by Tracy Rutledge (trutledg@uu.edu)

As the sun rises, the distant roar of airplane engines breaks the morning silence. Meanwhile, everyone sleeps soundly never expecting the events about to occur. Suddenly, a series of explosions rock the massive vessels lined up along Battleship Row. Men desperately scramble to save their ships and their lives as Japanese “Zeros” zoom by just above their heads. The events that occurred at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, changed our nation, and the world, forever. This past Memorial Day Pearl Harbor again changed our lives.

In the movie Pearl Harbor, the action scenes - with massive aircraft formations, exploding bombs, aircraft maneuvers, and destroyers - are a marvel of current technology. Many of the aircraft, images of the Japanese fleet and action sequences were computer-generated. Mark S. Daniel, a screenwriter and film historian, addressed the technical qualities of the movie. “The cinematography and computer graphics/ imaging utilized in the making of Pearl Harbor are first rate - some of the best in the history of film…There are times – during the flow of the action – in which you cannot tell whether an aircraft is real…or a computer created image.”

Technology taking center stage
“We live in a world where everything is a spectacle,” says Wayne Johnson (‘62), associate professor of speech and theater at Union. “Whether you look at sporting events, movies, theater productions or television shows, you will find that the audience has grown accustomed to the ‘wow’ factor. The direct result is an audience with a shorter attention span and the desire to be amazed.”

That desire to amaze the audience is evident in both film and theater. While popular films like Pearl Harbor are using computer imaging and special effects to blur the line between reality and fiction, many theater productions have also incorporated the latest technology in set and costume design, lighting and effects.

When Starlight Express debuted in London over 25 years ago, the production revolutionized the industry. Based on the poplar story of the “Little Engine That Could,” Starlight Express featured performers on skates that circled through-out the entire theater. Each performer had a microphone and could be heard all over the room. Sound technicians designed a special soundboard that eliminated the feedback problems and added another dimension to theater performances.

Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera are other examples of how technology is changing set design. Les Misérables uses a revolving stage that allows performers to transition from one scene to another without a break. The Phantom of the Opera incorporates sophisticated lighting, fog machines, and lifts.

As the sophistication of the sets has increased, so have the tools used to design those sets. Computer software has made it possible for designers to create, modify and view complete set designs in 3-D before purchasing any supplies or picking up one hammer. Chris Bennett (‘95) even brings this technology to his high school drama students at Northside High School by using set design software.

Audiences have come to expect high quality special effects. The revolutionary uses of technology in the entertainment field has become an expensive venture. Film producers spend millions of dollars in special effects to attract large audiences. Technology has also changed the audience’s perspective on what makes a good production. The special effects often have more impact than the story itself.

Art and Technology: Changing Perspectives
“I remember as a graduate assistant at the University of Illinois, the graphic design process was very different than it is now,” recalls Michael Mallard, chair of Union’s art department and an avid painter. “You had a machine for type-setting and hours of paste-ups. Today’s computer technology has drastically changed the process in many ways, making everything easier and faster. Even now in my own work I often incorporate computer images into my paintings.”

Has the application of technology changed the value of art? Some feel that technology will have a negative impact on traditional art forms. Mallard disagrees. “I personally believe that the good far outweighs the bad. Technology has provided artists with another tool that opens different directions of thinking.”

The area of animation illustration is a good example of how computer technology has opened new doors. “I don’t think we will see a resurgence of hand-drawn cartoons because we can do so much more with computers,” says Mallard. “That doesn’t make it any less valid as an art form, it’s just a different process.”

The process is changing for art patrons as well. In order to see the works of great artists like Vincent van Gogh, one used to have to travel to places like the Louvre in Paris or The Metropolitan Museum of Art or Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The Internet has removed many of the geographical and economic barriers. Most art galleries now have sites that showcase exhibits online. Some even provide the ability to purchase art online.

Dr. David McClune, professor of music at Union, uses a wind synthesizer to simulate the
traditional sound of a clarinet and transfer the sound to a computer.

Harmonizing with Technology
For centuries composers hammered out musical masterpieces using pen and paper. Hour after hour would be spent poring over each note and melody. As with other art forms computer technology has made everyday tasks easier.

Computer programs like Finale have had a tremendous impact on the way music is taught and used. Finale offers components that drill students during ear training. The program also allows a musician to strike notes on the keyboard while the software automatically creates the musical score.

“There is certainly no doubt that technology has had a positive impact on the way we teach and approach music today,” says Dr. Terry McRoberts, professor of music at Union.

A tour through the Department of Music in Union’s Jennings Hall shows how technology is being used in practical ways, from the computerized music laboratory to the practice rooms.

“It is often impossible to have access to the actual performance venue for practice,” says McRoberts. “Systems like the one installed in one of our practice rooms will simulate the sound in different environments. With the push of a button you can change from the acoustics of a small room to a large performance hall.”

With all the advancements for com-posers and performers, perhaps the most visible change in the music arena has been in the area of distribution. The Internet has revolutionized music consumers’ habits. Recently Napster.com made waves in the news for offering free music downloads of current songs. Although the courts decided Napster’s actions violated copyright laws, no one can ignore the fact that thousands of consumers are now using the Internet as an alternative to the record store. This change has sent the music industry scrambling to find ways to use the technology as a new revenue source.

Making the World a Smaller Place
While surfing the Internet looking for the latest Top 40 hit, many people also catch up on the day’s news at CNN.com or other similar web sites. With 24-hour a day news channels and Internet sites, news from the other side of the world is available almost instantaneously.

Audiences today want to know the news as it happens – and they want more of it. Over a decade ago, 133 million television viewers watched the first night of the Gulf War unfold. That desire to know more has continued to expand. In 1998, Neilson Media Research estimated that over 67 million viewers watched as former President Clinton admitted to having a relation-ship with Monica Lewinsky. However, even that event could not match the car chase on L.A. freeways involving O.J. Simpson several years before, which drew an estimated 95 million viewers. From the death of Princess Diana to the Columbine shootings, technology has made it possible to follow events as they unfold from thousands of miles away.

The Internet is also changing the way broadcasters and viewers approach news. Internet sites can be updated rapidly and contain much more information than traditional news broad-casts. More and more people are now turning to the Internet to supplement and sometimes replace other media. According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, nearly one in five followed the 2000 presidential campaign online, a dramatic increase from the previous presidential election.

While up-to-the minute, in-depth news coverage is admirable, some experts argue that there is a dangerous line between news and entertainment. Most cite the 2000 presidential election as an example of what happens when that line is crossed. The media debacle of election night was the subject of intense debate concerning whether traditional journalistic standards were followed. In response to the night’s news coverage, CNN officials concluded that “in its coverage of the 2000 presidential election, television put too high a premium on timeliness and competition, to the detriment of accurate and responsible reporting of election night returns.”

Creating the “Wow” Generation
There is no disputing the continuing impact that technology is having on culture. Some experts feel that technology has created an impatient generation that expects to be “wowed.” Movie effects have to be bigger and better. News broadcasts often trade timeliness for accuracy or spectacle for news value. Artists and musicians are finding them-selves in rapidly changing mediums. Fifty years ago no one could imagine the vast cultural changes brought about by today’s technology. Fifty years into the future, will the debate over the benefits and evils of technology still be around? And what will it take to “wow” a generation in 2051?

ART GALLERIES Museum of Modern Art – www.moma.org • Metropolitan Museum of Art – www.metmuseum.org •  The Louvre - www.louvre.fr/louvrea.htm

NEWS CNN – www.cnn.com  • MSNBC – www.msnbc.com  • CBS - www.cbsnews.com  • ABC - abcnews.go.com  •  Crosswalk - news.crosswalk.com