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Proposed Exercises for Memory and Emotion in Acting Pedagogy: A Shared Narrative with Science

Rooney, Ellen
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1277066557

Abstract Details

2010, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, Theatre.
Theater history records centuries of intersections between the scientific understanding of human behaviors and the skills needed by actors to create representational drama. This study reviews a shared historical narrative between science and acting with selected examples from medical traditions and acting traditions. Advancements in twenty-first century neuroscience have changed our understandings of basic principles governing the body and behaviors which pushes theater artists and educators to reconsider how we teach acting. This dissertation proposes acting exercises derived from neuroscientific behavior models which focus on performance memory and emotion expression. A serious study of acting requires a strong understanding of embodied knowledge, knowledge gained from experience. In order to guide acting students through the acting techniques, the study focuses on defining terms and basic scientific concepts and then applying the science through classroom exercises. These proposed exercises, Memory Accumulation and Emotion Scales, are designed for first-year theater undergraduates as part of any standard beginning acting class. The Memory Accumulation exercises introduce memory techniques of encoding and decoding, the concept of chunking (accumulating bits of information into larger performance sequences), and the concept of binding (associating different types of memory into a unified performance memory). The Emotion Scales exercises introduce basic emotions and the progression of building compound and complex emotions with the technique of accessing qualia, controlling intensity, and releasing emotions safely. Ultimately, using scientific models as teaching models, the proposed exercises presented in this dissertation define and identify basic memory systems and basic emotions conceptually (through scientific models) and experientially (through acting exercises).
Ronald E. Shields, PhD (Advisor)
Eileen Cherry-Chandler, PhD (Other)
Michael Ellison, PhD (Other)
Howard C. Cromwell, PhD (Other)
Annette Mahoney, PhD (Other)
220 p.
Theater
acting exercises; exercises for memory; performance memory; emotion expression

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Rooney, E. (2010). Proposed Exercises for Memory and Emotion in Acting Pedagogy: A Shared Narrative with Science [Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1277066557

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Rooney, Ellen. Proposed Exercises for Memory and Emotion in Acting Pedagogy: A Shared Narrative with Science. 2010. Bowling Green State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1277066557.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Rooney, Ellen. "Proposed Exercises for Memory and Emotion in Acting Pedagogy: A Shared Narrative with Science." Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1277066557

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1277066557
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© 2010, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.