Stanislavsky in Focus: An Acting Master for the Twenty-First Century

By Sharon Marie Carnicke

Book Overview

Stanislavsky in Focus brilliantly examines the history and actual premises of Stanislavsky's 'System', separating myth from fact with forensic skill.

The first edition of this now classic study showed conclusively how the 'System' was gradually transformed into the Method, popularised in the 1950s by Lee Strasberg and the Actor's Studio. It looked at the gap between the original Russian texts and what most English-speaking practitioners still imagine to be Stanislavsky's ideas.

This thoroughly revised new edition also delves even deeper into:

the mythical depiction of Stanislavsky as a tyrannical director and teacher yoga, the mind-body-spirit continuum and its role in the 'System' how Stanislavsky used subtexts to hide many of his ideas from Soviet censors.

The text has been updated to address all of the relevant scholarship, particularly in Russia, since the first edition was published. It also features an expanded glossary on the System's terminology and its historical exercises, as well as more on the political context of Stanislavsky's work, its links with cognitive science, and the System's relation to contemporary developments in actor-training. It will be a vital part of every practitioner's and historian's library.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0415774977
• ISBN13: 9780415774970
• Release Date: September 2008
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

'genuine Stanislavsky'

'Stanislavsky in Focus' by Sharon M. Carnicke is by far the best book to date on Stanislavsky, the 'System', the'Method', that I've come across.Unlike so many solemn commentators in this area Carnicke speaks Russian and, most importantly, has had access to files in Moscow inaccessible up to now. This enables her to tell the story of Actor Training from Stanislavsky through Michael Chekhov and across the tlantic into Adler, Strasberg and Meisner, with a clarity and ease that future actors will be really grateful for.

Truly Amazing

I have read myriad theater books, and I have to say that this book is the best. Any serious actor MUST own a copy of this book. This book puts all other Stanislavsky books into perspective.

Every Theatre Person Needs This Book

At last. It makes sense. The Glossary alone is worth the purchase price.