Lesson 4-PRINCIPLES OF THEATRE ANTHROP-Alteration of balance, oppositions, consistent inconsistency

This film is part of the Project of Knowledge Sharing “LEARNING TO SEE - TEN LESSONS IN THEATRE ANTHROPOLOGY” by Eugenio Barba, Claudio Coloberti and Julia Varley. Theatre Anthropology is the study of the human being in a situation of organised representation. In the film Eugenio Barba indicates and comments the shared technical principles aiming at building the performer’s presence in different acting and dancing traditions. After seeing a Japanese nô theatre scene titled Dojoji and an extract of Carolyn Carlson’s modern dance, Eugenio Barba comments. “Let’s try to strip the actor of his costume, mask and music, elements that intertwine in the total expression that affects the spectator’s perception. We will then see the level of scenic anatomy with three technical principles outlined by theatre anthropology: alteration of balance, oppositions and consistent inconsistency.” Each artistic technique aims to break the automatism in the perception of those who see, hear or read. In painting, the unu