500
Give an argument as to whether or not these futuristic “acting gases” are actors or not.
*there is no correct answer, just your analysis
What is (to support the argument that they ARE actors):
- in the context of the actor as an object, yes, these are all actors.
- the gases, as objects, are replacing the human actor, whilst they writhe about on stage, and ‘by such whistles and strange noises, give the unusual significations of theatrical interpretations … with much more effectiveness than some celebrated actor…’ (cited in Kirby, 1971, p. 91). in this case, they are replacing the human actor as a prop, are still performing the same actions and duty that an actor would.
(to support the argument that they ARE NOT actors):
- no, they are not actors, for they are not being portrayed as a human actor on stage.
- the gases are, for lack of a better word, gases, and not humans, so they cannot be “actors”, rather they are just props.
- the kathakali dancers, while they are humans, act more as props or puppets as well, because they are displaying characters in a setting of immense costume, and there is little acting actually going on. so they are also more of a prop or object in this sense.