Emily (electronic) Post

So as Patrick mentioned, I am a sucker for conventions (theatrical and otherwise--which usually makes me the Emily Post of dramaturgy) to that end I looked into some of the do's and don'ts of phone/text use as well as some of the problems/anxieties they've caused in relationships: here are some useful sites/posts (and then following it affirmations/questions etc--this is also an affirmation btw, i don't just run around doing dramaturgy for kicks duh! your sessions piqued my curiousity) viola Emily (electronic) Post

http://www.wirelessdevnet.com/newswire-less/thefeature04.html
(this is a personal favorite that i've copied, but haven't included the site)
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Hey guys,

I was casually seeing a guy about 6 months ago but we both got busy
and kinda lost contact (ok, he stopped calling). Well I saw him out a
few weeks ago and although we didn't have time to chat, we exchanged
numbers again. I didn't expect to hear from him but he has been
sending me quite a few text messages, and tried to call once last
week. I was stoked (if a little cautious).

I am all screwed up as to how to play this - it is a fine line between
showing interest and appearing desperate sometimes, so I am erring on
the side of caution and only responding to his messages when he asks a
question. Well he sent a message last night wishing me well in my
exams. I wanted to write back but decided not to. It is now the day
after and I am wondering whether this was rude? Should I have at least
said 'thanks'? Would sending a message over the weekend be okay? What
if I don't send any messages at all until he contacts me again... will
this make him want to chase me, or give up entirely??

I know this might seem trivial but come on, I'm on my study break so
overanalysing this stuff is my only outlet! Thanks for any
consideration.

Thanks,
SallyQ
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http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/cat_cell_phone_etiquette.htm
(10 commandments for texting)

(some notes on gender and texting)
http://ny.metro.us/metro/blog/my_view/entry/Tricky_etiquette_of_text_messages/3815.html

cell phone etiquette:
http://www.roadandtravel.com/yougogirl/cellphone2.htm
from the above: another personal favorite:
One report: Two men in a cafe were beaten and their phones destroyed
by two others after the pair ignored repeated requests to curb their
loud and continuous yakking on their phones.
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AFFIRMATIONS:
There was a great specificity and focus to both of your sessions--I feel like you were able to really get in depth on the revisions and the conventions of communications, both of which struck some deep chords for the whole play. Well chosen and well executed.
(to be more specific)
REVISIONS
-I really like in the revision that we don't see Connor yet (because the conversation is via text and not via phone). For me this heightens the mystery and makes me much more curious about Connor and where this quest is going to lead to.
-Changing the kiss to sex also, I feel, gives much more depth to Adrian, there was much more of a sense in this revision that while yes, he has deep feeling for Connor, something has been changed/a line has been crossed to the point where he is no longer willing (not just unable) to play the part in the relationship that he has up to this point. What he has to "say" to Connor seems to be a combination of his feelings and his resolve to stick up for himself/ask for something more/change what has been going on.
-I think having the two revisions side by side also really brought out to me the importance of Mia and Adrian's relationship, both in terms of how much we can learn about one from the other, and also in a sort of meta-textual way that when in the second revision Adrian's energy was brought down, Mia's came down too.
-I really liked Erica N's comment about these being the cool kids that you want to be--I think in the first revision we really feel that, that these are a group of people who have all sorts of valence of attraction to each other and we both desire to be them/be with them/or just be along for wherever this day is going to take them
TEXTING
I think the above links (there are a million more if you put in cell phone or text etiquetteor "why won't he text me back) speaks to how topical these conventions are and how much of ourselves can be read in the ways in which we manipulate the technologies of communication we have at hand. I noticed in the second day that whenever there was down-time a lot of spontaneous conversation broke out in class around how we use or don't use our phones and texts/where the boundaries are etc.

As we worked through these excercises I saw these technologies becoming more personalized for each character--and some technologies seemed to work better for certain people. Mia for instance, is as radiant in person as she is over text. Jessica seems well suited to the phone (she can hang up on people) both Seth and Henry seem somewhat hesitant with technology period. There is something incredibly interesting in allowing the audience to see the characters in the moments when they are negotiating their technology (that moment when you send a text and your not sure if you should or shouldn't have) and of course putting a private message up on a screen for the audience to have access to or overhearing a conversation has a lovely voyeuristic quality to it.

QUESTIONS:
I'm most curious about Henry-where did he go, why did he come back, what does his leaving and coming back mean to the characters (Do they want to leave this town too? Is it very novel for someone to leave this town?) For some reason I see Henry's coming back as some how related to whatever funk Connor is in/stuck in, despite the fact that they are the two characters who are most removed from one another. Why does Henry say that Mia is someone he thought about seeing (if she was 10 at the time--what was their previous connection?) Why does he recognize Jessica but not Henry?

Why are all these people here? Are they on summer vacation? Do they all live here all the time? Are they stuck in a sort of post-high school stagnation?

I wonder, when the characters are putting each other into their phones, what names they put them down as. I know that I have so many Dave's Jenny's and Sarah's in my phone that I have long ago resorted to more creative options (sometimes somewhat embarrasing) is it just their names? their last names? something descriptive? Particularly interesting, again if this is something the audience can see them doing.
(this is perhaps erring on the side of opinion)

OPINION
RE: the top/bottom question--I actually think it would be an interesting choice to make Adrian the top but to hold on to the energy/enthusiasm/excitement of the first revision, in a way I think it might help with some of my wants for Connor below.

I wonder if the texting style of each of these characters might betray a little more of their personalities? I can imagine Seth using longer lines and taking the time to spell everything out (like his journal) Mia is all about the abbreviations (LOL, Sk8 etc) what other little pecadillos might each of these characters use when negotiating these technologies that might amplify their characters?

I really love the projection of the texts on the screen, but I was also struck by how theatrical it was in class to hear people acting out text messaging--funny and heightened

I feel like the longer we can go without actually seeing Connor (and his room) the more the suspense builds and the more I want to get there on the journey--that being said, i think you do a great job of making all the points along the journey interesting and enjoyable that I do enjoy the ride

I'm wanting more from Connor (i guess everyone is). I'm wanting to understand what his ish is and to see some sort of development in him--I also wonder if there are similarities between the way he was with Jessica and the way he has been treating Adrian--his gross dark room is like this penitent cell, and I wonder if there isn't a sense that he's stuck in some kind of pattern or refusal that he needs to be or is ready to be pushed out of? I don't necessarily need to know the why of it.

I hope this helps, really great sessions, and thank you Robert so much for teaching me how to use my predictive text better, I've already passed this info on to a few people--maybe you are the real Emily (electronic) Post