Explain
Explain the importance of the Magic If and Given Circumstances to
Stanislavski’s psycho technique. Refer to any practical examples that
will help explain this.
MR GROGAN H/W
In this essay I will be explaining the work we have been doing
recently during this term and the relevance to our study of
Stanislavski’s psycho technique. I will be outlining how his ideas of
the ‘Magic If’ and ‘Given Circumstances’ contribute to the importance
of this technique.
Stanislavski had several ideas about how to achieve a sense of inner
and outer truth in terms of his character, one being the magic if. If
is a word which can transform our thoughts; through it we can imagine
ourselves in virtually any situation. "If I suddenly became
wealthy..." "If I were vacationing on the Caribbean Island..." "If I
had great talent..." "If that person who insulted me comes near me
again..." The word ‘if’ becomes a powerful lever for the mind; it has
the ability to lift us out of ourselves a give us a sense of absolute
certainty about imaginary circumstances. The answer to these simple
questions can be a springboard to creativity and inspiration, because
it allows the actor to realize the fact that, he is living out a
fictional life, a figment of the writers imagination, with sets and
props that are not real life homes and settings. When we first look at
the ‘Magic If’, Stanislavski makes us aware that a performing actor
must logically justify his actions in consistency with real life.
Therefore he must act under his passions in character and not play
with them, acting internally and externally with complete
rationalization. By using the "Magic If" the actor is granting himself
permission to "believe" in these imaginary objects, it allows the
actor to transfer himself from the world of reality to the world in
which dreative work can me done.
Based on the idea of ‘The Magic If’ we used this idea to draw from our
own experiences and imagination to get into character for a recent
speech, that each of us had been given to learn. To get into my
character, Puck from ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, I used the idea of
the ‘Magic If’ to arouse my imagination, consequently entering the
soul of my character, allowing myself o from a creative belief within
their mind's eye. Through asking myself questions, presenting myself
with possible obstacles and...
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... tree, describing
in detail exactly what he saw. What was happening? This allowed the
actor to awaken the senses, to be made aware of the circumstances he
was in, the smell, the sights, the weather, and therefore open up the
imagination to set the circumstances and reasons behind why the story
is happening for example why they are having a picnic- because it is a
hot day etc. The actor can imagine and convey to Stanislavski his
account (as an oak tree) uninterrupted series of visual images,
maintaining the idea of artistic stage reality though.
The ‘given circumstances’ and ‘magic if’ of the psycho-technique
inspire actors; they bring out emotions whilst training their artistic
sense of belief. Both make them aware and surround them with the world
created by the writer or director. It also provides imagination and
the ability to explore the world with the ability to understand the
reasons for the ‘given circumstances’. The ‘given circumstances’ are
the set of boundaries you are given as an actor, the ‘magic if’
helping you develop an understanding for the role you are playing and
maintain it, both inspiring the justified imagination and spirit of
the character.
worked then it wouldn’t be called magic. Which is yet another thing that Tony learns:
difficulty. It is the strength of mind that makes one able to meet danger and difficulties
Many people might say that stars are merely a product of the Hollywood system needing to make a profit; Hollywood manufactures a product and creates the demand for it. A star's image is processed through advertisements and promotions and has little to do with what the audience wants and needs from entertainment. There is a widespread mentality that any Average Joe can become a star with enough resources backing him up. Richard Dyer points out, however, that even movies full of stars fail, and stars can and do fall out of fashion (12). A star's economic worth is not invulnerable to audiences' opinions. The audience isn't so easily controlled.
The indispensability of the flesh to this turning of the self to the Other signifies the excellence whereby the human transcends the angelic.
Every slave has endured pain. Tituba unfortunately had to withstand various situations and encounters in Barbados. Her beliefs were stripped and people continued to try and change her ways of thinking. She had to deal with racism within her own race as well as from the dislike of others. As she goes through these rough spots she must not forget who she is and where she has come from. Her goals prove to not let anyone break down her barrier that she, her mother, and Mama Yaya had so strongly sought to establish.
something else there, the mind, that interacts with our bodies and makes us feel, think,
Even though some parents believe Hollywood has a positive impact on their children most believe otherwise. Children can develop health problems from having a celebrity role model; such as, anorexia, self-harm, or self-esteem issues. Youth do this to obtain that celebrity look of ‘perfection’. Celebrities act as role models for youth throughout the nation and they should live up to it.
...knowledge and courage to do what is right for others and for our own conscience. In the world today, there are so many instances where people have the opportunity to avoid responsibility for their actions, and it must be changed or as Fromm has predicted, our society will end by obedience to powers of which we are unsure and therefore “commit suicide”.
... understanding of ourselves and the world by thinking things in a rational and procedural order. This understanding allows us to peruse a type of freedom that gives order within a conflicted system. By gaining some understanding of reality as an integral part of our system and recognizing our place within this whole of god, we come to participate in god’s divine nature.
that we live in today and the freedom that we have to live our lives
being able to respond to them. Those whom have practiced mindfulness are aware of its
...in time, allow them to integrate into American mainstream. The phrase “American mainstream” is forever changing in meaning. Since its foundation, America has been a nation of immigrants. At first, immigrants came to America to find freedom: freedom of religion, freedom to live by one’s own culture while being under the protection of the government, etc. Later, in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, citizens tried to push immigrants to become “Americanized”. In this case, the American mainstream comprised of people who were forced to disregard their ethnic origin and adapt to American culture. Now, the meaning of the American mainstream has once again changed. It is now comprised of people who strive to keep their ethnic origin, while forming bonding and bridging relationships with others to increase the social capital of their home, the United States of America.
Judith Jarvis Thomson does not exactly disagree with Hare, but she also does not completely agree with him either. Thomson does however state that a fetus can acquire human characteristics by the tenth week of the pregnancy. She says the fetus will already have a face, arms,legs,fingers, and toes. The fetus also has internal organs, and brain activity is found, although the brain is not near fully developed.
...may be the sole means of holding on to one's identity and receiving true freedom.
It encourages transcendence through or in spite of limitation, while simultaneously decentering the concept of absolute transcendence. To this end, it encourages the development of a heightened sense of self in relation to itself and the world around it.