Perversion of the reel : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the completion of Master of Fine Arts at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand

Abstract

Through the use of masculinity as a visual language this research aims to unravel the divide between the role of the act and the acted. French actor Julien Boisselier operates as the male manifestation of the actor in question and functions on multiple levels of performance, both as male and as an actor. Boisseliers depictions of major, medium and minor acted characters offer another level to the performance variable. The aim to highlight the visible triggers of a ‘pure performance’ (a performance where the actor may slip or falter out of acted character and into default human performance) as shown through the choreography of his physiognomy is the experience underpinning this thesis.