In Barthes’s reading, he acclaimed the wonderful experience of being fully immersed in the movie world, away from reality ‘as if he had two bodies at the same time’, thanks to the irreplaceable and unique spatial factors found only in theatre. I found his stances particularly relatable, especially in the age of streaming platforms gaining immense popularity. Gone are the days that people had to visit cinemas to see movies, yet viewing in cinema is hard to replicate, from the technology and scale of the facilities like screen, speakers, to the ambiance like the darkness, serenity. These elements not only affect the physical conditions like the colour perceived, but also the psychological one like the collectiveness and the minimal distractions. Take Marvel movies as an example, I still remember how miraculous it is when the whole house cheered together seeing captain America holds Thor’s Mjölnir in Avengers: End Game.
Movies are carefully designed works of storytelling to convey messages or emotions, whilst cinemas are carefully designed works of space to offer the best viewing experience to audiences. Without one, the other could not perform its greatest magic.
Chin Lok LEE [UID: 3036078405]
I appreciate your beautiful writing in terms of both reading analysis and personal reflection. I would suggest you dig your reflection deeper based on the title “Leaving the Movie Theater”, especially the term “leave.” Also, I am looking forward to hearing more about how you situate yourselves during watching films in the theater. Keeping rational, falling into the cinematic ideological world or other ways? Furthermore, adding more spatial analysis of the space, environment, atmosphere, and devices will greatly strengthen your writing.