Interesting Things That I Have Read

During the Winter break, as well as performing the stretches learned in semester one, I also decided to read through some of the optional reading materials listed in the module guide in addition to the compulsory reading. The three books that I have read are;

Making Connections - Peggy Hackney (Compulsory)

The Invisible Actor - Yoshi Oida (Optional)

Through the Body - Dymphna Callery (Optional)

I have read interesting things from each of these books, each providing a different perspective on movement and the body.

Making Connections ...

"Sometimes people need to know the anatomy before they feel free to release into open-ended movement exploration." (Page 55) I really feel like this quote applies to me directly as a student, sometimes I find it hard to imagine my own body doing different things, simply because I do not fully understand my whole body, and therefore do not know my own limits and capabilities at times.

"People whose preferred pattern of Total Body Organization is Head-Tail Connectivity frequently, but not always, enjoy approaching situations in the world in a wonderfully imaginative way, using their fluid internal sequencing to improvise the situation. They often do not like to be told how to do something, but prefer to explore and follow their own creative impulses." (Page 108) This is definitely me! Head-Tail is the pattern of connection which I prefer to explore, and is often the one I instinctively turn to during an improvised scene. Although I can take direction and instruction from other people, I only really appreciate it if I feel it makes an improvement to what I am doing. I'm also not afraid to expand on those given instructions if I feel there is something which I can improve. In groups I like to be in control, but I always listen to people's ideas and thoughts.

The Invisible Actor ...

"One Japanese tradition recommends that parents should inspect the shoes of their prospective son-in-law, before giving permission for their daughter to marry. If the back of the heel is worn down, it is a very bad sign, meaning that he is lazy. ... If the would-be bridegroom has shoes that are worn down at the front, it is a good sign. He may be hasty, but the body is healthy and energetic." (Page 26 - 27) I checked my own shoes to see whereabouts most of my weight is carried within the feet, I noticed that they were worn mainly towards the rear of the shoe, this indicates that I am a lazy person. I would agree with the statement, although I am sometimes energetic and lively, I prefer to spend most of my time relaxing. I thought this was a very strange test, especially in the case of deciding whether a marriage is allowed or not, but it is interesting to see that different types of energies can have very different consequences on the posture of a person.

"The empty space of theatre exists inside the actor, as well as on the stage itself." (Page 65) For me, this suggests that as an actor, I must always be connected to the space around me and therefore be aware of the surroundings and any changes that occur. Another point is that the space on stage is part of the performance it can be used to represent so much, despite seeming so insignificant at first.

Through the Body ...

"Looking at an actor wearing the neutral mask, you look at the whole body. In effect the body becomes the face, and every movement is revealed as powerfully expressive." (Page 35) This sums of the movement module perfectly, using the body as a means of conveying an expressive state, even dialogue in some instances. It highlights the importance of an actor's body and how powerfully it can be used within performance.