What is Gestus?
Socially encoded expression that is consciously employed. Brecht came up with the idea inspired by Charlie Chaplin as he expressed socialised behaviour in his characters. He developed this because he felt that psychological theatre focused too heavily on facial expressions and it meant gesture dried up and had a lack of importance within the performance. He wanted people to investigate the body language of a class and their habits, manners and customs. He wanted to look at how the things the characters did in a play was influenced by society and the gestures were a way of showing this.
Showing posts with label Lesson Notes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lesson Notes. Show all posts
Saturday, 1 December 2012
Monday, 26 November 2012
13/11/2012 - Brechtian advice to actors
Brecht was part of a generation and society of workers that did things because they were part of a society. So being a director, or an actor meant that the work you produced had to make a difference in the world. Spectacle and outcome is what matters to Brechtian theatre and is what puts him at the heart of Political Theatre acting.
The first time that Brecht put on Mother Courage, the audience were too sympathetic towards Mother Courage, which was the opposite reaction to what he wanted - for the audience to observe and investigate Mother Coarage. He then developed, through rehearsals, this form of acting, so that the audience were clearly distant from the actors and the play. He believed in the human ability to question and investigate themselves and each other and he wanted to expose that in his theatre.
Brecht wanted his audience to focus on the progression of the story rather than how it's going to end. In order to create this reaction, he made his actors remove emotion and focus on textual specifics and gesture. He believed that political theatre mustn't be emotional because it created this barrier where the audience couldn't be informed. He took away the emotional depth that naturalistic plays had to make way to content that informed the audience on the world. He wanted his audience to read human nature rather than get lost in it. He made his actors, in a way, portray stereotypes for this reason.
An example of doing this in 'In the Beginning' is the action we will be performing will be performed in a way that will clearly define that we are telling a story - clearly defining gestures and our lines to show that they have a meaning in creating an intellectual search in the audience for similarities in society rather than in our emotional reactions to things. In this sense, Brechtian theatre is content lead theatre.
When you narrate what is happening in a scene through singing whilst the actions are happening, this is a way of distancing emotions from the audience and getting them to observe. However, to the actor it feels robotic and unnatural. But what is important about Brechtian acting is that it is to begin an intellectual conversation in the audiences minds to allow them to make an informed decision as to what they believe. Naturalism informs an emotional reaction that is instinctual, rather than intellectually thought out.
Some ways in Brechtian acting of distancing your character from the audience is big gestures with your hands as you speak - like you are quoting the action from what you saw and heard before and in the way you speak the lines. You are an actor, consciously telling a story - you have no emotional attachment.
The first time that Brecht put on Mother Courage, the audience were too sympathetic towards Mother Courage, which was the opposite reaction to what he wanted - for the audience to observe and investigate Mother Coarage. He then developed, through rehearsals, this form of acting, so that the audience were clearly distant from the actors and the play. He believed in the human ability to question and investigate themselves and each other and he wanted to expose that in his theatre.
Brecht wanted his audience to focus on the progression of the story rather than how it's going to end. In order to create this reaction, he made his actors remove emotion and focus on textual specifics and gesture. He believed that political theatre mustn't be emotional because it created this barrier where the audience couldn't be informed. He took away the emotional depth that naturalistic plays had to make way to content that informed the audience on the world. He wanted his audience to read human nature rather than get lost in it. He made his actors, in a way, portray stereotypes for this reason.
An example of doing this in 'In the Beginning' is the action we will be performing will be performed in a way that will clearly define that we are telling a story - clearly defining gestures and our lines to show that they have a meaning in creating an intellectual search in the audience for similarities in society rather than in our emotional reactions to things. In this sense, Brechtian theatre is content lead theatre.
When you narrate what is happening in a scene through singing whilst the actions are happening, this is a way of distancing emotions from the audience and getting them to observe. However, to the actor it feels robotic and unnatural. But what is important about Brechtian acting is that it is to begin an intellectual conversation in the audiences minds to allow them to make an informed decision as to what they believe. Naturalism informs an emotional reaction that is instinctual, rather than intellectually thought out.
Some ways in Brechtian acting of distancing your character from the audience is big gestures with your hands as you speak - like you are quoting the action from what you saw and heard before and in the way you speak the lines. You are an actor, consciously telling a story - you have no emotional attachment.
6/11/2012 - Different types of Protest
Passive Direct
Petitions Strike
Silent Protests Sit ins
Blogs Demonstration
Soap Boxing Lobby
Displaying Signs Occupation
Hunger Strikes Lock Down
Distributing Flyers Break the law
Boycotting Organise March
Petitions Strike
Silent Protests Sit ins
Blogs Demonstration
Soap Boxing Lobby
Displaying Signs Occupation
Hunger Strikes Lock Down
Distributing Flyers Break the law
Boycotting Organise March
Wednesday, 21 November 2012
12/11/2012 - Initial Thoughts on In the Beginning by Neil Labute
I think the parents seem really passive and it reflects the way politicians are, and really, politicians can be our parents - they represent another of the generations.
The way the child is with the parent reminds me of the unspecified anger and mob-like mentality that was present during the riots where there wasn't much conviction on a specific topic but a general feeling to go and do. The occupy movement seems to be a movement where there are so many beliefs they encapsulate that it is difficult to create any change because the protests are about general concepts and there are no ideas on how to change things.
It really reflects the ongoing misunderstanding in the world between parents and children and the anger we all feel towards things that are going on in the world. Inequalities we want to solve but don't know how.
There were interesting choices of switches between who was passive and winning. It felt like a debate happening about our world but through the means of conversation which felt human.
I think an interesting way we could stage it is that it could be in an office and the parent could therefore represent the bankers, who are also parents and the people running the country.
The way the child is with the parent reminds me of the unspecified anger and mob-like mentality that was present during the riots where there wasn't much conviction on a specific topic but a general feeling to go and do. The occupy movement seems to be a movement where there are so many beliefs they encapsulate that it is difficult to create any change because the protests are about general concepts and there are no ideas on how to change things.
It really reflects the ongoing misunderstanding in the world between parents and children and the anger we all feel towards things that are going on in the world. Inequalities we want to solve but don't know how.
There were interesting choices of switches between who was passive and winning. It felt like a debate happening about our world but through the means of conversation which felt human.
I think an interesting way we could stage it is that it could be in an office and the parent could therefore represent the bankers, who are also parents and the people running the country.
12/11/2012 - Introduction to Brecht
- Brecht used different characters to represent different parts of society
An Introduction to Brechtian Theatre
Brecht was trying to grapple with truths in his work. He wanted to encourage the audience to be politically active. He wanted to create belief and disbelief in his work at the same time. He didn't want his audience to sit comfortably.
The costume he developed for people working behind the scenes was not trying to make them blend in with the background, it was used to make the audience aware that it was a play because they can obviously see the makers. He wanted to create a sense of alienation through exposing members of the set team. He used lighting and abstract sounds to further distance the audience.
Brecht on Stage
His work was dialectical so that it was challenging for the audience. He created a critical distance from the theatre so that the audience could question what was happening, making it political. He aimed to make his work so that the audience could see what could be changed up. He wanted to create images that told a story. He used the lighting and abstract sounds to make the audience step back from the action. His way of working involved creating images and then in the rehearsal process manipulating them over and over until the actors and crew were satisfied with the images created. He also worked with the scripts so that they created the desired reactions from the audience. He liked to provoke reactions from the audience. He liked the physicality to comment on the language used in the piece. He was constantly democratic in his way of working.
An Introduction to Brechtian Theatre
Brecht was trying to grapple with truths in his work. He wanted to encourage the audience to be politically active. He wanted to create belief and disbelief in his work at the same time. He didn't want his audience to sit comfortably.
The costume he developed for people working behind the scenes was not trying to make them blend in with the background, it was used to make the audience aware that it was a play because they can obviously see the makers. He wanted to create a sense of alienation through exposing members of the set team. He used lighting and abstract sounds to further distance the audience.
Brecht on Stage
His work was dialectical so that it was challenging for the audience. He created a critical distance from the theatre so that the audience could question what was happening, making it political. He aimed to make his work so that the audience could see what could be changed up. He wanted to create images that told a story. He used the lighting and abstract sounds to make the audience step back from the action. His way of working involved creating images and then in the rehearsal process manipulating them over and over until the actors and crew were satisfied with the images created. He also worked with the scripts so that they created the desired reactions from the audience. He liked to provoke reactions from the audience. He liked the physicality to comment on the language used in the piece. He was constantly democratic in his way of working.
Thursday, 8 November 2012
06/11/2012 - Questions
How much time do you spend texting, on social networking sites, watching TV, playing video games?
Texting - 30 mins
Social Networking - 1 hr
TV - 3 hrs
Video games - 0
Total - 4.5 hrs
What is it you would like to change?
I would like to change the lack of care within the care industry. My mum has worked as a carer for people with learning disabilities for 20 years and is paid a little above minimum wage and works long, irregular shifts. The home she works at takes in clients according to how much they're willing to pay rather than considering the needs of the client. She works incredibly hard and has seen her co-workers come into the company and leave a few weeks or months later because of the poor pay for the amount they're doing. This means they're constantly looking for staff and the clients don't get a stable team because people are constantly leaving. These private companies are simply concerned with the profit that the managers and the company owners are making and have no idea and it makes me angry that they do not care for their staff or their clients.
I would also like to also get rid of the IQ test. The IQ test is not a positive representation of anyone's 'intelligence' because intelligence is not stable and really we don't know what intelligence actually is. I read a book written by Ken Robinson which explains why the IQ test is totally outdated and incorrect. Here is the extract.
What power do you have?
I have the power to vote with my feet. If I disagree with something a company or group are doing, I am one of their market, so I can decide not to buy into their products/services.
I also have the power to express myself and my beliefs - be it through the work I create, online, how I speak or what I say.
What do you have plenty of?
Books
Friends
Food
Clothes
Warmth
Space
Air
Creativity
Mental ability
Money
What are you scarce of?
Travel
Theatrical experiences
Job
What are your ideals? What do you believe in?
Treat others as you would like to treat yourself
Make your own opportunities
What do you think you could do to make that happen?
Be nice to others
Go and experience as much as I can
Talk to many different people
Read more - expand my knowledge of the world
Experience things outside the norm/my comfort zone - other cultures etc.
What stops you from doing it?
Confidence
Lack of knowledge of the opportunities available to me
Lack of motivation to go out there and experience things (other priorities)
Texting - 30 mins
Social Networking - 1 hr
TV - 3 hrs
Video games - 0
Total - 4.5 hrs
What is it you would like to change?
I would like to change the lack of care within the care industry. My mum has worked as a carer for people with learning disabilities for 20 years and is paid a little above minimum wage and works long, irregular shifts. The home she works at takes in clients according to how much they're willing to pay rather than considering the needs of the client. She works incredibly hard and has seen her co-workers come into the company and leave a few weeks or months later because of the poor pay for the amount they're doing. This means they're constantly looking for staff and the clients don't get a stable team because people are constantly leaving. These private companies are simply concerned with the profit that the managers and the company owners are making and have no idea and it makes me angry that they do not care for their staff or their clients.
I would also like to also get rid of the IQ test. The IQ test is not a positive representation of anyone's 'intelligence' because intelligence is not stable and really we don't know what intelligence actually is. I read a book written by Ken Robinson which explains why the IQ test is totally outdated and incorrect. Here is the extract.
What power do you have?
I have the power to vote with my feet. If I disagree with something a company or group are doing, I am one of their market, so I can decide not to buy into their products/services.
I also have the power to express myself and my beliefs - be it through the work I create, online, how I speak or what I say.
What do you have plenty of?
Books
Friends
Food
Clothes
Warmth
Space
Air
Creativity
Mental ability
Money
What are you scarce of?
Travel
Theatrical experiences
Job
What are your ideals? What do you believe in?
Treat others as you would like to treat yourself
Make your own opportunities
What do you think you could do to make that happen?
Be nice to others
Go and experience as much as I can
Talk to many different people
Read more - expand my knowledge of the world
Experience things outside the norm/my comfort zone - other cultures etc.
What stops you from doing it?
Confidence
Lack of knowledge of the opportunities available to me
Lack of motivation to go out there and experience things (other priorities)
Tuesday, 6 November 2012
6/11/2012 - What is Political Theatre? First Thoughts
I think Political Theatre is theatre that reflects what is going on now in the world and gets you to question it. It also allows the producers (actors, directors etc.) to question their beliefs on topics and learn for themselves. The fact that the audience and the people who work on a piece of Political Theatre both learn, I think, makes it a valuable way to help change happen or spark something that will lead to change, even simply a debate.
I think Political Theatre can expose truths about society that are harsh but need to be discussed. This is important so that a audience can have more knowledge about the world and actively question themselves and what's around them. It keeps you in touch with reality.
It is brave theatre that can have a valuable place in society and even history at a small scale (in the minds of the audience) than some other forms may have. If it is bold enough and presented at the right time, it can cause people to act. But arguably, any piece of theatre can be political as long as it makes you think about the world.
It can be democratic because it allows the audience to think for themselves, interpret the things they are presented with in their own way and make their own decisions as to how they are going to deal with it. The audience are then equal together because they are all journeying with the actors at the same time in their learning.
I think Political Theatre can expose truths about society that are harsh but need to be discussed. This is important so that a audience can have more knowledge about the world and actively question themselves and what's around them. It keeps you in touch with reality.
It is brave theatre that can have a valuable place in society and even history at a small scale (in the minds of the audience) than some other forms may have. If it is bold enough and presented at the right time, it can cause people to act. But arguably, any piece of theatre can be political as long as it makes you think about the world.
It can be democratic because it allows the audience to think for themselves, interpret the things they are presented with in their own way and make their own decisions as to how they are going to deal with it. The audience are then equal together because they are all journeying with the actors at the same time in their learning.
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