Super-objectives

Definition

Super-objectives are overarching goals or desires that drive a character's actions throughout a play or performance. They represent what the character ultimately wants to achieve and serve as a guiding force in shaping their behavior and decisions within the narrative. Understanding super-objectives helps actors connect their characters' immediate objectives to broader motivations, adding depth to their performances.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Super-objectives help clarify a character's long-term goals, making it easier for actors to portray consistent behavior across various scenes.
2. These overarching goals can often be tied to deeper emotional or psychological needs, such as love, power, or acceptance.
3. Identifying a character's super-objective allows actors to better understand the stakes of their performance and enhances their ability to create tension.
4. Super-objectives can change over the course of the narrative, reflecting the character's growth or setbacks, which adds complexity to their portrayal.
5. Actors often use super-objectives as a tool for building subtext, creating layers of meaning beneath the surface dialogue.

Review Questions

• How do super-objectives influence an actor's portrayal of a character throughout a performance?
  • Super-objectives serve as the foundation for an actor's understanding of their character's motivations and actions. By identifying these overarching goals, actors can maintain consistency in their portrayal and align their choices with what drives the character. This connection allows for more nuanced performances, as actors can convey the internal struggles and desires that shape their characters' behavior across different scenes.
• In what ways do super-objectives relate to given circumstances when breaking down a script?
  • When analyzing a script, super-objectives provide context for how given circumstances affect a character's decisions and actions. Given circumstances outline the specific details of a scene, while super-objectives reveal the long-term desires that drive those actions. Understanding both elements helps actors create a more cohesive interpretation of their character's journey and how they navigate challenges throughout the narrative.
• Evaluate the role of super-objectives in shaping a character arc and its significance in storytelling.
  • Super-objectives are crucial in shaping a character arc because they establish the primary motivation that drives the character’s journey from start to finish. As characters confront obstacles and evolve, their super-objectives may shift, reflecting personal growth or change in perspective. This evolution is significant in storytelling because it creates dynamic characters who resonate with audiences, illustrating themes of resilience, ambition, or transformation that deepen emotional engagement with the narrative.

Related terms

Objectives: Specific goals or aims that a character strives to achieve in a particular scene or moment.

Given Circumstances: The specific details and context surrounding a character's situation that influence their choices and actions.

Character Arc: The transformation or development a character undergoes throughout the story, often influenced by their super-objectives.