14169 version 2
MIME STUDY – Unit Standard 14169
level: 1
credit: 2
purpose: People credited with this unit standard are able to explore the origins and features of mime, and perform a devised mime.
special notes: Definitions
Mime is a performance without words where selected stylised movement recreates the essence of behaviour or a series of responses to a situation;
Mime experience is practical experience of miming;
Mimed objects is miming involving the use of an imaginary physical object, such as pretending to use a chair.
Mime and Pantomime Study
· What is mime and how did it begin?
· History of MIME
Mime is one of the oldest forms of theatre (the dramatic art of representing scenes or telly a story from life through expressive bodily and facial movements). This has been done in short comic arts or a dramatic or tragic moment.
The performance of pantomime originates at its earliest in ancient Greece; the name is taken from a single masked dancer called Pantomimus, although performances were not necessarily silent. Pantomime in Greece, often took the form of mimetic dances. In Medieval Europe after Rome fell, the theatres were closed and entertainers were reduced to playing at fairs and markets. Often pantomime was sponsored by the churches to tell the stories of the bible. In Shakespeare’s time, early forms of mime such as mummer plays and later dumbshows evolved.
In early nineteenth century Paris, Jean-Gaspard Deburau solidified the many attributes that we have come to know in modern times — the silent figure in whiteface. Pantomime came to England from France as Italian Mimic Scenes and from the Italian commedia dell'arte. The English quickly developed their own form, a combination of plays based on fairy tales, children's stories, and songs. Traditionally it was performed at Christmas time - also called Christmas Panto.
In the 20th century, Silent film comedians like Charles Chaplin, Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton learned the craft of mime in the theatre but through film had a profound influence on mimes who work in live theatre even decades after their death..
Before the work of Etienne Decroux In 1923, there was no major treatise on the art of mime. DeCroux began to envision a newly defined vision of mime, and later developed an original, personal style of movement. His early "statuary mime" recalls Rodin's sculptures. Later, more plastic forms were called "mime corporeal" or corporeal mime. An intellectual and theoretician, his body training was based in part on what modern dancers call “isolations,” in which body sections move in prescribed sequence; in Mime, movement is focused on the trunk or center of the body and the creation of the weight and physical energy of “objects” in space. Many hundreds of students passed though his school. He was a student of Charles Dullin, and teacher of Marcel Marceau, Jean-Louis Barrault, and Jacques Lecoq among many others. This differs in many ways from what had previously been known as traditional pantomime yet it is the purest of that form of movement. He did not develop just the art of silence, but a true art of dramatic movement.
The popularity of Marceau and other mime artists in the 1960’s moved into the pop music scene of the late 60’s and 70’s. The Use by such artists as Michael Jackson of mime techniques (moonwalk and “poping” isolations) strongly influenced the creation of the dance form called break dancing and eventually Hip Hop.
· What makes mime mime?
1.2 Normally we do what we do. If we pick up a pencil or pull a rope then whether on stage or in our place of work we do actually do the task. In mime we use our bodies and attention to create the illusion that the objects exist or that you are doing the movement. Our energy and attention replace the physical object or situation. In mime there are:
· Simply no objects used.
· No words and usually no sounds (although sometimes music)
· The movement is created using exaggerated or stylized gesture which gives the illusion of the weight and reality of objects and communicates the extreme comic or serious feeling of the character with out the words.
MIME-A form of theatre performance in which a story is created using body language, gesture, movement and facial expression without words or sounds and the body creates the illusion of objects in space using weight and focus.
Notice that there are two elements to this statement. First
“created using body language, gesture, movement and facial expression without words or sounds” Then the second
“the body creates the illusion of objects in space using weight and focus”
Both serve our understanding of body and movement. Pantomime works with props and sets, sometimes in the middle of a scripted play. Mime is a style of drama in that it works usually with an empty stage, creating its own world from space. You will be working with mime movement; you will be required to learn some basic mime techniques.
The teacher will provide videoed and live demonstration of the performance of mime and basic mime techniques.
Videos might include:
Marcel Marceau Mimes
Film: Children of Paradise with Jean Louis Barrault doing mime
Rowan Atkinson doing mime as himself and as Mr Bean
· Exploration
1.3 Exploration includes stylised movement. On the pages that follow are listed some of the stylized movement techniques that we will explore and some of which you will include in your mime. below are the required ones.
Exploration must include but is not limited to - use of gesture, falling, walking, tripping, leaning, pushing, pulling, climbing, opening, closing.
1.4 Exploration mimes the use of objects. We will study the creation of objects in
space with weight, focus and detail. You will include three distinct mimed objects in your mime.
Eg.,a glass, a rope, a kitten, a dog leash, a knife, a mask, a kite etc.
· Performance
Perform a devised mime.
Range: individually-created original work, 1-3 minutes in duration.
performance criteria
2.1 Performance presents and sustains a recognisable scenario.
2.2 Performance includes a range of six stylised movements.
FOR EXAMPLE Performance could include a man walking out of his door (pull Movement #1) walking down the street( walking in place -Movement #2) tripping over (Movement #3) and then seeing (Movement #4) a 100 dollar note on the street and picking it up (object #1). taking out his wallet ( object #2) and putting in the money. Feeling guilty and afraid and then sneaking (Movement #5) and the running out (Movement #6).
Each of the movements have to be clearly and distinctly drawn.
Some other possible or classic subjects:
Remember you can chose any exaggerated age or type to be you character
Playing an instrument Flying a kite Eating something (apple, ice cream, lollypop)
Walking a dog Any pet Cleaning house Building something
A maker of Masks a young lover giving a flower a person with a watch
A person cooking Watching a sporting event Playing a sporting event
There is no limit, have fun
QUESTIONS ON MIME
1. Name two great Mime artists who have influenced the development of Mime and explain one thing they contributed to mime.
2. What are the two elements that are special to mime?
3. Day # 1
Describe one technique of mime you learned today in workshop and what is the illusion it is intended to create?
Describe one technique of mime you had trouble with today in workshop?
4. Day # 2
Describe one technique of mime you learned today in workshop and what is the illusion it is intended to create?
Describe one technique of mime you had trouble with today in workshop?
5. Day # 3
Describe one technique of mime you learned today in workshop and what is the illusion it is intended to create?
Describe one technique of mime you had trouble with today in workshop?
6. What do you enjoy about the mime workshops? ( two sentences at least.)
7. What is the difference between “stylized movement and “normal” movement?
2.3 Performance includes use of two mimed objects.
MAKE YOUR OWN MIME (in some classes a pantomime scene)
Develop a mime with these specifications:
· A single moment or situation - not a narrative or long story. Make up a storyboard of the action; it can be comic or dramatic with some strong emotion to be expressed by the body.
· Maximum of one person in performance.
· Must use at least two objects in space and six techniques of stylized movement.
· No speaking or making sounds.
· Neutral clearly used at beginning and end.
· Remember, one thing at a time!
REFLECTION – Mime Study
Please respond in complete sentences, explaining when possible.
1. Which of the techniques or stylised moments did you use in your mime? use of gesture, falling, walking, tripping, leaning, pushing, pulling, climbing, opening, closing, wall, bigger than, ball, snap, neutral, leaning, climbing, opening, closing
1.
4.
2. Which of these was the most effective? Explain.
3. Which Objects did you use in your Mime?
1.
2.
4. Which one did you most effectively create? Explain.
5. Which parts of you mime were “stylized” or used a strong clear technique for creating illusion?
6. What could you have improved about you performance or rehearsal process?
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14169 version 2
Mime/Pantomime Assessment Date______
Not achieved / Achieved / Notes on eachUsed 6 stylised Movements
Understood the illusion intended
Used and defined two objects
Recognizable narrative
Participated in workshops
Participated in the rehearsal/ development process
OVER ALL Achieved Not Achieved
Comments:
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