Archaeology of an acting style: Stanislavski, Brecht, and the subject

Buse, P 1998, 'Archaeology of an acting style: Stanislavski, Brecht, and the subject' , European Journal of Cultural Studies, 1 (2) , pp. 219-238.

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Abstract

This article argues that different acting techniques depend on different theories of the 'subject', and that consequently, every theory of acting is also a theory of subjectivity. Recent Oscar-winning performances emphasize roles where the actor must play someone supposedly incomplete, handicapped, in other words not 'an entirely autonomous' subject. However, it is argued that the acting technique used to realize these parts is in fact a decidedly humanist one, dependent on the early 20th-century theories of Konstantin Stanislavski. An early text of Stanislavski's is analysed closely to reveal its humanist presuppositions, and then contrasted with acting theories which are anti-humanist, particularly those of Bertolt Brecht, who is responsible for the Verfremdungseffekt.

Item Type:	Article
Themes:	Subjects / Themes > N Fine Arts > N Visual arts (General) For photography, see TR Subjects outside of the University Themes
Schools:	Schools > School of Humanities, Languages & Social Sciences Schools > School of Arts & Media > Arts, Media and Communication Research Centre
Journal or Publication Title:	European Journal of Cultural Studies
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Refereed:	Yes
ISSN:	1367-5494
Depositing User:	Users 29196 not found.
Date Deposited:	01 Mar 2010 16:51
Last Modified:	27 Aug 2021 19:49
URI:	http://usir.salford.ac.uk/id/eprint/3141

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