From the 1920s-1960s, American cinematic architecture underwent a seismic shift: movie theaters were neutralized for immersive watching, in large part by architect and writer Benjamin Schlanger. The Optical Vacuum examines how Schlanger reformed both theater and spectator, demonstrating that the essence of film viewing can be found in theatrical space.

From the 1920s-1960s, American cinematic architecture underwent a seismic shift: movie theaters were neutralized for immersive watching, in large part by architect and writer Benjamin Schlanger. The Optical Vacuum examines how Schlanger reformed both theater and spectator, demonstrating that the essence of film viewing can be found in theatrical space.