In the performing arts the "Unity of Time, Place and Action", which is attributed to Aristotle even though he did not actually formulate it, is a well-known theatre law of the 19th and 20th centuries.note 5 One of the understandings that evolved from the use of digital technologies in the performing arts was their capacity to function as a catalyst in this discourse about the unity of time, place and action. The changing shape of presence was understood in these basic terms, which functioned as an ingredient for composition and orchestration. Some questions that were asked included:
Time: how can one share a rhythm when confronted by time delays between two locations that are connected via technology? How can one orchestrate public shows in two time zones where the feeling of the particular day is very different?
Place: How can one create a 'mise en scene' in which two places are connected? How can people look each other in the eye when mediated via a camera?
Action: Can I dance with you at a distance? How can we share what we create when we are building something while not in the same place?
