History TechnicianVersusPerformer / RealLife

** Going off of the above example, Creator/StevenSpielberg has a performer ethos compared to the technician mindset of his friend Creator/StanleyKubrick. Compare Kubrick's cerebral, visually dramatic, detached ''Film/TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey'' to Spielberg's equally visually dramatic but warmer and more emotionally resonant ''Film/JurassicPark''. Both deal with similar themes regarding the potential consequences of modern science and technological innovation, but are handled totally differently.

* The UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s for 2013 see two front runners emerge: the moving story of ''Film/TwelveYearsASlave'', featuring excellent performances, heavily favoured by the actors and writers, and the technical masterpiece ''Film/{{Gravity}}'', boasting the best visual effects and use of 3D seen to date. Important to note that ''12 Years'' features a large star-studded cast, whereas ''Gravity'' merely has [[MinimalistCast 3 actors and 3 voices, with the majority of the work being done by the crew]]. ''Gravity'' won 7 awards (Best Director, Best Cinematography, Film Editing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects, Best Original Score and Sound Mixing), but ''12 Years'' took home Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay and the grand prize, Best Picture.

* UsefulNotes/{{Television}} in TheFifties had two major players in comedy: Creator/LucilleBall (''Series/ILoveLucy'') and Creator/JackieGleason (''Series/TheHoneymooners''). While both were actors and thus performers to an extent, the differences were in their approach: Ball was firmly on the "Technician" side, rehearsing extensively, almost ''incessantly'', before shooting, always sticking tightly to the script and almost never improvising. She was also known to be quite serious, even dour, in her private life, firmly believing that she was only funny because her character was ''written'' that way. Gleason was much more of a "Performer", disliking rehearsals (the rest of the ''Honeymooners'' cast often rehearsed without him) and frequently improvising. He was also a much more jovial, jocular personality when the cameras were off (although he had his demons).

* With VideoGames this is often the difference between LetsPlay or Streaming (performers) and UsefulNotes/ProfessionalGaming and {{Speedrun}}ning (technicians). While there are plenty of people who can do both, personality is much more important for Let's Players/Streamers as the basis of their brand, whereas for pro gamers and speedrunners, skill is paramount.

* The Battle of Waterloo pitted Napoleon, the intuitive and brilliant genius of his age who grasped tactics like breathing (the Performer) vs. Wellington, the rigorous and methodical professional soldier (the Technician). [[UnderestimatingBadassery Napoleon met his match]].

* The two most important creators of ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' were Creator/JohnRomero (performer) and Creator/JohnCarmack (technician): Carmack was the background [[SugarWiki/GeniusProgramming genius programmer]] responsible for all the technical achievements ''Doom'' pulled off, while Romero was the one who came up with the RatedMForManly-cum-DeathMetal-cum-{{Gorn}} aesthetic the series is (in)famous for and became the face of Creator/IdSoftware; eventually the two split over creative differences of how they wanted to design games, as Romero wanted bigger and flashier games while Carmack firmly believed in the ExcusePlot. This backfired on Romero overtime, as even if he is the more famous of the two, nowadays he is well known for the disaster that was his pet project ''VideoGame/{{Daikatana}}'' (although he recovered some reputation with ''VideoGame/{{Sigil}}''), while Carmack's career has quietly continued to blossom in the tech field at id until 2013 and as the [=CEO=] of [[UsefulNotes/OculusRift Oculus VR]] between 2013 and 2022.
* When it comes to hardware, the UsefulNotes/PCVsConsole debate reflects this dichotomy. Gamer PC users are the technicians, as the keyboard-mouse combo is harder to understand than the controller but allows many possibilities, they can [[GameMod customize their games]] the way they want, and their lowest configuration makes games look better than the most powerful console, but it's also more expensive, and if they can optimize their hardware, they still have to change the whole machine over time, notably because the non-video game software still requires newer machines to work. On the other hand, console users don't have this freedom nor power, but their games are automatically optimized, their controllers are easier to understand than the keyboard-mouse combo, the most powerful console is still cheaper than the lowest gamer PC, and even ten, twenty or more years later, their machine is still playable either because it doesn't have hardware, because it's limited and non-intrusive, or because the last update is well-crafted for remaining users.
** On consoles themselves, Creator/{{Nintendo}} has a reputation as a performer competing against technicians, especially since UsefulNotes/TheSeventhGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames: while Creator/{{Sony}} and Creator/{{Microsoft}} focus on powerful hardware [[UsefulNotes/PCVsConsole competing with PC standards]], but also narrative games and new technologies for the former (the [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 PlayStation VR]] and the [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation5 Dual Sense]] controller are good examples of this), and multimedia support and crossplay for the latter (the [[Creator/XboxGameStudios Game Pass]] almost makes Microsoft straddle the divide), Nintendo instead makes consoles which use the full potential of "outdated" hardware, games which either have an ExcusePlot or integrate it well to the gameplay, and on easily noticeable innovations ([[UsefulNotes/NintendoDS dual screen and touch-screen]], [[UsefulNotes/{{Wii}} motion controls]], [[UsefulNotes/{{WiiU}} asymetric gameplay]] and [[UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch the former two on a hybrid handheld-console system]]) to renew this same gameplay.

* In political campaigns, it often comes down to a charismatic candidate with a voice and a vision, against a more reserved individual who focuses on in the nitty-gritty of policies. Often as not, the candidate who cultivates a stronger gut reaction from voters will win the election. UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy vs UsefulNotes/RichardNixon is a fairly famous example.

** Also Creator/GeorgeLucas and mentor/friend Creator/FrancisFordCoppola, a more emotional director who (as opposed to Lucas) loved working with actors. After the box office failure of Lucas' first feature, the cold science ficton {{Dystopia}} film ''Film/THX1138'', Coppola challenged Lucas to do a warmer, more human movie, so Lucas made ''Film/AmericanGraffiti'' a semi-autobiographical ComingOfAge comedy to prove he could, and it became a hit.

* In Spain, at TheCavalierYears, Miguel de Cervantes was a technician, [[HardWorkHardlyWorks mediocre playwright and poet ]][[WideEyedIdealist that wanted to establish rules in playwriting so every author in Spain could publish without fear of being arrested and set a standard for quality in entertainment]]. Felix Lope de Vega, the performer, was an [[TheAce accomplished natural poet and incredible successful playwright]] who was convinced ViewersAreMorons and that they must create art with LowestCommonDenominator because [[MoneyDearBoy that is what the public wants]]. (He stated it in verse, it’s awesome). [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter Cervantes had serious disagreements with Lope de Vega that at the time seemed pure envy]]. Cervantes died in poverty and oblivion, while Lope de Vega was always popular and loved. Now Lope de Vega is recognized as one of Spain’s TheCavalierYears geniuses, while Cervantes has been VindicatedByHistory by an interesting experiment he did: the first modern novel, ''Literature/DonQuixote''.* Among ScienceFiction writers, those with harder-science inclinations tend to be Technicians who are most interested in using their fiction to make a legitimate contribution to scientific theory. Those on the softer side tend to be Performers who just want to use the [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools tropes]] of ScienceFiction in interest of telling a well-crafted story. A fine example of the former is Creator/IsaacAsimov; of the latter, Creator/RayBradbury.

* Creator/GeorgeLucas and Creator/StevenSpielberg. When making the original ''Franchise/StarWars'' films, it was clear to all involved that Lucas was more invested in getting the technical details right first, and crafting an emotionally resonant story second, his constant revisions of the original trilogy has borne this out. Spielberg, while a gifted technician in his own right, is chiefly interested in pulling out all the stops to wrench the emotions of his audience. Their collaborations on ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' shows both their approaches at work.

* Automated Production (Technician) vs. Hand Craft (Performer). A robotic production line can make incredibly precise items rapidly and generally wins, however hand crafting has a "personal" and "unique" feel about it that lets someone think less about paying higher amounts for a (generally) lower quality item if it's man made. Even then, certain product benefit better from one method more than the other.

* Automated Production (Technician) vs. Hand Craft (Performer). A robotic production line can make incredibly precise items rapidly and generally wins, however hand crafting has a "personal" and "unique" feel about it that lets someone think less about paying higher amounts for a (generally) lower quality item if it's man made. Even then, certain product benefit better from one method more than the other.

* Among writers in general "plotters" and "pantsers" could be considered technicians and performers, respectively. "Plotters" prefer to write out an outline and compose character profiles before starting on the story, while those who write "by the seat of their pants" tend to just sit down and make it up as they go. Pantsers might be prone to wandering off on tangents or developing {{Plot Tumor}}s as they work, necessitating a good editor or a rudimentary outline to keep things on track.

* In terms of illustrative painting, [[https://goddamnshinyrock.tumblr.com/post/161883217020/someone-in-the-notes-of-the-last-leyendecker-post look no further than J.C Leyendecker verses Norman Rockwell]]. Both highly respected painters who created cover illustrations for the Saturday evening post, Leyendecker was a Technician who'd do practice painting after practice painting to prep for the finished piece while the Performer Rockwell would copy photo compositions to achieve his pieces. In the end Leyendecker would come out with [[https://78.media.tumblr.com/778b553e2da01e36e85ea94480443a30/tumblr_inline_ormolhd5MY1qg36bn_500.jpg idealized paintings that established superior technical style but often felt less personable]]. Rockwell's by comparison used his artistic knowledge to craft [[https://78.media.tumblr.com/1b62c16dfcf55f509b0e70a27e5fef72/tumblr_inline_ormon3iIK51qg36bn_500.jpg intimate and human paintings at the expense of technical skill]]. In the end, the masses regard Rockwell more than Leyendecker for creating quintessential American Icons, while most studying the arts say the inverse with many an artist praising Leyendecker for his technical genius.

* With VideoGames this is often the difference between LetsPlay or Streaming (performers) and UsefulNotes/ProfessionalGaming and {{Speedrun}}ning (technicians). While there are plenty of people who can do both, personality is much more important for Let's Players/Steamers as the basis of their brand, whereas for pro gamers and speedrunners, skill is paramount.

* With VideoGames this is often the difference between LetsPlay or Streaming (performers) and UsefulNotes/ProfessionalGaming and {{Speedrun}}ing (technicians). While there are plenty of people who can do both, personality is much more important for Let's Players/Steamers as the basis of their brand, whereas for pro gamers and speedrunners, skill is paramount.

* With VideoGames this is often the difference between LetsPlay or Streaming (performers) and UsefulNotes/ProfessionalGaming and {{Speedrun}}ing (technicians). While there are plenty of people who can do both personality is much more important for Let's Players/Steamers as the basis of their brand whereas for pro gamers and speedrunners, skill is paramount.

* With VideoGames this is often the difference between LetsPlay or Streaming (performers) and UsefulNotes/ProfessionalGaming (technicians). While there are plenty of people who can do both personality is much more important for Let's Players/Steamers as the basis of their brand whereas for pro gamers skill is paramount.

* The two most important creators of ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' were Creator/JohnRomero (performer) and Creator/JohnCarmack (technician): Carmack was the background [[SugarWiki/GeniusProgramming genius programmer]] responsible for all the technical achievements ''Doom'' pulled off, while Romero was the one who came up with the RatedMForManly-cum-DeathMetal-cum-{{Gorn}} aesthetic the series is (in)famous for and became the face of Creator/IdSoftware; eventually the two split over creative differences of how they wanted to design games, as Romero wanted bigger and flashier games while Carmack firmly believed in the ExcusePlot. This backfired on Romero overtime, as even if he is the more famous of the two, nowadays he is well known for the disaster that was his pet project ''VideoGame/{{Daikatana}}'' (even if he recovered a bit with ''VideoGame/{{Sigil}}''), while Carmack's career has quietly continued to blossom in the tech field at id until 2013 and as the [=CEO=] of [[UsefulNotes/OculusRift Oculus VR]] between 2013 and 2022.

** On consoles themselves, Creator/{{Nintendo}} has a reputation as a performer competing against technicians, especially since UsefulNotes/TheSeventhGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames: while Creator/{{Sony}} and Creator/{{Microsoft}} focus on powerful hardware [[UsefulNotes/PCVsConsole competing with PC standards]], but also narrative games for the former (an investment which goes further with the [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation5 Dual Sense]] controller) and multimedia support for the latter (Microsoft can be considered an in-between since the [[Creator/XboxGameStudios Game Pass]] offer which makes games playable on almost any modern technology, while Sony goes more and more on the technician side as explained above), Nintendo instead makes consoles which use the full potential of "outdated" hardware, games which either have an ExcusePlot or integrate it well to the gameplay, and on easily noticeable innovations ([[UsefulNotes/NintendoDS dual screen and touch-screen]], [[UsefulNotes/{{Wii}} motion controls]], [[UsefulNotes/{{WiiU}} asymetric gameplay]] and [[UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch the former two on a hybrid handheld-console system]]) to renew this same gameplay.

* The two most important creators of ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' were Creator/JohnRomero (performer) and Creator/JohnCarmack (technician): Carmack was the background [[SugarWiki/GeniusProgramming genius programmer]] responsible for all the technical achievements ''Doom'' pulled off, while Romero was the one who came up with the RatedMForManly-cum-DeathMetal-cum-{{Gorn}} aesthetic the series is (in)famous for and became the face of Creator/IdSoftware; eventually the two split over creative differences of how they wanted to design games, as Romero wanted bigger and flashier games while Carmack firmly believed in the ExcusePlot. This backfired on Romero overtime, as even if he is the more famous of the two, nowadays he is well known for the disaster that was his pet project ''VideoGame/{{Daikatana}}'' (even if he recovered a bit with ''VideoGame/{{Sigil}}''), while Carmack's career has quietly continued to blossom in the tech field as the [=CEO=] of [[UsefulNotes/OculusRift Oculus VR]] between 2013 and 2022.

* The two most important creators of ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' were Creator/JohnRomero (performer) and Creator/JohnCarmack (technician): Carmack was the background [[SugarWiki/GeniusProgramming genius programmer]] responsible for all the technical achievements ''Doom'' pulled off, while Romero was the one who came up with the RatedMForManly-cum-DeathMetal-cum-{{Gorn}} aesthetic the series is (in)famous for and became the face of Creator/IdSoftware; eventually the two split over creative differences of how they wanted to design games, as Romero wanted bigger and flashier games while Carmack firmly believed in the ExcusePlot. This backfired on Romero overtime, as even if he is the more famous of the two, nowadays he is well known for the disaster that was his pet project ''VideoGame/{{Daikatana}}'' (even if he recovered a bit with ''VideoGame/{{Sigil}}''), while Carmack's career has quietly continued to blossom in the tech field as the [=CEO=] of [[UsefulNotes/OculusRift Oculus VR]] until 2022.

* The two most important creators of ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' were Creator/JohnRomero (performer) and Creator/JohnCarmack (technician): Carmack is the background [[SugarWiki/GeniusProgramming genius programmer]] responsible for all the technical achievements ''Doom'' pulled off, while Romero was the one who came up with the RatedMForManly-cum-DeathMetal-cum-{{Gorn}} aesthetic the series is (in)famous for and became the face of Creator/IdSoftware; eventually the two split over creative differences of how they wanted to design games, as Romero wanted bigger and flashier games while Carmack firmly believed in the ExcusePlot. This backfired on Romero overtime, as even if he is the more famous of the two, nowadays he is well known for the disaster that was his pet project ''VideoGame/{{Daikatana}}'', while Carmack's career has quietly continued to blossom in the tech field.

** On consoles themselves, Creator/{{Nintendo}} has a reputation to be the performer competing against technicians, especially since UsefulNotes/TheSeventhGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames: while Creator/{{Sony}} and Creator/{{Microsoft}} focus on powerful hardware [[UsefulNotes/PCVsConsole competing with PC standards]], but also narrative games for the former (an investment which goes further with the [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation5 Dual Sense]] controller) and multimedia support for the latter (Microsoft can be considered an in-between since the [[Creator/XboxGameStudios Game Pass]] offer which makes games playable on almost any modern technology, while Sony goes more and more on the technician side as explained above), Nintendo instead makes consoles which use the full potential of "outdated" hardware, games which either have an ExcusePlot or integrate it well to the gameplay, and on easily noticeable innovations ([[UsefulNotes/NintendoDS dual screen and touch-screen]], [[UsefulNotes/{{Wii}} motion controls]], [[UsefulNotes/{{WiiU}} asymetric gameplay]] and [[UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch the former two on a hybrid handheld-console system]]) to renew this same gameplay.

* The two most important creators of ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' were Creator/JohnRomero (performer) and Creator/JohnCarmack (technician). Carmack is genius programmer responsible for all the technical achievements ''Doom'' pulled off, while Romero was the one who came up with the RatedMForManly-cum-DeathMetal-cum-{{Gorn}} aesthetic the series is infamous for. Romero became the face of the company while Carmack stayed in the background. Eventually the two split over creative differences of how they wanted to design games, for example Romero wanted bigger and flashier games while Carmack firmly believed in the ExcusePlot. In the end Carmack won, Romero is the more famous of the two, but nowadays he is well known for the disaster that was his pet project ''VideoGame/{{Daikatana}}'', while Carmack's career has quietly continued to blossom in the tech field.

** On consoles themselves, Creator/{{Nintendo}} has a reputation to be the performer competing against technicians, especially since UsefulNotes/TheSeventhGenerationOfConsoleVideoGames: while Creator/{{Sony}} and Creator/{{Microsoft}} focus on powerful hardware [[UsefulNotes/PCVsConsole competing with PC standards]], but also narrative games for the former (an investment which goes further with the [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation5 Dual Sense]] controller) and multimedia support for the latter (Microsoft can be considered an in-between since the [[Creator/XboxGameStudios Game Pass]] offer which makes games playable on almost any modern technology, while Sony goes more and more on the technician side as explained above), Nintendo instead makes consoles which use the full potential of "outdated" hardware, games which either have an ExcusePlot or integrate it well to the gameplay, and on easily noticeable innovations ([[UsefulNotes/NintendoDS touch-screen]], [[UsefulNotes/{{Wii}} motion control]], [[UsefulNotes/{{WiiU}} asymetric gameplay]] and [[UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch the former two on a hybrid handheld-console system]]) to renew this same gameplay.

* When it comes to hardware, the UsefulNotes/PCVsConsole debate reflects this dichotomy. Gamer PC users are the technicians, as their configuration depends on their budget and their knowledge, they can [[GameMod customize their games]] the way they want, and their lowest configuration makes games look better than the most powerful console, but it's also more expensive, and if they can optimize their hardware, they still have to change the whole machine over time, notably because the non-video game software still requires newer machines to work. On the other hand, console users don't have this freedom nor power, but their games are automatically optimized, their controllers are easier to understand than the keyboard-mouse combo, the most powerful console is still cheaper than the lowest gamer PC, and even ten, twenty or more years later, their machine is still playable.