Affective memory

Affective memory was an early element of Stanislavski's 'system' and a central part of Method Acting, (two related approaches to acting). Affective memory requires actors to call on the memory of details from a similar situation (or more recently a situation with similar emotional import) to those of their characters. Stanislavski believed actors needed to take emotion and personality to the stage and call upon it when playing their character. He also explored the use of objectives, actioning, and empathizing with the character.

"Emotional recall" is the basis for Lee Strasberg's Method acting. "Sense memory" is used to refer to the recall of physical sensations surrounding emotional events (instead of the emotions themselves). The use of affective memory remains a controversial topic in acting theory. Otherwise known as emotional memory, it is often used by making the actors completely relax so that they recall the memory better.

Constantin Stanislavski

Theories and techniques	Action Affective memory Art of representation Given circumstances Inner monologue Subtext Substitution Through-line of action Turning point Unit of action

Books	My Life in Art An Actor Prepares Building a Character Creating a Role

Moscow Art Theatre	Moscow Art Theatre production of Hamlet Moscow Art Theatre production of The Seagull

Affective memory

See also