Reading my tweeterings I followed a link to this awesome interview with the Artistic Director of The Civilians, Steve Cosson. I especially like this segment:
No matter which role I’m in, it’s the one thing that’s common to the process for me -- I really enjoy the research aspect of making theatre, whether it’s a new play or an older play. Going from the text out into a place or period, or something much more abstract, to ask “What is the visual language of this play?” And on something that might not have a set in any traditional way, but you’re still using whatever visual language still comes into the play, and you’re still working with references and metaphors. Every choice and every color will make the audience feel something, or create an association, whether they’re aware of that or not. And I think that very much feeds how I’m thinking or reading things. I think in design work, the practical challenge of whatever your circumstance is can also be a springboard to creativity.
I'd never heard the term visual language before. It's kind of neat to think of what you see in the design of a play as visual language. I guess it is helpful to translate the different auditory and visual aspects of a show into whatever your best mechanism is. A visual artist might view a script as word pictures (it is an inelegant example, but I couldn't think of a better one).
If I were to choose a style of viewing work it would have to relate to the best style in which I learn. I remember discovering that people learn in different ways when I was in elementary school, and it has facinated me since. I know I like real world problems instead of straight equation questions. I think I am an auditory learner and I am excited to try and find out which way I view theatrical aspects. Some testing is required.
I popped over to facebook and asked how people think they view things. Shawn and Scott had some interesting things to say while Katiee was just pissed that she left her phone charger in her locker. Here is a segment of the conversations I had:
Shawn
how do you view things? literary, auditory, or visually?
visually
why?or rather, how do you know?hmm. good question. i guess because i always tend to notice images. I'll often forget what things say, but I'll remember the colour of the words, etc. and i often will remember more how someone's face looked or what images were brought to my mind when they speak, rather than every word they saidwhen i recall things, it's always a series of moving images. but that might be what happens to everyone.so i guess i don't know. just a gut feeling i suppose
Scott
Mehow do you view things? literary, auditory, or visually?
depends i guessMehow do you best learn?Scottauditorya combo of listening and speakingMeso when you are reading a script do you "hear" the text?Scottas an actor reading modern text I think about characters intentions thise could be images in my head. for me it depends on if I am an audience member, performer, director or readerMeso it's always changing dependent on role?for me yeah. as an audience member I am free to think about the larger metaphors that the piece is presenting. Metaphor is hard to act so when I am acting I think more focusedas a director you are guiding metaphors and building scenesreading a play mostly plot stuff the first read... who's who etcthat makes a lot of sense. As a sound designer I'm viewing the work with my ears whereas as an actor I'm trying to use my whole body... or something like that