Week 6 - Vegas

I really wanted to take this opportunity to talk about Vegas in which lights are prevalent. Vegas is designed to be able to make a man or woman feel as if this is the place where opportunities to win are high. I recently went to Vegas, and I must say that one element of Vegas that uses a wide range of colors and lights is the slot machine.
I remember staying at Caesar's palace with my pal, and we took the opportunity to walk around Vegas and really look around at the variety of different lights inside and outside of the hotel. The most attractive and flashy spectacles were the slot machines. The slot machines used a variety of red, silver, and gold colors. Even if they used darker colors, the slot machines found a way to retain a shine that really brought an eye catching appeal to the slot machine. A slot machine could never be passed unnoticed in other words. I also noticed that the slot machines were always using quick fade in and out times to really catch my attention. The slot machines seemed as if they were screaming for my attention; they, however, were not obnoxious. These flashing lights and colors were coupled with music and sounds that were repetitive but were not annoying to hear. Even fade in and outs were not annoying. It was as if the slot machine was screaming for attention but with a great appeal. I am not a gambler, but I could not help but approach the slot machines knowing that there is that slight possible of winning.
I also noticed how focus seems to be one of the biggest factors in lighting. It's not that the lights are trying to make someone do something specific but are trying to focus this person on a specific element. Therefore, you begin to feel some sort of emotion because of what you are focusing on. At least, this is my impression. I am making this assumption while referencing a book that I have read on acting. It is called improvisation technique for the stage. The concept introduced by this book is that if we focus on a particular aspect on the stage such as what a person is saying, what we are thinking, or what we are doing we can begin to respond to our feelings versus our intellect. It's this focus that creates a spontaneous actor. Hence, if you had a dark theater with two lights, you have an audience who will respond emotionally to the lights, the primary foci. Therefore, it's the lighting focus that creates a responsive audience.