Technology and the Movies: Better now or before?

New digital technologies have transformed not only how movies are shot, processed, edited, distributed, and exhibited---but also how they are watched. When comparing movie-going of the 20th century vs. now, technology has had a huge inpact on the type of social experience we now have with movies. In the 1940's, movie-going was a more extroverted social experience that brought together the masses; you physically went to the theatre with friends or on a date to see the latest musical picture starring Gene Kelly or Judy Garland. Now, the social experience is different and vastly introverted. Technology has made movie-going so accessible (on demand, streaming, etc) that it has lost that special something that made it unique and indicative of American pop culture. The masses no longer meet in the theatres on Friday night, they stay in by themselves or with a friend and cue up their Netflix.