Acting Theories 1

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Subject guarantor

Mary Carmel ANGIOLILLO

Name of lecturer(s)

Mary Carmel ANGIOLILLO

Learning outcomes of the course unit

•To become familiar with vocabulary and key concepts related to the art of acting

•To understand basic theories of Stanislavski, Meyerhold, Brecht, Grotowski and Method Acting teachers

•To be able to compare approaches to acting as developed by major acting teachers

•To become familiar with core exercises related to different schools of acting

•To apply acting theories to practical work with actors

Mode of study

Discussion, lecture, in-class exercises.

Prerequisites and co-requisites

-

Course contents

Acting Theories I surveys approaches to the art of acting, beginning with Stanislavski’s tools for the creation of psychological character. Approaches stemming from Meyerhold’s emphasis on physical expressivity are also explored, and the course continues to look at approaches which fall within two major categories of acting techniques: techniques for the creation of a psychologically truthful character and techniques for immediate expressivity or training an actor to physically respond to images. As each approach is introduced, in-class exercises demonstrate some of the techniques used by that particular acting teacher. This is why class size has to be limited so that there is space and time for everyone to participate in the exercises.

Recommended or required reading

Texts: Handouts and articles on the acting teachers covered are available online or in course reader, which may be purchased in FI office. Articles come from:

Hodge, Alison (2009). Twentieth Century Actor Training. (London: Routledge).

Zarelli, Phillip. (1995) Acting (Re) Considered: Theories and Practices. (London: Routledge).

Assessment methods and criteria

Students are expected to regularly attend class and fully participate in the exercises. Student must have, without exception, a minimum of 70% attendance to pass the course (more is expected).

A final grade is calculated is in this way:

30% - In-class participation in exercises, attendance

30% - Written response to readings

40% - In-class tests on material covered in the course (each test is worth 20%)

Written Assignment (due Nov. 23):

Students should select 4 articles from the reader and write 8 short written responses (each response is several sentences) to the readings, answering the question: „How can I use these ideas in my future work?“ (Late work results in lowered grade.)

Two Tests (objective, short answer style) are on class handouts and in-class exercises. Test #1 is Nov. 9; Test #2 is Dec. 14

Note

CET Program Note: The subject consists of 28 contact hours in Spring 2022, recommended transfer to 2 US credits.

Schedule for winter semester 2021/2022:

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Schedule for summer semester 2021/2022:

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The subject is a part of the following study plans

• Montage-1920 (required optional subject)
• Montage_2020 (required optional subject)
• Cinema and Digital Media - Directing_1920 (required optional subject)
• Cinema and Digital Media - Directing 2020 (required optional subject)