Catharsis, Qualia, and Embodiment

Instructions

RESEARCH: What is meant by catharsis and qualia in the context of the story? What are some examples of embodiment? Write down definitions that are most meaningful to you.

ASSIGNMENT: Make a short (15 - 30 second) video of yourself embodying an excerpt of the music at the piano. Use an actual piano or keyboard (recommended). If you do not have access to a keyboard, “air” play on a table top. You don’t need to know how to play the piece properly; you simply have to physicalize what you hear.

Use the soundtrack from your preferred interpretation. Any section of the piece may be extracted.

Do your best to capture the music first in your fingers, then wrists, arms, and finally the body. Try to make it as “real” as possible, reflecting the nuances in the music. Keep your posture upright. Less is more!

For guidance, watch the following performances by professional pianists and observe their motions. Then, watch a performance by two actors who have been coached to imitate concert pianists. What differences do you notice?

Submit your video: Use YouTube or Flip ( https://info.flip.com/en-us.html ) as directed by your professor.

Resources

PROFESSIONAL CONCERT PIANISTS
Professional pianists move their bodies in ways that express the music, but more importantly, enable their physical movements to express the music with relative ease. The music demands speed, but also clear, connected and smooth (legato) sounds. The subtle shading of loud and soft (forte and piano) separates the great from the average performances.

WATCH: Dmitry Shishkin, 3rd round of the 2015 Chopin Piano Competition, Warsaw: https://youtu.be/H4v4Ipl_UJI

WATCH: Evgeny Kissen, pianist, live performance: https://youtu.be/6U1lYuSHrwo?t=99

ACTORS
Amy Irving and Richard Dreyfuss were two actors coached to look like concert pianists in the movie The Competition. Dreyfuss is restrained in keeping with a classical style of music. Irving is more wild in her motions, which reflect the turbulent 20th century style when this music was written.

WATCH: Richard Dreyfuss “playing” Beethoven, Piano Concerto no. 5: https://youtu.be/IjeCMz1LCR4?t=60

WATCH: Amy Irving “playing” Prokofiev, Piano Concerto no. 3: https://youtu.be/VXxl6Q8Jp2Q?t=293