10 Things to Know About Practical Aesthetics

1.   Forged by David Mamet, William H Macy and their students at The Practical Aesthetics Workshop from of elements of Aristotle, Meisner and Stanislavsky.

2.   Practical Aesthetics is taught at the Atlantic Theater Company’s Acting School in New York and Los Angeles, Practical Aesthetics Australia and Acting Coach Scotland in Glasgow and Armando Di Lillo International Acting Studio in Italy.

3.   Practical Aesthetics literally means a Theory of Art that’s Capable of Being Put To Use.

4.   The technique is heavily influenced by the teachings of the Stoical Philosophers.

5.   There are several books that talk about the technique including David Mamet’s True and FalseUK/USA, Bruder et al’s Practical Handbook for the Actor UK/US and Karen Kohlhaas’ The Monologue Audition, UK/US.

6.   The technique is made up of 3 main components: Repetition, Performance Technique and Script Analysis, but features elements of voice and physical training from Viewpoints and Suzuki, to Committed Impulse, Pilates, Laban and Yoga.

7.   It offers a viable alternative to the dominant ideology of self-indulgent Method acting.

8.    Practical Aesthetics is a valuable tool for the actor, director and the writer equally.

9.   In an interview, David Mamet called the Stanislavski system “a practical aesthetic for the actor based on the Aristotelian idea of unity”.

10.   Practical Aesthetics focuses on the actor’s will, their intention and the actions that lead from it.