In Search of the Character: A Study on Psychological Perspective of Theatre and Movie Artists

Abstract

This study investigated the area of identification of self with the character played by Theatre and Movie artists. Nettle (2006) found high Empathy Quotient among professional actors indicating high correlation of empathetic identification of self with character. Also, according to Thalia Goldstein (2014), Acting is a form of pretense that’s done with more realistic behavior, and a form of lying that everyone is in on. In this context a sample of 10 Theatre Workers and 10 Movie Artists were randomly selected for interview. The objectives of the study were, to determine if the artists had some identifications with the character they played and how it affected their own mental well-being, and, also to determine how the identification and mental well-being differs from the theatre artists to movie artists. It was seen when someone played a role on stage, the certain character or the specific ambience created in front of the audiences reflected some identification with oneself. It was applicable in terms of movies also, but in a different way, that was demanding some specific situations to be flourished upon and changed from moments to moments. The character that was being created affected the life of a Theatre Worker in a broad sense negatively or positively. Rather the movie artists were likely having some intense still momentary actions that was not affecting much of their own identity. Thus, it could be concluded that performing arts in these two different dimensions could describe the Artists’ mental well-being differently. In a much broader sense, it could be suggested that getting involved into performing arts as well as getting involved into any form of creative works could definitely affect the mental well-being and also make human empathize more willingly.