Theatre in the round: a study of the effectiveness of 360-degree video and VR to address critical questions in the teaching and learning of drama

Brown, Alistair; Childs, Mark; Youdale, James

Abstract

This research explored how 360-video when experienced through virtual reality (VR) might support higher education (HE) English Literature students to perceive critical issues in dramatic works. Previous research placed observers into dramatic action through 360 cameras on stage – but this can be disorienting in VR. It places viewers amid events unprecedentedly, rather than behind an imaginary fourth wall. To maximise possibilities of affective perspective-taking – which underpins classroom discussion and critical cognition – we located 360 cameras diegetically, giving viewers credible presences and enabling occupation of actor points-of-view. This allowed participants to compare points of view in the same scene, stimulating literary-critical discussion and heightening identification and engagement. Participants, however, struggled to articulate this through terminology pertinent to prior audience experience of theatre, film and televised production. The authors propose ‘critically embodied spectatorship’ as a means of building new conventions for talking about embodied spectatorship in 360/VR theatre, specifically in educational encounters. Limitations aside, this research finds that the positioning of a 360 camera to embody characters’ points-of-view is pedagogically effective, if resource intensive. Further research is required to lessen resource implications, expand our shared vocabulary, and build upon this work through designing pedagogic activities around a critically embodied spectatorship approach.

Citation

Brown, A., Childs, M., & Youdale, J. (online). Theatre in the round: a study of the effectiveness of 360-degree video and VR to address critical questions in the teaching and learning of drama. International Journal of Performance Arts and Digital Media, https://doi.org/10.1080/14794713.2024.2434760

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 19, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Dec 10, 2024
• Deposit Date: Dec 10, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 11, 2024
• Journal: International Journal of Performance Arts and Digital Media
• Print ISSN: 1479-4713
• Electronic ISSN: 2040-0934
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14794713.2024.2434760
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3213398