If you think that Shakespeare is not Shakespeare without words, think again (we certainly did!). Every nuance of the text was played out in actions and facial expressions. The humorous bits of the text still came off just as humorous, and the actors said absolutely nothing. They told a story with their bodies, and communicated exactly what Shakespeare did in nine lengthy scenes. It didn't occur to me until I left the theater that this type of event could be qualified as a showcase for nonverbal communication. As I said, most of us had read the text before, but we met a woman who had never read it and who understood the plot line completely. The actors' movements and vocalizations (as Martina and Nakayama describe it) were truly effective and successful. They were generalized enough for everyone to get the basic idea, yet subtly complex so that those who were looking for an intellectual viewing were pleasantly pleased.
I have thought about this quite a lot, and I would like to refer back to the text book. As Martin and Nakayama write, "Whereas we learn rules and meanings for language behavior in grammar and language arts lessons, we learn nonverbal meanings and behaviors by more implicit socialization" (269). Would the performance have been as effective if we weren't already aware of what the devilish smile Puck was wearing meant? Most likely not. Even in the world of entertainment, there is an intrinsic need for an understanding on nonverbal communication.
First of all, that sounds like an amazing experience. I love crazy, avant-garde performance art and I love the fact that we live in a city with so much of it!
ReplyDeleteYour analysis of the play brings up lots of good points about the role of nonverbal communication in entertainment. Actors are constantly judged on their facial expressions and body language. singers are critiqued on their stage presence. The key to successful entertainers is connecting to the audience, using tools other than the lines/script/words of the song. In my blog entry this week, I wrote about humans' general inability to recognize the importance of nonverbal communication and it definitely applies in the world of entertainment. Most of us can recognize the range of expressions a performer uses, but I think very few of us can pinpoint what these expressions add to the work as a whole. In English class last year, our teacher showed us a series of stand-up comedians and we analyzed how audiences responded to different uses of body language. Even in a primarily verbal medium like stand-up comedy, the popular comedians are so spot-on with their gestures and movements.
Mimes are the best examples of nonverbal communication in entertainment; although I have to wonder, is mime really a form of entertainment? All entertainment is meant to elicit an emotional response, so it makes sense that nonverbal communication is so important. There's only so much words can do.