Tinker, Tenor, Doctor, Spy

[ehowton]

“Acting is not being emotional, but being able to express emotion.” -- Kate Reid

“Acting deals with very delicate emotions. It is not putting up a mask. Each time an actor acts he does not hide; he exposes himself.” -- Rodney Dangerfield

---

This morning, my goal was to take an expressionless photo. Can one truly accomplish that task? Our features are rich with burden of daily life, our regrets, joy and experiences. I have at times been accused of not expressing myself emotionally. How, exactly? I am one of the most emotive people I know. Just because I do not use words to articulate my feelings, does not mean I am not showing them to you. I've also been accused of being the most emotional male people have ever known. Without shedding a tear! How is that possible? Surely at times visual emoting can be more powerful, more intimate than mere words?

And if actors and actresses excel at being able to simulate emotion, don't we, as everyday folk, find it more difficult to not?




On a side note, I found a most peculiar [second entry] definition of, 'actor' last night on http://dictionary.com:

"A person who does something."


How very descriptive.

I want to moonlight as a dictionary author.

Comments

[galinda822.livejournal.com]

Even expressionless you're still showing emotion.
To me the picture is showing an introspect expression.

As far as what people believe about your state of expressing emotion, it's all in their prospective.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Even expressionless you're still showing emotion.
Yes ma'am, that was the question I was posing.

[galinda822.livejournal.com]

Yes, I know. I was answering your question!

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Yes, thank you. Perhaps I should've worded that differently.

[galinda822.livejournal.com]

Remember - with me you always have to word things differently! :)

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Not just you. It was meant to be more rhetorical, but everyone answered it nonetheless. Some more eloquently than others, unfortunately.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

You didn't manage an expression-less shot here. You look like you either have to take a dump or are very deep in thought about having to do so.

Additionally, your glasses a crooked.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

You didn't manage an expression-less shot here.
Did you even read the post? That was the entire discussion.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

I was just giving you confirmation. But Jesus God! I shall no longer do this. No more feedback from me (that is, of course, not without signing the disclaimer, waiver of rights and paying my substantial consulting fee.)

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Additionally, your glasses a crooked.
No sir, my head was tilted. Have you experienced any trauma to the head lately?

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

You look like a Muslim or worse: George Clooney.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

Go fuck yourself.

[unixwolf.livejournal.com]

Take a dump... Priceless...

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

I try.

[melancthe.livejournal.com]

Can one truly accomplish that task?

No, I don't think so. Even without any overt expression on your face, you still look thoughtful; an absence of expression doesn't necessarily convey an absence of emotion.

Interesting question. And cute pic.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Nigh impossible, I concur. And thank you.

[codekitten.livejournal.com]

i wish you lived closer! emotional men rock!

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Personification over articulation wouldn't be a limitation?

[(Anonymous)]

it would not my dear friend!

[(Anonymous)]

Hmm... You look like you are pondering which flavor of !SCOOBY SNACK! you want...And you have to take a dump...

[unixwolf.livejournal.com]

bastard LJ--The above comment is mine.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

About three months now without Scooby-Snack.

[photogoot.livejournal.com]

"This morning, my goal was to take an expressionless photo. Can one truly accomplish that task?"
An expressionless photograph, thats an interesting exercise. I have what may seem like an easy solution to achieving this task.... Don't point the camera at your face!

In fact it seems if you simply turned the camera 180 degrees and made an exposure you would have taken a perfectly expressionless photograph of your steering wheel. Please feel free to consult me on matters photographic when ever you find your self in these tricky situations. :-)

[irulan-amy.livejournal.com]

You are full of wisdom, great advice, and you know - other things. =P

[photogoot.livejournal.com]

Tonight one of the "other things" is Chipotle. My gut hurts, but in a good way. ;-)

Why do the things we love have to hurt us so?

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

You sir, are the consummate professional.

[photogoot.livejournal.com]

I was being a bit tong and cheek with my reply to your post. I actually think you are brilliant in the way you used the photo exercise to illustrate your point on non verbal expression of emotion. I love the use of this kind of tangible object, the attempted non emotive portrait, as a tool to frame a discussion of the often nebulous arena of emotional communication between people. I can not decide if I like your approach more for its creativity or its efficiency. I think perhaps its efficiency is what I appreciate most. I can not think of a more effective and concise way to demonstrate what you said.

See ya tomorrow.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Thanks dude. Now STFU and get your ass on a plane.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

At the time you authored this comment, You were absolutely right in what you said. However, I think that you also hit upon a keen observation at the airport. I can't wait to compare those pictures to the ones featured here.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

Close. But in that shot I'm more observant then expressionless.

[irulan-amy.livejournal.com]

I bet you would write a very entertaining dictionary. Maybe not the Oxford, but you know - still useful. :D

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Relevant; in the parlance of our time.

[celtmanx.livejournal.com]

In you're not establishing your goal in either pic.

In the first, you look worried like, "did I turn off the Gas oven?"

In the second, you looked concerned about the way you're sitting causes you to have a turkey neck.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Gobble, gobble.

Pictures

[snapper521.livejournal.com]

Hi Eric -
I was wondering if before Goot/Tomas leave if you could make sure Goot got a picture of the aforementioned elusive character known as Tomas G. :-) He hates his picture being taken... but I want a recent one. I have no clue what my best friend looks like... and if you ask me thats pretty messed up. :-P

Re: Pictures

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Refresh your friends page...

Re: Pictures

[snapper521.livejournal.com]

Danki :-)

[jaceman.livejournal.com]

The first rule of acting is to act as though you aren't acting. It is then possible to conclude that acting isn't about expressing emotion, but instead demonstrating reality. Reality, of course, is not an emotion. Then again, I could just be rambling for the sake of rambling.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Look! I'm an actor!

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

We must needs photogoot's snaps from the airport so that we can compare the expressionless photos side by side.