Shocking an audience could benefit or hurt a performance. In the New York Times article ‘Rite of Spring’ Premieres in Paris, this article states why shocking an audience is not always a good idea. In the Rite of Spring they audience booed and hissed at the performers, te composer had people scream when this happened to tune out the people booing and hissing. Igor Stravinsky complained that the Russian ballet dancers were so sensitive to the feelings and fears in the play they were unable to finish the performance for the audience. The audience was composers were outraged. M Stravinsky states, “And that is all we get, after a hundred rehearsals and one year’s hard work.” Gericault’s Raft of the Medusa is similar to the Rite Spring Performance.
