Super-objective

Definition

A super-objective is the overarching goal or desire that drives a character throughout a play, influencing their actions and decisions. It acts as a guiding force for the character's journey, providing a deeper understanding of their motivations and relationships with others. Identifying the super-objective helps actors connect their performances to the emotional core of the story, ensuring that every moment on stage serves a purpose in advancing that primary goal.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The super-objective provides clarity for actors, helping them focus on what drives their character over the entire narrative rather than just in isolated scenes.
2. Understanding a character's super-objective can reveal underlying themes in the play, connecting individual actions to broader messages.
3. Directors use the concept of super-objective during table work to guide discussions on character development and relationship dynamics.
4. A well-defined super-objective allows actors to create more layered performances, as they can align their scene objectives with this larger goal.
5. Super-objectives can evolve throughout a play, reflecting changes in characters as they face obstacles and make choices related to their desires.

Review Questions

• How does understanding a character's super-objective enhance an actor's performance?
  • Understanding a character's super-objective allows an actor to anchor their performance in a central goal that drives their actions throughout the entire play. This knowledge helps actors make consistent choices that align with their character's journey, creating a more cohesive and believable portrayal. By connecting scene-specific objectives to the super-objective, actors can ensure their performance feels purposeful and motivated.
• Discuss how directors can utilize the concept of super-objective during table work with actors.
  • Directors can use the concept of super-objective during table work by facilitating discussions that help actors explore and define their characters' overarching goals. This process encourages actors to think critically about how each scene contributes to that ultimate desire and fosters collaboration as they dissect relationships between characters. By establishing clear super-objectives, directors can ensure that all elements of production support the storytelling and thematic elements of the play.
• Evaluate the impact of a strong super-objective on the overall narrative structure of a play.
  • A strong super-objective greatly enhances the narrative structure by providing clarity and direction for both characters and the audience. When each character's actions are motivated by a clearly defined super-objective, it creates tension and conflict that drive the plot forward. Furthermore, it allows for deeper thematic exploration as characters confront obstacles related to their desires, ultimately leading to more impactful resolutions and emotional payoffs for the audience.

Related terms

Objective: An objective is a specific aim or goal that a character strives to achieve in a given scene, which contributes to their larger super-objective.

Through-line: The through-line is the continuous thread of actions and objectives that connect a character's choices and behaviors throughout the play.

Motivation: Motivation refers to the reasons behind a character's actions and decisions, often tied to their objectives and super-objectives.