What is the History of the Spotlight?

First, for those of you who are not familiar with a spotlight, a spotlight is the blinding bright light that shows specific things on a stage. For instance, when only one person is on the stage and the only light that is being used is highlighting only the person, that is a spotlight. A spotlight, or a followspot, is manually used so it can be more precise to the specific environment. The person manning the spotlight had a very important job because he has to make sure it is showing the right spot at all times and is not too bright or too dim. Some spotlights are able to change colors by using “boomerangs,” gel frames that are in different colors and fit to all different sizes of spotlights.

The history of the spotlight begins in the 1700’s. Electricity was invented by Benjamin Franklin around 1740, and the light bulb was invented by Thomas Edison around 1880, over 100 years later! The exact beginning of the spotlight is very shady because no one really knows who invented it first. At the start of the 1900’s, Garret A. Morgan invented the traffic signal, which is quite similar in shape and design to the spotlight. However, in 1919 Robert Juliat founded his own company that sold many different kinds of stage lighting, including the spotlight.

Currently, we are all under the spotlight effect. The spotlight effect is how people feel when they are the center of attention. When people get embarrassed, it is because they feel the pressure of people watching and judging them. It is mostly based on overestimating how much you feel you are being judged. The main point is to try and not feel like you are being judged, because then a lot of pressure will be relieved from you and you will feel better.

Bibliography

• "The UnMuseum - Who Invented the Lightbulb?" The UnMuseum - Who Invented the Lightbulb? N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2013.
• "Spotlight Biography: Inventors." Spotlight Biography: Inventors. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2013.
• "UNCOMPROMISING QUALITY SINCE 1919." ROBERT JULIAT. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2013.
• "The Psychology of the Spotlight Effect." Neurolove.me. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2013.