Practical Aesthetics
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Practical Aesthetics is an acting technique originally conceived by David Mamet and William H. Macy, based on the teachings of Stanislavsky, Sanford Meisner, and the Stoic Philosopher Epictetus.[1] An in-depth description of the technique may be found in The Practical Handbook for the Actor and also addressed in David Mamet's True and False. Practical Aesthetics is taught by the Atlantic 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 WANT: An evocative and relevant description of what the character wants within the scene.
3) THE ACTION: After asking the question of what is keeping the character from achieving their "want", you can arrive at the "Action". The root of the technique, and a purely active phrase on which the actor relies. Examples would be "Get a great sacrifice," "Get someone to understand a simple truth," and "Get a promise." You would then use this action with the other person on stage. You would be literally asking the other actor to "Get a great sacrifice."
After determining the action, the actor finds an "as if"-- a situation in his or her own life that has not yet occurred but could plausibly occur, in which he or she must pursue that action. This is different from sense memory in that it focuses on the pursuit of an action rather than emotions, which come as a result of the pursuit and are not a goal in themselves.
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.
[edit] See 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.
[edit] References
- ^ Lehmann-Haupt, Christopher (October 23, 1997). A Dramatist's How-To Guide for the Stage-Struck (review of True and False). New York Times
[edit] Bibliography
- Bruder, Melissa (1986). A Practical Handbook for the Actor. Vintage ISBN 0-394-74412-8
- Mamet, David (1999). True and False : Heresy and Common Sense for the Actor. Vintage ISBN 0-679-77264-2
- Atlantic Theater Company history
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