- Practical Aesthetics
Practical Aesthetics is an acting technique originally conceived by
David Mamet andWilliam H. Macy , based on the teachings ofStanislavsky ,Sanford Meisner , and theStoic PhilosopherEpictetus .Lehmann-Haupt, Christopher (October 23, 1997). A Dramatist's How-To Guide for the Stage-Struck (review of "True and False"). "New York Times "] An in-depth description of the technique may be found inThe Practical Handbook for the Actor and also addressed inDavid Mamet 's . Practical Aesthetics is taught by theAtlantic Theater Company 's acting school in New York City.Practical Aesthetics is based in the practice of breaking down a scene using a three step analysis that entails the following:
1) THE LITERAL: The essential and most basic description of what is taking place.
2) THE ESSENTIAL ACTION: An evocative and relevant description of what the character wants within the scene.
3) THE AS IF: The "as if" relates the "essential action" to the actors own life. for example: ESSENTIAL ACTION: To retrieve what is rightfully mine. AS IF: it's as if my girlfriend has taken away my favourite album that i was going to give as a gift. I need to retrieve it as it's is mine.This step is a memory device. A spark to involve the actor in the scene. It helps the actor escape the fiction. Find the truth and apply it elsewhere.
This technique is aimed to make the experience of acting entirely based in the will of the actor. It is in response to the more introverted and self-based practices of "The Method". The Practical Aesthetic asks an actor only to commit his will to the pursuit of an action based in the other actor.
ee also
*
GOTE : This acronym (Goal, Obstacle, Tactics and Expectation) was devised by Robert Cohen to remind his students of his acting "method" - a method often linked with practical aesthetics.References
Bibliography
*Bruder, Melissa (1986). "A Practical Handbook for the Actor". Vintage
ISBN 0-394-74412-8
*Cohen, Robert (1984). "Acting Power" McGraw-Hill.
*Cohen, Robert (2003). "Acting Professionally: Raw Facts About Careers in Acting". McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages Edition: 6, Paperback.ISBN 0-072-56259-5
*Mamet, David (1999). "True and False : Heresy and Common Sense for the Actor". VintageISBN 0-679-77264-2
* [http://www.atlantictheater.com/newschool2006/history.html Atlantic Theater Company history]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
