[7] Glesner, Julia. "Internet Performances as Site-Specific Art". Retrieved 1 February 2014.

[ajenik_archive-8] "Desktop Theater: Archive". Ajenik.faculty.asu.edu. Retrieved 2012-10-29.

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Desktop Theater

Archive

Plays

Improvisations

Activities

Dreams

Rituals

Active verse

Spam Poetry

Songs

Workshops

UCSD

UCI

References

External links