29 Mar Shy Man’s Revenge
Actor Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer and Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man) said, “Acting is a shy man’s revenge.” He described it as slipping into the skin of someone else. But watching Murphy, you never see him “acting” or displaying overt technique. It’s because his job is to serve the script, and have audiences experience the character— not his acting chops.
It’s why Eloqui trains performance skills for public speaking, so that our clients are compelling, while still honoring their content. Performative is a term that stems from 1950’s linguistics and philosophy, fields of study not generally known for lively presentations. However, the term performative has been adopted by Gen Xers as meaning insincere or manipulative.
They’re missing the point. Is it disingenuous to identify an Intention for your presentation—similar to what an actor does? Is it manipulative to choose a Role like Seasoned Veteran, Motivator or Visionary as a filter through which to deliver your content? And when a performer or speaker applies vocal techniques for expressive purposes, are they not being authentic? Speaking is a blend of art and science. It’s up to you how you apply performance skills for the best outcome.
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