WEEK 1 - Minimal Gesture (or How to Abandon Words)

 

Intro | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

 

Using a prompt (e.g. isolation, desperation, anxiety) pairs of participants tell each other a story, or describe a moment related to a personal experience in as much detail as possible. Visual information is key (i.e. posture, time of day, clothing, expression, movement, color).

1. As the first person tells the story, the second person attempts to mentally record as much information as possible, before alternating.
2. Each individual then translates their partner’s story into a performative gesture (action, movement) without using words. Rather than capture the entire narrative, the goal is instead to relate the emotional content of the story’s most essential moment.
3. By subtracting from the performance more and more, the ‘actor’ should work toward distilling the narrative down to one memorable action that encapsulates the story.
4. The group is then given the opportunity to discuss their own interpretations of the scene.
5. The ‘actor’ then describes the scene and explains their own choices in translating the story.
6. Finally, the original storyteller may share the narrative, volunteering as much information as they feel comfortable.

How did it feel to have (the essence of) your story pictured in front of you? Do you agree with the person’s assessment of which aspect of your story is most important or essential? Did the performance and/or group’s interpretations in any way impact how you would tell the story next time?

Alternative

1. As the first person tells the story, the second person attempts to mentally record as much information as possible, before alternating.
2. Each individual (sculptor) then translates their partner’s story into a single image, positioning the other participants in a tableau related to the story while reciting the narrative aloud. Rather than capture the entire narrative, the goal is instead to relate the emotional content of the story’s most essential moment.
3. As the performance takes place, the original storyteller records the action using their cellphone.
4. The sculptor and storyteller should then trade roles. The storyteller recites the narrative once more, in their own words, while making any modifications to the tableau as the original sculptor captures the words and altered scene with their cellphone.
5. Finally, the pair may share each other’s videos to view the comparison.

How did it feel to have (the essence of) your story pictured in front of you? Do you agree with the person’s assessment of which aspect of your story is most important or essential? Did the telling and/or performance cause you to revisit the memory differently? What choices did you make in re-sculpting the scene? Did you tell the story differently as you modified the scene, then when you originally recounted it for your partner? After viewing the two videos, what were the major differences in how the story was told and interpreted?

We can perform the entire narrative as if it were a movie. But we all know this movie. It has been played out for us over and over again. But by distilling the story down to the most essential moment – we see how one gesture carries all the meaning. The anxiety of being pulled over by the cops – that fear of the unknown – is captured in one moment... the turning of the head and the expression in your face. And whether or not a person has ever been pulled over by the cops, everyone understands the feeling of your heart jumping out of your chest.... that is where we all connect.