In Leaving the Movie Theater, Barthes said that darkness, a large screen, speakers, seating, and quiet audiences are all components needed to make up the space of a cinema. Barthes repeatedly emphasized the role of darkness and the fact that film is a single but varied source of light. These are things that I didn’t pay attention to when I went to the theater. Through reading this article, I realized that this is the charm of space design.
“I must be in the story, but I must also be elsewhere.” can also be read in reverse: Must be elsewhere to sit in the story – immersed in the film at the cinema. Online movie platforms and speed viewing have become more common in recent decades, especially after pandemics. People watch movies in a familiar environment, and resist the continuous incoming image stream by stopping, fast-forwarding, fast switching, rewinding, muting, and using other functions. But does it make for a better experience? I think the answer is no; we’re sacrificing immersion for convenience.
It seems to me that watching a film in a cinema, which Barthes calls “the eroticism of modern society,” provides a temporary escape from real life. According to Barthes, this experience is like being hypnotized; it leaves you feeling empty when it’s over. However, it is still fascinating.
Zhang Yiwen 3036101745