Sense Memory 08: Overall Sensations

The Stanislavski Method

OVERALL SENSATIONS Name: ________________________________ Date: ____________________ Period: ______

Objective • Assess your progress with your relaxation efforts • Assess your progress with your ability to concentrate • Reliving the sensory experience of being emerged in some external condition. Preparation You will need some privacy to complete this assignment. First begin by relaxing your body and quieting your mind through the relaxation techniques we have learned in class. Take as much time as you need. Then go through the actual steps of immersing yourself in some external condition, such as walking through the rain or snow, or taking a hot shower or a bath. Carefully observe all the sensations that accompany this task. The source of the overall sensation: ___________________________________ Observation Record Your responses to the prompts below MUST be almost ridiculously specific. Use metaphors and similes to accurately conjure up the sensation. Be specific about how the sensation physically affects you. It is especially important for the actor to be inconstant motion during this exercise to assure that muscles are relaxed, so as you go through the initial experience, stay in constant motion. Describe all of the physical sensations experienced. Be specific about how the sensations vary on different parts of your body. Be specific about different types of sensations—temperature, texture, moisture, etc. Be specific about the “journey” of the sensation. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ The Exercise Now, go to another location. Spend at least 10 minutes relaxing in a chair—as you have been taught. Repeat the process above without actually engaging in the activity. It is extremely important that you keep your body in constant motion throughout the exercise. You are not doing this exercise in order to learn to pantomime. Work on reliving each of the specific sensations you recorded above. Do not move on to the next step until you fully recreate each sensation fully and vividly and specifically. Work on this several times for roughly ten-minute intervals. You will be completing this exercise in class, and will be expected to have worked on this significantly at home. You will be guided through each step, and you will be asked to recreate and describe each sensation. Due Date: ________________________________ Reflection [To Be Completed After Your In-Class Performance] Respond to the following prompts sincerely and with specific detail. Keep in mind that sense memory work is intended to be a continual process. You are not learning your times tables; these are exercises not unlike sit-ups or yoga. You continue to develop your ability with no end zone in sight. To achieve any kind of success you must commit yourself to continually working on it. 1)

How did you feel working on this exercise? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

2)

Which specific sensations gave you the most trouble? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

3)

What specific goals do you have for yourself as you continue to work? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

Assessment [for teacher use only] PREPARATION

5

4

3

2

1

RELAXATION

5

4

3

2

1

CONCENTRATION

5

4

3

2

1

DETAIL OF WORK

5

4

3

2

1

ABILITY TO SUSTAIN

5

4

3

2

1

SELF-EVALUATION

5

4

3

2

1

Total ________ out of 30