Reflections of Embodiment and Enaction Theories on Contemporary Theater Practices: Somatic Approach in Acting Training
Bilge Serdar Göksülük
Tiyatro Eleştirmenliği ve Dramaturji Bölümü Dergisi September 23, 2026 DOI: 10.26650/jtcd.908412 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Embodiment Enaction Somatic approach Performative body consciousness Actor training |
| Key points | Argues that enaction theories, by centering bodily action and primary movement experience in meaning-making, reframe cognition in ways relevant to theater and performing arts, and proposes that somatic practices provide an embodied experience that facilitates performative awareness and contributes to actor training. |
Abstract
In the 21st century, enaction theories that have emerged as a result of the intersection of neuroscience, cognitive science, and phenomenology have changed our understanding of cognitive processes, such as imagination, perception, feeling, emotion, and thought, which are directly related to theater and performing arts. In enaction theories, the emphasis on bodily action in the process of providing meaning makes one’s primary movement experience a key concept. The study thus traces such theoretical shift in theater and performing arts and discusses the concept of embodied consciousness that expectedly occurs during the performance. Furthermore, based on embodiment theories, the study elucidates how somatic practices provide an embodied experience that facilitates performative awareness and how such practices contribute to actor training. Briefly, the main objectives of this study are to highlight possible discussions and emphasize the contribution of somatic practices in actor training based on embodied theories.