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Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is
a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who
tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the
written text or play.
Contents [hide]
1 Definition and history
2 Theories
3 Professional actors
4 Bibliography
[edit] Definition and history
The word acting is derived from the Latin word agĕre meaning "to do", this is
precisely what acting is. In acting, an actor suppresses or augments aspects of
their personality in order to reveal the actions and motivations of the
character for particular moments in time. The actor is said to be "assuming the
role" of another, usually for the benefit of an audience, but also because it
can bring one a sense of artistic satisfaction. The first actor is believed to
be Thespis of Icaria, a man of ancient Greece. "Plays" of this time, called
choric dithyrambs, involved a chorus of 50 who sang the story to the audience.
Thespis stepped out of the chorus and spoke to them as a separate character in
the story. Before Thespis, the chorus in all plays would sing in a narrative
way, "Dionysus did this, Dionysus said that." When Thespis stepped out from the
chorus, he said "I am Dionysus. I did this." And acting was born. This may only
be a legend, but in his honor a word was crafted: thespian, meaning any sort of
performer but chiefly an actor. The International Thespian Society, a society
comparable to a fraternity (yet possessing the troop system of the Girl Scouts)
for students involved in the arts has also been named in his honor.
Actors are generally expected to possess a number of skills, including good
vocal projection, clarity of speech, physical expressiveness, a good sense of
perspective, emotional availability, a well developed imagination, the ability
to analyze and understand dramatic text, and the ability to emulate or generate
emotional and physical conditions. Well-rounded actors are often also skilled in
singing, dancing, emotional expressiveness, imitating dialects and accents,
improvisation, observation and emulation, mime, stage combat, and performing
classical texts such as Shakespeare. Many actors train at length in special
programs or colleges to develop these skills, which have a wide range of
different artistic philosophies and processes.
For history and other details, see actor, thespian, or Thespis.
[edit] Theories
See also the Acting theorists category
Antonin Artaud
Eugenio Barba
Augusto Boal
Anne Bogart
Bertolt Brecht
Peter Brook
Joseph Chaikin
Mani Madhava Chakyar
Michael Chekhov
Jacques Copeau
Dario Fo
Jerzy Grotowski
Keith Johnstone
Joan Littlewood
David Mamet
Method acting: Stella Adler, Lee Strasberg, Sanford Meisner
Vsevolod Meyerhold
Bharata Muni
Viola Spolin
Włodzimierz Staniewski
Constantin Stanislavski
[edit] Professional actors
Main article: Actor
Not all people working as actors in film, television or theatre are
professionally trained. Chances of succeeding as an actor are greatly enhanced
by studying drama at a university or college, or attending an acting
conservatory. Conservatories offer two to three years training on all aspects of
acting. Universities will offer three to four year programs, where a student can
choose to focus on acting, while still learning about other aspects of theatre.
Schools will vary in their approach, but in North America the most popular
method taught is the 'inside out' technique, developed by Stanislavski in his
early years and popularized in America by Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler. Others
may include a more physical approach, following the teachings of Jerzy Grotowski
and others. Regardless of a school's approach, students should expect intensive
training in textual interpretation, voice and movement. Applications to drama
programs and conservatories are through auditions in the United States. Anybody
over the age of 18 can usually apply to drama school.
A list of drama schools in Britain, North America and Australia can be found on
the drama school article.
[edit] Bibliography
Brustein, Robert. 2005. Letters to a Young Actor New York: Basic Books. ISBN
0465008062.
Hagen, Uta. 1973. Respect for Acting. New York: Macmillan. ISBN 0025473905.
Hodge, Alison, ed. 2000. Twentieth Century Actor Training. London and New York:
Routledge. ISBN 0415194520.
Marston, Merlin, ed. 1987. Sanford Meisner on Acting New York: Random House.
ISBN 0394750594.
Stanislavski, Constantin. 1936. An Actor Prepares. London: Methuen, 1988. ISBN
0413461904.
Zarrilli, Phillip B., ed. 2002. Acting (Re)Considered: A Theoretical and
Practical Guide. Worlds of Performance Ser. 2nd edition. London and New York:
Routledge. ISBN 041526300X.
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