Motivation

Definition

Motivation refers to the internal or external factors that drive a character's actions and decisions within a performance. It plays a crucial role in understanding how characters interact with their environment and with each other, ultimately influencing stage geography and blocking choices. A clear motivation helps to create dynamic relationships on stage, ensuring that actions feel authentic and connected to the character's desires and goals.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Motivation is essential for actors to embody their characters convincingly; without it, performances may come across as flat or disconnected.
2. Understanding a character's motivation can influence the choices made in staging and positioning on stage, impacting the overall visual storytelling.
3. Different types of motivation can exist, such as intrinsic (internal desires) and extrinsic (external rewards), each affecting how characters behave and interact.
4. In blocking, motivations guide movements; for example, a character motivated by fear may move cautiously, while one driven by love may approach another character boldly.
5. Clear motivations help audiences connect with characters, making their journeys relatable and engaging, which is crucial for emotional investment in the story.

Review Questions

• How does understanding a character's motivation enhance an actor's performance?
  • Understanding a character's motivation allows an actor to make informed choices about how to portray their character authentically. When an actor knows what drives their character—whether it's fear, love, ambition, or revenge—they can express these emotions through body language, facial expressions, and vocal choices. This authenticity creates a more engaging performance that resonates with the audience.
• In what ways does motivation impact blocking decisions during a performance?
  • Motivation significantly influences blocking decisions as it dictates how characters move in relation to one another and their environment. For example, if a character is motivated by conflict with another character, the blocking might involve confrontational movements or distancing actions. The way characters are positioned on stage can visually convey their motivations and relationships, enhancing the storytelling.
• Evaluate how different types of motivation affect stage geography and spatial relationships between characters.
  • Different types of motivation can lead to varied spatial relationships between characters on stage. For instance, if one character is motivated by anger towards another, their blocking may result in aggressive proximity or tension-filled distances. Conversely, if two characters share a mutual attraction, they might be positioned closer together to signify intimacy. Analyzing these motivations allows directors to create more nuanced stage geography that reflects the underlying emotional currents driving the narrative.

Related terms

Character Arc: The transformation or inner journey of a character over the course of a story, often driven by their motivations and desires.

Conflict: The struggle between opposing forces, often arising from differing motivations of characters, which propels the narrative forward.

Objectives: Specific goals that a character aims to achieve within a scene or throughout the play, which are often rooted in their motivations.