I think it's worth noting here that para-sociality, in the digital media sense, is something cultivated and encouraged by creators, not audiences. Audiences will always try to get closer to performers, this is age-old. The difference is what digital creators do to flatten this divide. Taylor Swift is present on every platform on which you can watch Critical Role. We're tempted to think the issue is the scale of the fame, but it's also the extent to which the performers encourage things like near-contact with a living community, or cultivate the air that they are sitting across the living room from you.
I really admire that Encounter Party has set this as a boundary, because it is fundamentally THEIR boundary to set!
That's an excellent distinction. It's really interesting to see an AP show setting that boundary and sticking to it because it does really alter the viewer experience–neither better nor worse in my opinion, but definitely different.
For sure! No value judgement on either approach, rather it's nice to see people talk about their approach explicitly rather than handwave the distinction. Worth noting: I did listen to the full interview yesterday and thought it absolutely kicked ass, it's very refreshing to hear people speak so intentionally about their process!
Thank you so much! We're having a lot of fun with these conversations (and have a bunch of really good ones already recorded ready to be released in the coming weeks). I also just discovered your Substack and really dig what you're writing!
I think it's worth noting here that para-sociality, in the digital media sense, is something cultivated and encouraged by creators, not audiences. Audiences will always try to get closer to performers, this is age-old. The difference is what digital creators do to flatten this divide. Taylor Swift is present on every platform on which you can watch Critical Role. We're tempted to think the issue is the scale of the fame, but it's also the extent to which the performers encourage things like near-contact with a living community, or cultivate the air that they are sitting across the living room from you.
I really admire that Encounter Party has set this as a boundary, because it is fundamentally THEIR boundary to set!
That's an excellent distinction. It's really interesting to see an AP show setting that boundary and sticking to it because it does really alter the viewer experience–neither better nor worse in my opinion, but definitely different.
For sure! No value judgement on either approach, rather it's nice to see people talk about their approach explicitly rather than handwave the distinction. Worth noting: I did listen to the full interview yesterday and thought it absolutely kicked ass, it's very refreshing to hear people speak so intentionally about their process!
Thank you so much! We're having a lot of fun with these conversations (and have a bunch of really good ones already recorded ready to be released in the coming weeks). I also just discovered your Substack and really dig what you're writing!
Thanks man :) Gonna start doing some audio/video too, you'll see it pop up in the feed. Much love from Brooklyn!
Hell yeah! Looking forward to it