When I am thinking about the phenomens, which are interesting for me in theatre, I very often find theological categories to describe them.
One of these is predestination.
When protestantism begin, John Calvin tought, that it is already layed down on the day of your birth, wether you will be beatified or not. This idea is concluded from the christian faith; that christians account God as omniscient.
It is not an easy problem, because if we accept, that God knows everything, he might know about all your life aswell, even before you were born. And if we accept, that world exists as a result of God's will, he is the one, who wanted it to be; it follows the question: did he create people, who he knew, will go to perdition, will suffer endless. Catholics always argued with this tenet. Their line say; God gave you free will, and it depends only on your decisions, wether you get to heaven, or not.
Neither side has easy position; if you are thinking with human logics, there are contradictions in both theories. If I accept predestination, it casts doubt on God goodness. If I beleive in the decisive power of free will, it questions the creator's omniscience.
Anyway, in both theories, there needs to be some special relationship between the one's and God's knowledge about future, because a man doesn't know what's the future, and where do his decisions lead to.
When we show stories on stage, we know how they will end, we know all parts of them, also the ones, which are not shown yet. But our aim is not to tell a story, which happened in the past, we want to show it in present time. How different occurences follow each other.
When you are telling a story, your position is outside of it (even if you are telling it in first person), you admit with the past forms of the verbs, that it had happened, and even if you haven't reached the end of the story in your storytelling yet, it is possible to know how it will end. When you are showing a story, you are acting as if you wouldn't know the end of the story before it ends.
I was telling you several times, theatre is really interesting for me, when things on stage are not imitations, they happen really.
It follows the question; how can you honestly take this position on stage, when you are working with a story, which you rehearsed several times.
It is obvious, you can have ideas, plans and stories in your head, as a director, but it's is only the actors, who can fill it with real life. How can an actor be free on stage, and live the story really, I'm trying to find solutions for this a question.
One of these is predestination.
When protestantism begin, John Calvin tought, that it is already layed down on the day of your birth, wether you will be beatified or not. This idea is concluded from the christian faith; that christians account God as omniscient.
It is not an easy problem, because if we accept, that God knows everything, he might know about all your life aswell, even before you were born. And if we accept, that world exists as a result of God's will, he is the one, who wanted it to be; it follows the question: did he create people, who he knew, will go to perdition, will suffer endless. Catholics always argued with this tenet. Their line say; God gave you free will, and it depends only on your decisions, wether you get to heaven, or not.
Neither side has easy position; if you are thinking with human logics, there are contradictions in both theories. If I accept predestination, it casts doubt on God goodness. If I beleive in the decisive power of free will, it questions the creator's omniscience.
Anyway, in both theories, there needs to be some special relationship between the one's and God's knowledge about future, because a man doesn't know what's the future, and where do his decisions lead to.
When we show stories on stage, we know how they will end, we know all parts of them, also the ones, which are not shown yet. But our aim is not to tell a story, which happened in the past, we want to show it in present time. How different occurences follow each other.
When you are telling a story, your position is outside of it (even if you are telling it in first person), you admit with the past forms of the verbs, that it had happened, and even if you haven't reached the end of the story in your storytelling yet, it is possible to know how it will end. When you are showing a story, you are acting as if you wouldn't know the end of the story before it ends.
I was telling you several times, theatre is really interesting for me, when things on stage are not imitations, they happen really.
It follows the question; how can you honestly take this position on stage, when you are working with a story, which you rehearsed several times.
It is obvious, you can have ideas, plans and stories in your head, as a director, but it's is only the actors, who can fill it with real life. How can an actor be free on stage, and live the story really, I'm trying to find solutions for this a question.
2 comments:
Interesting thoughts, Balint! And very narrowed down to the Christian world view. It's not bad or non-intelligent. It's just inside the small frame om Christian thought.
I've just come out from a 10-days Vipassana retreat. Silence is maintained the whole day - actually something they call "noble silence" which means no contact or disturbance by any means. Every day jeg woke up at 4 am., sit for 2 hours, eat breakfast, little pause, another sitting until lunch an so on. 10 hours of sitting with closed eyes during the day. For 10 days. That is a challenge for many. Since I've done it before and also meditated for some time, it was easier for me. I cried 2 times. It was releasing and good. I got more calmness to see things, to observe things. I got more questions ... and some answers. Some longings. Some sorrows. I was at one point talking to myself in the mirror. I took the mirror from the bath-room, lied on the bed and starting a conversation with myself. All the time while I was crying. It was not a forced weeping, but a real, deep cry and pain.
I will tell you much more about my experiences when we meet. And if God wants, it'll be in December, before head back to Norway to spend the Christmas with my family. I've told them that I'll be doing a retreat lasting to march. They of course feel disapointed that I won't be spending the Christmas time with them. But then I decided to surprise them by keep on telling them that I'm not coming home and suddenly I'll show up on the door at my house. I look forward to that moment!
My course at the monastery ends 12th of December. I want to fly back to Vienna the 13th ot 14th and visit a friend there for a day, come to Budapest and stay with you for 3-4 days, then buy a interrail ticket valid for 5 days to travel back to Norway. How does that sound? I hope you have time and opportunity to recive me as last time! I want to enjoy my days with you before I travel back to Norway. I would just like to pass trough some countries on my way back. France, maybe Italy (it's not accactly a shortcut). If there is no time, I'll go straight back. But in any case I would very much like to see you again, since I have the opportunity.
I don't want to write an answer to your philosofical thoughts now. We'll have time for some talks in December, but in any case it's not that interesting ... well, maybe I got "cured" a little bit from my never-ending searching for the truth (nothing but the truth), the answer for the eternal questions, the wanting to experience the enlightend state, the ultimate happiness. Balint, I realize that I want to spend Christmas with my loving family, spend time with them instead of running around searching for something that can never be found. I realize that what matters most to me - in this impermanent moment which of course can change any second - is my family. Then comes my friends. Traveling around like this (or just being in a foreign land, culture, religion, with people I don't know, without a frame) is very difficult for me. I most better start where I have a base. I would for example like to study at the university next year. I want to have my own flat and make my own food. It's time for me to stay one place as a man living a life, not just being a guy running around anywhere his impulses guide him. (Hmm ... maybe you could say it was my impulse to go back, and I'm just running after that impulse ... but it's my wish to get to a place a life where I have the framework of a society in which I'm living, working, contributing, exploring. And all the time apreciating the friends I make.)
So, I'll tell you more later. Hope you see this note. Maybe not in some days. Then I'll be at the monastery without a possibility to write you another message. The course starts the 12th. Let's see if I write you another note. You wanted to hear more about what I do, but I don't feel - at least not right now - to go in so much detail. There is basically not so much detail. There is the sleeping and eating in different guest houses and at different restaurants. It's not so exotic to travel alone. It's harder than I thought. It's become clear to me that next time I decide to travel, I'll defenitely go with a close friend.
I believe now - and I would like to hold on to this beliefe - that I can life an exotic, exciting, exploring and rich life in a city where I' studying. With friends, with contact with my family ... What am I doing in Nepal? I'm running after an illusion of finding the truth outside, somewhere where the grass is greener. It's not like that.
I'll go to the course, learn more about the teory and the teachings of Buddhism and then go back, having had that experience. I'll learn more and more as I live life, in all areas of life. But the biggest jewel and the most valuable thing I have is the relationship and the sharing I have with family and close friends. If my ego is as big as Buddhism says, and I really love my ego, worship it, then I gladly admit that my family and friends are a big part of that ego! And by loving my self, as the egosentric person I am, I love them ... it's pure logic. I wrote a poem in the retreat (even though you were not allowed pen and paper, no reading nor writing during the whole course). Translated from Norwegian:
A perfect moment
I
want you to become a part of
me
he said in the moment he started loving me
See you soon.
Thanks for the comment!
My parabol is based on christian teachings, of course. This is the theology which I know a littlebit, this is the world view, which I'm familiar with. I can not refer to things, which I do not know so much.
Your plans sounds great, we have a theatre weekend on the 15-16th of December, and we will show the material, which we were working with since the begining of October. It would be great, if you could see this workd demonstration, and tell your opignion about it. More deatils about this in private email.
Anyway, if it is great if you come, than, earlier or later, anytime.
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