actorspeople

Actorspeople is a neologism used in performance studies and media discourse to describe the interconnected ecosystem formed by actors and the people who engage with their work. The term emphasizes reciprocal influence: performers shape audience experience, while audiences, critics, directors, crew, and communities help define the meaning, reception, and ongoing life of performances. It is not a formal discipline or universally adopted label, but a conceptual lens for examining social dynamics around making and receiving performances.

Origin and scope. The word blends "actors" and "people" to highlight relationality rather than individual celebrity or occupation alone. Its usage is informal and interdisciplinary, appearing in scholarly commentary, digital humanities discussions, and commentary on participatory or community-based theatre. In this framing, the audience is not passive but an active partner in the life of a performance, and media platforms can extend the network of actorspeople beyond a single venue or production.

Applications. The concept is used to analyze stage productions, film and television, and online or interactive formats where participation, collaboration, and shared interpretation occur. Topics of interest include audience reception, labor and identity in performance, fan and critic communities, performative labor in social media, and the way digital platforms blur boundaries between creator and consumer. It also supports study of nontraditional performances, such as street theatre, citizen-led art projects, and transmedia storytelling, where multiple actors and publics contribute to meaning.

Critique. Some scholars argue that actorspeople is too broad or vague to serve as a rigorous category without clear definitions and methodological guidance. When used, it is common to specify the scope, contexts, and criteria for inclusion to avoid overgeneralization.