Culture or Cult: When does the disciplining of the actor become abuse?© Dr Mark Seton 2007 Desire is a paradox of human experience. It is desire that enables perseverance in themidst of short-term failings or mis-understandings. We applaud the person who pursues,in a disciplined way, his or her goals and proves his or her ability to perform. But it isalso desire that can compel a person to accept continual abuse and mistreatment because,using the same premise of self-discipline, he or she is willing to undergo maltreatmentand suffering in order ‘to get it right’. That was my experience of participating in a privately run acting school with some other students. We were repeatedly told we neededto learn how to be vulnerable – to have the hide of a rhinoceros and the heart of a dove.In my abstract for this Paper, I referred to a class where the female teacher declared “We prefer to seduce you, rather than rape you”. I’m aware her intention may have been toreaffirm the benevolent intention behind seduction – yet her repeated use of thismetaphor, week after week, and the imagery attendant to such a loss of innocence, a needfor penetration and deflowering, left me feeling troubled. When I asked a female studentabout this, her response confirmed my fears about the willingness of students to submit todiscipline, however painful, if it would deliver career success – she showed surprise atmy concern, assuring me that “whatever it takes to make me an actor – I’m willing to persevere – if it helps me perform better, I’m prepared to do it – you’ve got to be fullycommitted …
Posted on: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 20:11:18 +0000
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