Augmented La Traviata: Remediating Opera Through Augmented Reality Technology

Introduction

Recent years witnessed an increasing interest in the potential of digital technologies for the creation of new experiences and for audience development in the performing arts (Bakhshi et al., 2010; Bakshi & Throsby, 2010, 2012). However, given their unique features, live performances are less easy to translate digitally (Bakhshi et al., 2010). The remediation of performative arts through new digital technologies poses very specific challenges for the translation of all the distinctive components due to the multimodal aesthetic nature of the cultural experience (Bolter, 2000).

This study focuses on a very complex case of remediation, namely opera, through augmented reality (AR). Within a project aimed at developing an AR application to support the live experience of opera, this study explores how opera can be remediated and enhanced through AR. Opera is continuously and traditionally addressed by new forms of digital experience (Morris, 2010). Over time, the opera, typified by multidimensional resources, has been remediated in multimodal languages. Today, this transformation revolves around digital technologies. Although it is still considered as a green medium, a digital solution in an “Alpha Revision” (Lichty, 2018, p.159), AR technology has potential for innovate and improve audiences’ cultural experience in this context.

However, to the best of authors’ knowledge, studies on the remediation of opera through AR are lacking. Therefore, there is the need to better understand how the components of the opera can be passed down through AR technology to create an innovative and valuable experience. With this purpose, this study considers AR as a new media experience and explores the “augmentation” modalities and potentials for opera through an analysis of its declination in earlier media forms. In particular, the modalities of remediation of opera in films, stage productions and TV programs are taken into account as the basis for the exploration of AR features for opera. The analysis is developed through a multidisciplinary approach that integrates studies in the areas of humanities, design technology and marketing. Based on this approach, a technological transfer framework is developed that identifies the relevant components for the remediation of opera through AR. Based on the proposed framework and previous studies, the exemplar case of La Traviata is analyzed to discuss the requirements for a meaningful remediation of opera as well as the strengths of the AR medium in this context.

A comprehensive list of definitions of the concepts used in this article and their application to the specific context of opera is presented in Appendix 1, Table 2.