The life-death paradox in the actor's presence

Abstract

This project proposes to expand and problematize the territory of actor coaching. The starting premise is that life or organicity, as a force that suffuses the actor's body, can only exist in his/her performance, as long as he is open to the constant risk of death (as a metaphor for failure, mistake, emptiness). In this sense, "allowing oneself death" paradoxically favors "allowing oneself life" and contributes to the states of presence in acting. Thus, the conceptual and practical investigation of the death-life paradox in producing presence is the core of this proposal. Considering the tension and friction between oriental and occidental modes of thought (especially of the post-structuralists), I aim to identify, in the workspace, dualities of various practices in the contemporary scenic arts: divisions between body/mid; internal/external; theory/practice; myself/other) and to resignify these from the paradoxical standpoint of being in the world in the present moment. Based on the process-oriented cartographic method, the research will cross the data obtained in practical experiments with artists of the Fuga! Nucleus, with workshops designed for this project and with literature searches, considering the intense and continuous collaboration and reciprocal influences among these spheres. This proposal stems from doctoral studies concluded in February 2014 and is connected to the Thematic Project "The production of effects of presence: a life & (in acting)", whose activities started in August 2014 and which is under evaluation by Fapesp. (AU)