Acting vs Performing, the Roleplaying Hinge
• Headspaces
I have once or twice read that you need to be a good actor to do D/s. I’m the type of person that gets self-conscious through acting, though I make a distinction between acting and performing.
Acting is pretending you are somebody else, or that you feel a way different than you do in reality. Often I have heard of people taking on film personas and playing glamourous baddies in the domme role. I have to admit it sounds fun but it’s not for me right now. I am not exactly sure where the block for me is, but I disliked doing drama at school.
Performing is in my mind a different space, and covers areas of expression which are different than normal everyday behaviour, but tap in and expand upon parts of my personality, knocking other traits out of the way. For example when I dance, I am tapping into my sense of rhythm and love of music and melody, whilst reducing my notion that people generally stay somewhat still. Likewise, entering BDSM, rather than becoming a baddie from a movie, is more about simply tuning into different parts of my personality that already exist and augmenting them whilst turning other aspects down (such as my patience and my good manners, for example). This is why dancing comes easy to me while acting or roleplaying does not.
I am not going to say which style of dominance I prefer because I think having access to both ranges would be ideal. Maybe there is a way I can overcome my ‘phobia’ of acting and playing out a part? Does anybody out there feel a similar way in regards to play-acting?
Comments
I think playacting could be fun but don’t feel talented at it myself.
Aside from disinhibiting one’s self it there’s also having had roles you’ve wanted to act out.
Some women want to be cruel schoolteacher and there are guys who want to be roughed up by the mean cop.
I’ve had a few farm slave fantasies and being a prisoner at the mercy of a fellow prisoner or warden. Most often the senseless interrogation fantasy where I’m punished until I reveal “something.”
Don’t know if you’ve had any.
If you ever do feel like it I’m sure I’ll be up to complying.
I think you know that when your dominance flows out with its own glorious power I’m happy enough.
Posted by: Richard | September 30, 2005 8:28 PM