The Protei of the cinema. The body as a tool and means for artistic endeavour Cover Image

Kinowi Proteusze. Ciało jako narzędzie i środek artystyczny
The Protei of the cinema. The body as a tool and means for artistic endeavour

Author(s): Grażyna Stachówna
Subject(s): Theatre, Dance, Performing Arts
Published by: Instytut Sztuki Polskiej Akademii Nauk
Keywords: body; Cumberbatch Benedict

Summary/Abstract: Human body is an important element of symbolic culture. Its age, appearance, expression combined with the clothes worn, movement, gestures and facial expressions can be a source of aesthetic experience and an effective way of nonverbal communication. youth – age, beauty – ugliness, sexiness – asexuality, elegance – negligence, etc. characterise people in their life, and define them socially and in terms of social class. Internal interactions of a person, his intentions, thoughts and emotions are manifested through the body. It applies in a special way to actors appearing on the stage of a theatre or on the cinema screen. The object of description of Stachówna’s essay are the bodies of actors – “variables”, transforming themselves, means of artistic expression, coming to be a part of the creative effort. In the subchapter Lipstick, wigs and corsets the author writes about the art of characterisation that facilitates a spectacular change of corporeality; the part Wrinkles, scalpel and collagen deals with the bold use of appearance aged by time, and the struggle against advancing biological changes, while the subchapter Benedict Cumberbatch – the Proteus of Acting describes the amazing changes in the image of this English actor in film.

  • Issue Year: 2013
  • Issue No: 83-84
  • Page Range: 117-127
  • Page Count: 11
  • Language: Polish