Attentional Hierarchy n. the selective consciousness resulting from a narrowing and ranking of experiential variables. A Soma Literate attention notes that hierarchy in any temporal design is proven in the arrangement of attentional variables in the performative moment. Where the concept deserving attention is often assumed to be fixed, as though one just sees or… Continue reading Attentional Hierarchy
Author: Stephen Neely
Anthropomorphic Form
Anthropomorphic Form n. possessing human shape or characteristics. The anthropomorphic form bias states that humanlike static forms are more appealing to actors than foreign shapes. The temporal equivalent is found in gesture. Motion with an affinity to the human body (Todes, 2001), or rather, “natural” will be more appealing compared to an implied gesture (think… Continue reading Anthropomorphic Form
An Experience
An Experience n. the significant experience. John Dewey, the American pragmatist philosopher put a fine point on the general term of experience. Rather than an all-encompassing, experience-at-large, Dewey separated those experiences of significance. There are the forgettable observations and participations of daily living, and then there are moments of impact that cause a stir in… Continue reading An Experience
Anacrusis–Crusis–Metacrusis
Anacrusis–Crusis–Metacrusis n. the progression of the parts of any action. Anacrusis (Émile Jaques-Dalcroze & Rothwell, 1930) is the gesture- or yearning-toward. It is everything that is both preparatory and in motion toward a resolution. It is the first two syllables in the word Mississippi.It is the years of courting that builds to an engagement ring… Continue reading Anacrusis–Crusis–Metacrusis
Alignment
Alignment n. an arrangement of variables in appropriate relation to one another. Alignment is an arrangement in correct or appropriate relative positions. Essentially, for humans, it is easy to anticipate actions or foresee what will happen. In terms of time, a calendar has 30 or 31 days every month. Every one week, we prepare and… Continue reading Alignment
Agogics
Agogics n. the study of duration. The rule of agogics states that longer equals heavier. Actors gravitate to heavy moments in time and one can design heaviness through duration. It is a common technique found in all performative experience. In rhetoric, we experience it as the lengthening of significant words. Read the following quote from… Continue reading Agogics
Accent
Accent n. the distinct emphasis given to a moment in time. Accent is the term used to mark the impact of a given moment or beat. Accents are experienced as heaviness or lightness and add novelty relative to the surrounding moments. Most accents are experienced as augmentation; they add weight to the anticipated moment in… Continue reading Accent