Observations on the Meaning of Life-Long Learning Through the Art of Acting

Abstract

When a person becomes part of a university program in order to become an actor, they might choose to assign important meaning to their learning process by basing their success on the approval of one or more individuals considered to have a superior status. This mentality is one that will not positively support the student once they exit the academic environment as it promotes a lack of self-confidence and self-sufficiency. For this reason, it is essential that the actor-pedagogue broadcast a mindset that will benefit their apprentices by example as well as through their words. First year student-actors often practice the self-defeating mentality of disregarding their own way of thinking for the sake of exterior approval, a goal that they consider to be more important. However, this kind of thinking does not serve anyone wishing to practice the Art of Acting. An actor must first of all be free to examine his or her own personal way of thinking, of reacting in different circumstances. It is from that point onward that they can truly be prepared to start gathering the life experience necessary to become a professional actor.