The document records a class discussion for LEH 353 (Studies in the Arts) centered on the prompt “How is TikTok inherently theatrical?” The prompt references writer/arts activist Katy Zapanta’s claim that TikTok is the future of theatre, turning users into both voyeurs and performers. Over a series of posts, students and the instructor (Brian McCormick) share diverse perspectives. Many argue that TikTok democratizes performance by collapsing the audience‑performer divide, offering an accessible, low‑barrier stage where everyday actions become scripted, edited, and shared. Others caution that the platform’s short‑form, algorithm‑driven format cannot replicate the embodied, shared energy of live theatre, and may shorten attention spans or prioritize virality over artistic depth. Several contributions highlight TikTok’s role during COVID‑19 as a lifeline for creative community, its impact on identity construction, and its potential as a pedagogical bridge to attract younger audiences. The discussion repeatedly returns to themes of multimedia performance, the attention economy, algorithmic mediation, authenticity versus commercialisation, and the evolving definition of theatre in a digital age. The instructor reinforces that theatre is a subset of multimedia performance and that TikTok expands, rather than replaces, theatrical practice.
Topics
Democratized Stage: TikTok Merges Audience and Performer
Students describe how TikTok lowers barriers to performance, allowing anyone with a phone to become both creator and viewer, effectively turning the platform into a global stage.
Algorithmic Mediation and the Attention Economy
Multiple posts discuss how TikTok’s recommendation algorithm shapes content, incentivizes virality, and reframes performance as a commodity measured by views and likes.
Embodied Presence vs. Digital Mediation
Contrasting viewpoints highlight the irreplaceable live, shared energy of theatre and question whether a screen can convey the same embodied experience.
COVID‑19 Catalyst: TikTok as a Creative Lifeline
Students note that during pandemic lockdowns TikTok provided a space for artistic expression and community when physical venues were closed.
Identity Construction and Authenticity on TikTok
Discussion of how users curate personas, adopt trends as scripts, and negotiate authenticity versus performance for audience approval.
Pedagogical Implications: Integrating TikTok into Theatre Education
The instructor and students consider TikTok as a tool to attract younger audiences, teach performance concepts, and expand the definition of theatre in curricula.
Critiques of Shortened Attention Spans and Commercialisation
Some participants warn that TikTok’s rapid, trend‑driven format may erode deep engagement with theatrical works and prioritize monetisation.
Multimedia Performance Framework: Positioning TikTok Within Theatrical Theory
Brian McCormick frames theatre as a subset of multimedia performance, positioning TikTok as an extension rather than a replacement, and linking it to broader discussions of media, technology, and performance.