ON THE SCOURGE OF OUR SOCIETY

I am dismayed of late. A group functions amongst us without receiving the persecution at our hands to which they are do. This class represents the worst sort of knaves, villains and deceivers. This group, of course, is actors.

Actors, dramatists, thespians, players or performers may delight us with their trade, but they have historically held one the lowest positions in society. These scoundrels have benefited from the ascendance of Hollywood, and have convinced the rest of the populous they contribute more to our society than the facts bear out.

There is, of course, the well known fact that it is almost unbearable to be in the presence of those who fashion themselves actors. The actors believe they have reached some level of higher existence that we non-actors could not possibly comprehend. Yet these actors know little more than the gypsy beggar in the street. Despite this harsh reality which they actor has carefully avoided recognizing, the actor looks at his fellow man as lacking insight. The actor speaks to others with the utmost condescension, and cannot help but laugh, sneer or mock another who is infinitely more deserving of respect than the actor is prepared to admit.

Perhaps the more frustrating fact is that there is a class within the class of actors that deserve praise. I am not know prepared to say what percentage of the overall group this represents, but this percentage is certainly miniscule. The majority uses the achievements of the few to establish their significance within the culture. We must take steps to halt this dangerous current.

Furthermore, unlike any other profession that requires some modicum of training and examination to receive a credential, any oaf or lay-about may call themselves an actor. Our society is so accustomed to actors not working as actors, that we accept someone as being an actor despite the possibility the individual in question has not acted in the artistic sense in a long time, or perhaps never acted at all. All I ask is that the actor admit he is not really an actor, but is ordinary, and accept that he or she is a waiter, hair-dresser, cab driver, house keeper, baby sitter or garbage collector.

I also marvel at how often most of these supposed actors actually do not act. I have often found that stage actors are under the misapprehension that acting is merely projecting ones voice while speaking lines in a rhythm. Instead of emoting, they plead with each other on the stage. The actor claims they inhabit a role, get to the core of the character or unlock the key to this or that character’s motivation. Putting aside the fact that these phrases are meaningless claptrap, most actors do no such thing. Seldom does one encounter an actor who is adept enough to truly understand human interaction.

I was once heard of an interesting discussion between several young ladies, where it was determined amongst them that if they were to meet a man who fancied himself an actor, such declaration would be a “deal breaker” in the modern parlance, and such a male would be deemed undesirable. I am of a similar opinion when it comes to actresses, but as a man I will admit that many of the slender ones are physically appealing.