Barthes documents the sensational experience of movie viewing in a cinematic theatre as he contemplates his personal experiences. He compares the experience to drifting into a hypnotic state as if our minds have been transported to elsewhere, fleeing from reality. I have never considered the grave importance of movie theatres in contributing to the success of a movie until I read this chapter. It made me rethink my past cinematic experiences. The surge of adrenaline in my body as I walked down the corridor to get to the cinema house. The dark, cooled room that is designed to soothe my tired nerves as I sat down on the cushioned seats. An enclosed space with wall panels that are intended to soundproof the noise between adjoining theatres to produce the perfect acoustics. The moment the sharp beam of light strikes the surface of the rectangular screen, our minds are fixated on the two hour-long production. All these elements contribute to the success of cinema, enabling us to fully immerse in the cinematic experience.
Full Name: Cheng Sze Yuet UID: 3036109175
Nice response on Barthes’ essay. I appreciate your description of the multiple aspects of your own experience walking into a theatre and how it transports one to another dimension both sensationally and psychologically.