Final answer:
High contrast lighting creates an uncomfortable feel for audiences by enhancing drama and tension in scenes. This style, used effectively in productions, can focus the audience's attention on narratives and manipulate emotional responses. Nevertheless, novice designers may overuse fixtures or colors, which can distract from the performance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lighting that creates an uncomfortable feel for an audience by using high contrast is often seen in dramatic and suspenseful scenes. For example, Judith Beheading Holofernes by Caravaggio uses a high contrast palette to increase visual tension for the viewers, amplifying the drama of the scene. In theatre, this kind of lighting can also indicate the artifice of the production, especially when lighting fixtures are exposed instead of being hidden, reminding the audience of the theatrical nature of the performance.
While having access to advanced lighting technology and a multitude of fixtures might seem beneficial, it is the skilled application of these resources that truly enhances a production. Novice lighting designers often make the mistake of using bold, saturated colors or numerous cues which can distract from the story. Instead, lighting should support the narrative, allowing the audience to focus on the actors' performances and the story being told.
The power of lighting is also significant in manipulating audience emotions. Intense, white light might convey an interrogation scene, while candlelight offers a softer, more intimate atmosphere. Similarly, lighting can influence how the audience perceives sound, with lower intensity lighting encouraging them to listen more intently, drawing them deeper into the story's suspense or mystery.