adapted for stage acting by Anne Bogart, They are points of awareness that a performer or creator has while working. They provide a vocabulary for thinking about and acting upon movement and gesture.
The Nine Viewpoints:
Viewpoints of Space - Spatial Relationships
- Architecture
- Floor Pattern
Viewpoints of the Body - Shape
- Gesture
Viewpoints of Time - Kinaesthetic response
- Repetition
- Duration
- Tempo
Spatial Relationships
The distance between things on stage, between one body and another or between a body
and an object or piece of architecture.
and an object or piece of architecture.
Consider: groupings extremes of proximity
Architecture
The physical environment in which you are working and how the awareness of it affects movement.
Floor Pattern
The pattern created on the floor as the actor moves through space;
determines how the actors get from one place to another.
determines how the actors get from one place to another.
Shape
The contour or outline the body (or bodies) make in space.
Consider: all shapes can be broken into lines, curves or a combination of lines and curves
The shape can be stationary or moving through space
The shape can be made: with the body in space
the body in relationship to architecture making a shape
the body in relation to other bodies making a shape.
The shape can be stationary or moving through space
The shape can be made: with the body in space
the body in relationship to architecture making a shape
the body in relation to other bodies making a shape.
Gesture
A movement involving a part or parts of the body. Gesture generally involves parts of the body
(e.g. face or hands) whereas shape generally involves the whole body.
(e.g. face or hands) whereas shape generally involves the whole body.
The gesture has 3 categories: Daily life (behavioural e.g. scratching/sniffing)
Stereotypical (cultural e.g. saluting)
Expressive (abstract)
Kinaesthetic Response
A spontaneous physical reaction to something which occurs outside you;
the impulsive movement which occurs from stimulation of the senses.
the impulsive movement which occurs from stimulation of the senses.
Consider: this viewpoint holds the viewpoints improvisation together
Tempo
The rate or speed at which a movement occurs; how fast or slow something happens on stage.
Duration
How long a movement or sequence of movements continues.
Repetition
Repeating something on stage. It can be an exact copy or it could be a variation.
Variations on repetition: Exact
Transfer (a movement or gesture is applied to another person or context)
Transform (a movement is transformed into something different but from the same source idea e.g.
the action of bouncing a ball becomes the action of fingers running through mud)
the action of bouncing a ball becomes the action of fingers running through mud)
Recycling ( repeating a moment, movement or gesture later in the Viewpoints session
-serves as a unique vocabulary for the session)
-serves as a unique vocabulary for the session)
