Method Acting Essay

Acting is an activity that entails an actor or actress adopting the role of a character in order to tell a story. The origin of acting dates back to sixth century BC and is thought by many to be found by a man named Thespis. While performing at a festival, Thespis shocked the audience by reciting the poetry he was sharing as if he were the character who the lines belonged to. He brought the character to life, something no one had ever seen before. Since then, acting has developed into an immense and complex discipline that has been taught over the course of many generations. Two acting teachers whose teachings have been revolutionary in the field of acting education are Konstantin Stanislavski and Lee Strasberg.

Konstantin Stanislavski is

Although different actors do not practice method acting the same, there are four basic components to it. The first step in method acting is having a solid understanding of Stanislavski’s System and implementing it into your character research. After asking oneself questions about the actions and objectives of their character, the actor must take the next step by creating a backstory for the character. What is the character’s history? How did their upbringing influence their perception and actions? These are the types of questions an actor practicing method acting should ask. Next, it’s vital that the actor connects to their character in an honest and personal manner. A question one may ask during this phase is, “when was a time when I felt similar emotions to my character?” Diving deep and reflecting upon similar experiences and emotions is critical when developing an understanding and connection to a character. Lastly, after preparing for the role, an actor must spend an immense amount of time practicing their acting skills and engaging in deep reflection and thought about the character. Overall, Strasberg’s acting technique and exercises aren’t different than Stanislavski’s; they are an extension of

Previous to this class, I have only been in classes where there is one right answer and only one right way of completing assignments. The greatest challenge I have faced with acting is becoming okay with the idea of there not being a single and right way of performing. While reflecting on my character’s past and how I connect to him, I found myself becoming stressed because I felt that I wasn’t assessing my character’s past in the right way. The overarching fear was that I was not going to present my monologue in the right way and not get an A. Slowly but surely, I have been learning to let go of this need to be right and to open myself up to the exploration that is critical when connecting to and developing a character. One part of this class that I have excelled at is my willingness to step outside my comfort