Super-objectives

Definition

Super-objectives are the overarching goals that a character seeks to achieve throughout a play or performance, guiding their actions and decisions. These goals provide clarity to the character's motivations, driving the subtext of their dialogue and interactions with other characters. Understanding super-objectives helps actors create a more cohesive portrayal by connecting individual scenes and moments to a larger narrative purpose.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Super-objectives are typically consistent throughout a character's journey, influencing their choices and reactions to various conflicts.
2. Actors use super-objectives to create depth in their performance, ensuring that even small interactions serve a greater purpose.
3. Identifying a character's super-objective allows actors to connect emotionally with the role and understand the stakes involved.
4. Super-objectives can evolve as characters face challenges and obstacles, adding complexity to their development over the course of the story.
5. The concept of super-objectives is often used in conjunction with techniques from Stanislavski and other acting methods to enhance character portrayal.

Review Questions

• How do super-objectives enhance an actor's performance in a scene?
  • Super-objectives enhance an actor's performance by providing a clear direction for the character's actions and decisions. When actors understand what their character ultimately wants to achieve, they can make choices that are consistent and believable within that framework. This understanding allows them to infuse their performance with emotional depth and purpose, making even minor moments resonate with significance related to the character’s larger journey.
• Discuss how super-objectives relate to subtext and motivation in character development.
  • Super-objectives are intimately tied to subtext and motivation as they serve as the foundation for a character's driving forces. The super-objective informs what motivates the character in each scene, shaping their specific objectives while interacting with others. The subtext emerges from this dynamic, revealing the deeper intentions behind their words and actions. Together, these elements create a rich tapestry of character complexity that enhances storytelling.
• Evaluate the impact of evolving super-objectives on character arcs within a narrative.
  • Evolving super-objectives significantly impact character arcs by illustrating growth and transformation throughout a narrative. As characters encounter obstacles and conflicts, their understanding of their super-objective may shift, leading them to adapt their strategies or even redefine what they want. This evolution not only creates dramatic tension but also mirrors real-life complexities in human desires and motivations, making characters more relatable and engaging for the audience.

Related terms

Objectives: Specific aims or targets that a character works towards in individual scenes or moments, often supporting the larger super-objective.

Subtext:

The underlying meaning or intention behind a character's spoken words, often revealing their true feelings and motivations beyond what is said.

Motivation: The driving force behind a character's actions, shaped by their objectives and super-objectives, informing how they approach different situations.