theme 2: paranoia and superstition in small groups, come up with a working definition of paranoia...
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Ted: Rives Poetry The following is humorous anecdote on our culture’s fascination with conspiracy theories. 4 amTRANSCRIPT
Theme 2: Paranoia and SuperstitionIn small groups, come up with a working definition of Paranoia and Superstition
Paranoia Superstition
Superstition
“The General root of superstition is that men observe when things hit, and not when they miss, and commit to memory the one, and pass over the other.” (Francis Bacon)
Ted: Rives Poetry
The following is humorous anecdote on our culture’s fascination with conspiracy theories.
4 am
Paranoia
Paranoia is an unfounded or exaggerated distrust of others, sometimes reaching
delusional proportions. Paranoid individuals constantly suspect the motives
of those around them, and believe that certain individuals, or people in general,
are "out to get them."
SuperstitionsAn irrational belief that an object, action,
or circumstance not logically related to a course of events influences its outcome.
Prime examples are the:
Guess the common superstition
Connotation vs. DenotationConnotation DenotationThe emotional
“attachments”that are placed on a word. These are individual to each Person’s prior knowledge asan audience.
The literal meaning of aword. It’s direct dictionarymeaning.
Examples:
Examples:
_______________________________Some time ago people believed that reflections were actually glimpses of the viewers soul.
Breaking a mirror = 7 years bad luck!
“BREAK A LEG!”Outsmarting the SpritesPermanently creased trousers from bowingShakespeare: to break = to bendLincoln assassinationVaudevilleUnderstudiesAncient Greece: stomping in appreciationElizabethan Times: stomping chairsActor’s overconfidenceMilitary term for “taking a knee”Locked kneesWooden legs on curtains
ONSTAGE DO’S AND DON’TSDon’t Wear It!
◦Blue (unless you’re also wearing silver)◦Yellow (esp. in a tie, vest or hat)◦Green◦Real jewelry
Don’t Use It!◦Peacock feathers (anywhere in the theatre)◦Mirrors
Don’t Say It!◦The tag line (last line) of the play
BACKSTAGE DO’S AND DON’TSMakeup
◦Apply makeup with a rabbit’s foot◦Never clean your makeup box◦Never wear brand-new makeup on opening
night◦If you drop makeup powder, dance upon it
to bring luckCostumes
◦Never place shoes or hats on chairs/tables inside dressing rooms
◦Always exit dressing room left foot first
JUST DON’T DO IT (ONSTAGE OR OFF)!
Never say the theatre is closed.Never whistle.Absolutely no knitting!Never open a show on a Friday night.Never have 3 candles together.
“THE SCOTTISH PLAY” Never say “Macbeth” in a theatre, or even quote
the play. Actual Disasters
◦ Abraham Lincoln’s assassination◦ Charlton Heston, Orson Welles and Constantine
Stanislavski◦ 1849 New York riot
Where it Came From◦ Witchcraft – play flirts dangerously with the “Powers of
Evil”◦ Play is conducive to accidents
Dim lighting Stage combat Broadswords
◦ Quick and easy last-minute addition to a theatre’s season What to Do
◦ “Angels and ministers of grace defend us!”
“THE SCOTTISH PLAY”
Patrick Stewart speaks on the subject:◦http://youtu.be/K11gpDbOMx8
“ALLERGIES”Flowers
◦Before the play = unlucky◦After the play = lucky◦Never use real flowers on stage◦Closing night tradition
Cats◦Kicking them = bad luck◦Having one in the theatre = good luck◦Having one run across the stage during a
performance = bad luck
MORE!Good rehearsals = Bad performancesGood Luck
◦Stumbling Onstage Tripping over a dress hem
◦Throwing Coal◦Pinch
Unlucky Tunes◦I Dreamt That I Dwelt in Marble Halls◦The Dead March◦Three Blind Mice
ThreadCurtain Peeking
THEATRE SUPERSTITION INTERVIEW
http://www.videojug.com/interview/theatre-superstitions-2
Irrational importance placed on a specific object , action or time and believing it has some influence on your life!