Unit 2a End Note Induction Extension Task - Zoe Charman

Unit 2a Contextual Studies

End Note Induction

Naturalism

Practioner I’ve chosen: Stanislavski

Source: An Actor Prepares by Konstantin Stanislavski 2013

This book was Konstantin Stanislavski’s first book on acting. He went on to write other books such as Building a Character and Creating a Role. This book is a diary of a fictional student in their first year of studying under Stanislavski’s techniques.

The book is autobiographical, but could also been seen as a textbook as, for example, it explains acting techniques, units and objectives and emotion memory.

I enjoyed this quote from his book:

“In the circle of light on the state in the midst of darkness, you have the sensation of being entirely alone... This is called solitude in public... During a performance, before an audience of thousands, you can always enclose yourself in this circle, like a snail in its shell... You can carry it wherever you go.” (Stanislavski.K 2013)

Symbolism

Practioner I’ve chosen: Edward Gordon Craig

Source: Modern Drama in Theory and Practice: Volume 2, Symbolism Surrealism and the Absurd by John Louis Styan 1981

This book was published in 1981 and it examines the relationship between plays and performances and their history and culture. The book starts of by using Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Nights Dream’ as an example of the use of symbolism. The book goes on to introduce Edward Gordon Craig, and his beliefs of symbolism and stage design. It also gives us information on Chekhov and Strindberg and how all these practioners have many similarities but also differences.

The quote from this book I wanted to note down was:

“The actor should not impersonate, but present and interpret, a character; not imitate and reproduce nature like a photographer, but create as an artist.”

(Styan. J L 1981)

(3 Men Running, Sherman Theatre, Tanzcompagnie Rubato 2009)

I found this picture on the internet from a play called 3 Men Running, I think it represents the term symbolic clearly. The 3 men have shadows behind them, people could interpret this different ways. They could have guilt, and constantly feel like people are following them, they could have a dark past, they may have dreams to live up to or they may feel they have expectations to live up to. These are just my opinions on what this picture could symbolise.   

Stanislavski, C. (2013). An actor prepares, A&C Black.

        

Styan, J. L. (1981). Modern Drama in Theory and Practice: Volume 2, Symbolism, Surrealism and the Absurd, Cambridge University Press.

http://www.hrwaldram.co.uk/blog/?p=75