Passing Strange and Wonderful

"Passing Strange and Wonderful; aesthetics, nature, and culture" is a book by Yi-Fu Tuan. It was published in 1993. It's one of those books you read and say to yourself "yes, yes, I know this. I recognize this. Because of acting. Because of theatre. Because of people like Stanislavsky or Lee Strasberg. I get it." I like this book alot actually.

Here is a quote from the third page of the main text:

"The aesthetic impulse, understood as "the senses come to life" directs attention to its roots in nature. But though rooted in nature (biology), it is directed and colored by culture."

You can easily guess what I like about that - the senses come to life!

Here is a quote from the prologue:

"Yet the pervasive role of aesthetic is suggested by its root meaning of "feeling" - not just any kind of feeling, but "shaped" feeling and sensitive perception. And it is suggested even more by its opposite, anaesthetic, "lack of feeling" - the condition of living death. The more we are attuned to the beauties of the world, the more we come to life and take joy in it."

Need I compare and begin to speak of sense memory and Stanislavsky's notion of "return to life" under the conditions of the stage - "Perezhivanie." No, I don't have to because Tuan does it in the book for me. In describing the "senses come to life," Tuan breaks down the sections of the book by each individual one, each sense, and is even wise enough to have a sub-title called "bonding and memory" where he describes the sense of smell as being powerfully linked to our past emotions and experiences. He describes evidence of life as movement, meaning in this case moment by moment sensory awareness and activity - just like old Stanislavsky did.

Later on he talks about how the senses function together forming action - Its like a Robert Ellermann acting class I swear! Not as precise as Ellermann but good none-the-less.

In terms of developing an Aesthetic Impulse, Tuan list five aspects or characteristics. The first three ring loud and clear in acting terms. 1. Timelessness and Sensory Delight 2. Capacity for Wonder 3. Remembrance of Things Past and - 4 and 5 are not bad for the actor either, Growth in Competence, Growth in Sensibility.

The second half of the book is Tuan comparing how these factors take shape in particular cultures. Its pretty fascinating reading some of the explanations and anecdotes.