An experiment to re-look at digital experience
Part 1-Drama

For a long period of time my wife and I were talking about dance and drama. She is from classical dance and theater background. I have also acted (amazingly bad) in my college days. Our discussion lead us to two different topics. First, Indian classical dance and Indian scripts and second is drama and digital media.
This article is about the second topic. I'll complete this article in three parts. First about drama, second about digital media and third about their relation. This is an experiment to re-look at the digital media with new perspective.

Understanding drama

A communication plotted for a specific period of time means drama. There are three important elements of drama without which communication can not be complete, first is the plot, second is an actor and third is an audience. There could be three possible interactions, first from the plot to the actors, second from actors to audience and third from audience to actors and to plot. All these interactions are seen in a successful drama which ultimately achieves it's purpose of entertainment.
Place where the drama is being held plays a major role in it's duration. Street plays are usually short compared to auditorium plays. Though duration could be different but the above mentioned interactions do not change in any of the forms.

The plot

Plot is the path which guides the actors and the audience in the process of drama presentation. There are specific elements in the plot. According to Natyashstra the plot is a combination of three sections, a beginning, a conflict and a climax.
Every plot has a specific goal, which is achieved by its actors. To make this journey successful there are four elements like body language, dialogues, expressions and art direction.

The actors

Actors are primary means of communication in drama. They deliver the meaning of the plot by combining body language and expressions with or without dialogues. Actors are supported by elements of art direction such as light, set, costume and make-up to communicate effectively.

The audience
Audience or spectators perceive the drama. They react to the situation of the plot delivered by the actors. The communication is complete when the desired reaction is shown by audience. These reactions are already predicted in the plot.
Though the audience plays very minimal role in the process of drama presentation it is a major role to make the communication complete.

To be continued...