Before the advent of the Internet it was possible for play reading groups or school teachers to obtain comedy play scripts from reading libraries. They could be ordered in batches that were delivered by post. Some planning was required because the sets of plays had to be ordered in good time and returned in good order after having been used.
The advent of the Internet has made things very much easier. A simple search brings up brings up hundreds of available plays. There is copyright on some but others are free. In most cases a site will provide an abstract to enable browsers to ascertain quickly whether or not they do wish to read further.
Usually abstracts are provided, or a browser can download an entire text. The way in which texts are accessible, compared with the situation that used to pertain is a good illustration of the way in which the world of culture has changed out of all recognition thanks to computer technology.
Question of copyright, of access to information, privacy and royalties are very much in the melting pot. Information technology has so outstripped the law that there are judicial hearings, court cases and academic conferences around the world fumbling confusedly with legal issues related to the new world of the Internet.
When it comes to comedy texts are not worth much on their own. It takes the brilliance of actors and directors to bring the latent humor in texts to life and communicate them to audiences. Script writers can put words together so that humor is latent in them but it takes real talent for a comedian to make the most of humorous possibilities. A bad actor can destroy even the best script.
When teachers or amateur dramatists go online to search for comedy play scripts they need to take context and culture into account. The World Wide Web is global in reach and does not yet have a common culture. Texts written for Chinese audiences might be very difficult for an Australian outback audience to appreciate. The Web demands critical acumen from all browsers.
The advent of the Internet has made things very much easier. A simple search brings up brings up hundreds of available plays. There is copyright on some but others are free. In most cases a site will provide an abstract to enable browsers to ascertain quickly whether or not they do wish to read further.
Usually abstracts are provided, or a browser can download an entire text. The way in which texts are accessible, compared with the situation that used to pertain is a good illustration of the way in which the world of culture has changed out of all recognition thanks to computer technology.
Question of copyright, of access to information, privacy and royalties are very much in the melting pot. Information technology has so outstripped the law that there are judicial hearings, court cases and academic conferences around the world fumbling confusedly with legal issues related to the new world of the Internet.
When it comes to comedy texts are not worth much on their own. It takes the brilliance of actors and directors to bring the latent humor in texts to life and communicate them to audiences. Script writers can put words together so that humor is latent in them but it takes real talent for a comedian to make the most of humorous possibilities. A bad actor can destroy even the best script.
When teachers or amateur dramatists go online to search for comedy play scripts they need to take context and culture into account. The World Wide Web is global in reach and does not yet have a common culture. Texts written for Chinese audiences might be very difficult for an Australian outback audience to appreciate. The Web demands critical acumen from all browsers.
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