Ancient Art of Mime

 

Mime is an art form.  It can be described as ‘the use of bodily movements without speech to communicate emotions and actions or to tell a story’.  A mime can also be ‘a short play without speech’.  A mime artist is a person who performs mime.  An example of a world famous mime artist is the late Marcel Marceau.  Mime is considered as a sophisticated form of expression.  It relies heavily on facial expressions and muscle control. 

Mime is not as easy as it looks.  Mime artists are consummate professionals and make it look effortless.  But these artists spend years training and perfecting their skill.  A good example of mime is the game of charades.  Players have to convey the titles of films and books by means of mime. 

Mime artists are considered as experts in self-expression.  It is believed that prior to the development of language a form of mime was used to communicate.  This was the most primitive means of communication.  Even today, if a person cannot speak a certain language mime is used to attempt some form of communication.  Mime remained after the advent of the spoken language.  It was developed into a kind of entertainment.  The ancient Greeks developed elaborate gestures to use in their plays while miming. 

In recent years mime has made a come back.  Once again audiences appreciate the skill involved in successful mime.  A professional mime artist has such excellent muscle control that he or she can pretend to be a statue.  Many mime artists are so well trained they can remain motionless for long periods.  They are capable of such stillness that there are true stories of birds perching on them.  Many a passerby has leaned against what they believed to be a statue.  Their disbelief when the statue moves provides moments of great hilarity. 

Mime artists are often seen performing as buskers.  It is a good means for them to earn extra money.  It is also a good means of the public getting to know and understand the art of mime.  A mime artist is a performer who is able to mimic anything or person.  Many people are amazed when a mime is able to walk or mimic their exact gestures.  Mime artists are easily recognizable by their white powdered faces and dark rimmed eyes.  This is the traditional stage makeup of the mime.  It accentuates the facial expressions of the mime to communicate. 

True modern mime is made up of three kinds: 
•    Literal
•    Abstract
•    Combination of literal and abstract
  

Story theatre and comedy makes use of the literal kind.  This is mostly a story with a main character that experiences or expresses conflict.  The audience will find the story to be amusing.  If the mime wants to express feelings, images and thoughts with a serious title then the abstract kind is used.  Rather than using literal proceedings this is an intuitive experience for the audience.  Both these categories are again popular forms of the art of mime.       

More related articles below: