Comments on: Relive your memoir by acting: Pursuit of Happyness http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/relive-your-memoir-by-acting-pursuit-of-happyness/ 120 Essays to Help You Read and Write Memoirs by Jerry Waxler Mon, 08 Sep 2008 11:01:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Kathleen Frassrand http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/relive-your-memoir-by-acting-pursuit-of-happyness/#comment-621 Kathleen Frassrand Thu, 11 Oct 2007 14:28:37 +0000 http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/relive-your-memoir-by-acting-pursuit-of-happyness/#comment-621 I loved this post. Wonderfully done. I am thinking that I really need to see this movie. I love rags to riches stories, especially ones that are based on real life. I love that there are people in this world who refuse to lay down and "accept" what life throws at them. They stand and fight. Stories of this type bring hope to the people, and we need as much hope as possible these days. It was also very interesting to read about how you put yourself in your brother's mind and explored how he must have been feeling that day. It is too easy to just go through life and gloss over the depth of feelings that run quietly under each action. With you being only 10, you probably couldn't understand his nervousness and excitement at going away to college. But now, from an adult prespective, you can explore what he must have really been feeling that day. I just think that is fascinating. I loved this post. Wonderfully done. I am thinking that I really need to see this movie. I love rags to riches stories, especially ones that are based on real life. I love that there are people in this world who refuse to lay down and “accept” what life throws at them. They stand and fight. Stories of this type bring hope to the people, and we need as much hope as possible these days.

It was also very interesting to read about how you put yourself in your brother’s mind and explored how he must have been feeling that day. It is too easy to just go through life and gloss over the depth of feelings that run quietly under each action. With you being only 10, you probably couldn’t understand his nervousness and excitement at going away to college. But now, from an adult prespective, you can explore what he must have really been feeling that day. I just think that is fascinating.

]]> By: Leah J. Utas http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/relive-your-memoir-by-acting-pursuit-of-happyness/#comment-620 Leah J. Utas Thu, 11 Oct 2007 14:24:21 +0000 http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/relive-your-memoir-by-acting-pursuit-of-happyness/#comment-620 What an interesting suggestion and what thoughtful comments. I can see the value in reliving a scene to help with a memoir, but Talia and Virginia Lee have made excellent points. If you are looking at recapturing a traumatic event, it's best to have someone around who can handle what gets dredged up. I have done something similar with hypnosis and it's a good tool for recasting an event after you've seen how it went the first time. Excellent post. What an interesting suggestion and what thoughtful comments.
I can see the value in reliving a scene to help with a memoir, but Talia and Virginia Lee have made excellent points. If you are looking at recapturing a traumatic event, it’s best to have someone around who can handle what gets dredged up.
I have done something similar with hypnosis and it’s a good tool for recasting an event after you’ve seen how it went the first time.
Excellent post.

]]> By: Elrena http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/relive-your-memoir-by-acting-pursuit-of-happyness/#comment-618 Elrena Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:15:38 +0000 http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/relive-your-memoir-by-acting-pursuit-of-happyness/#comment-618 Me again -- I tagged you with a writing meme! Here's the link if you want to play: http://elrenaevans.blogspot.com/2007/10/writing-meme.html Me again — I tagged you with a writing meme! Here’s the link if you want to play: http://elrenaevans.blogspot.com/2007/10/writing-meme.html

]]> By: Elrena http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/relive-your-memoir-by-acting-pursuit-of-happyness/#comment-615 Elrena Wed, 10 Oct 2007 23:14:05 +0000 http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/relive-your-memoir-by-acting-pursuit-of-happyness/#comment-615 I loved this movie, which I saw in the theater...now I want to read the book, and after reading your post, apparently I'll have to get the DVD, too! I loved this movie, which I saw in the theater…now I want to read the book, and after reading your post, apparently I’ll have to get the DVD, too!

]]> By: Tasmin http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/relive-your-memoir-by-acting-pursuit-of-happyness/#comment-614 Tasmin Wed, 10 Oct 2007 22:57:24 +0000 http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/relive-your-memoir-by-acting-pursuit-of-happyness/#comment-614 I haven't watched the movie yet (it sits atop my TV, taunting me from time to time) simply because I'm not sure I'm ready to go through that emotional rollercoaster with him. I haven't had any traumatic events in my past (lucky me) but I think if I get that involved in a (to me) fictional character's life, I would probably not be a candidate for reenacting painful moments. I haven’t watched the movie yet (it sits atop my TV, taunting me from time to time) simply because I’m not sure I’m ready to go through that emotional rollercoaster with him. I haven’t had any traumatic events in my past (lucky me) but I think if I get that involved in a (to me) fictional character’s life, I would probably not be a candidate for reenacting painful moments.

]]> By: Dawn Allcot http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/relive-your-memoir-by-acting-pursuit-of-happyness/#comment-613 Dawn Allcot Wed, 10 Oct 2007 19:44:04 +0000 http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/relive-your-memoir-by-acting-pursuit-of-happyness/#comment-613 Interesting perspectives on all fronts. I find that writing our memories (in a personal essay format) serves the same purpose as re-enacting would. If you're showing the scenes in your writing, it has the same effect (for me) as acting them out. I loved that movie, now I want to get the DVD to see the extras! Interesting perspectives on all fronts. I find that writing our memories (in a personal essay format) serves the same purpose as re-enacting would. If you’re showing the scenes in your writing, it has the same effect (for me) as acting them out.

I loved that movie, now I want to get the DVD to see the extras!

]]> By: Virginia Lee http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/relive-your-memoir-by-acting-pursuit-of-happyness/#comment-612 Virginia Lee Wed, 10 Oct 2007 16:10:45 +0000 http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/relive-your-memoir-by-acting-pursuit-of-happyness/#comment-612 I tend to agree with Talia and Lynn, Jerry. One of the scariest things about taking acting classes and doing workshops when I was younger was encountering unqualified teachers who wanted the students to go deep into their feelings and past experiences for class sessions in order to find triggers for the emotions and characters they were supposed to be portraying. The thing is, people would do that, sometimes recollecting very traumatic events, and then they'd get so caught up in the reliving that they'd experience the trauma all over again, sometimes even moreso because of the shock at having something they'd been repressing/suppressing resurfacing again. Then the instructors weren't qualified to talk them down, as it were. It's one reason I have issues with method acting courses and practice. It can be dangerous if not handled correctly. When I write about my past and occasionally current situations in my blog, I sometimes come out of it even more traumatized. If I did not have the tools I learned decades ago from a psychologist, I don't know if I could deal with this reliving of some things. And some days, I don't deal very effectively. Lynn is right about perspective. That is more what I try to do. And, frankly, I use it in my fiction too. Reevaluation is vital to our mental and emotional health. Reliving some things, however, can just be traumatic. So to borrow from Hill Street Blues, be careful out there. Some folks aren't emotionally equipped to write, perform and thus relive their pasts. It's fine if they have the tools, but if they don't? It could be fatal. Just sayin'... I tend to agree with Talia and Lynn, Jerry.

One of the scariest things about taking acting classes and doing workshops when I was younger was encountering unqualified teachers who wanted the students to go deep into their feelings and past experiences for class sessions in order to find triggers for the emotions and characters they were supposed to be portraying. The thing is, people would do that, sometimes recollecting very traumatic events, and then they’d get so caught up in the reliving that they’d experience the trauma all over again, sometimes even moreso because of the shock at having something they’d been repressing/suppressing resurfacing again. Then the instructors weren’t qualified to talk them down, as it were. It’s one reason I have issues with method acting courses and practice. It can be dangerous if not handled correctly.

When I write about my past and occasionally current situations in my blog, I sometimes come out of it even more traumatized. If I did not have the tools I learned decades ago from a psychologist, I don’t know if I could deal with this reliving of some things. And some days, I don’t deal very effectively.

Lynn is right about perspective. That is more what I try to do. And, frankly, I use it in my fiction too. Reevaluation is vital to our mental and emotional health. Reliving some things, however, can just be traumatic.

So to borrow from Hill Street Blues, be careful out there. Some folks aren’t emotionally equipped to write, perform and thus relive their pasts. It’s fine if they have the tools, but if they don’t? It could be fatal.

Just sayin’…

]]> By: Bill Fullerton http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/relive-your-memoir-by-acting-pursuit-of-happyness/#comment-611 Bill Fullerton Wed, 10 Oct 2007 14:39:08 +0000 http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/relive-your-memoir-by-acting-pursuit-of-happyness/#comment-611 Well written, thought provoking piece. My first novel, like many others, was very autobiographical so I can really relate to your idea. Well written, thought provoking piece. My first novel, like many others, was very autobiographical so I can really relate to your idea.

]]> By: Mary "Lynn" Lewis http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/relive-your-memoir-by-acting-pursuit-of-happyness/#comment-610 Mary "Lynn" Lewis Wed, 10 Oct 2007 14:03:05 +0000 http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/relive-your-memoir-by-acting-pursuit-of-happyness/#comment-610 Re-enacting might work for some, but how about re-evaluating? Think back to whatever the incident was, see it for what it was, and then act from there. Forgiveness works for me, whether forgiving myself or the person/people involved. Re-enacting might work for some, but how about re-evaluating? Think back to whatever the incident was, see it for what it was, and then act from there. Forgiveness works for me, whether forgiving myself or the person/people involved.

]]> By: Marilyn Braun http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/relive-your-memoir-by-acting-pursuit-of-happyness/#comment-609 Marilyn Braun Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:15:13 +0000 http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/relive-your-memoir-by-acting-pursuit-of-happyness/#comment-609 I greatly enjoyed the Pursuit of Happyness - it brought me to tears but knowing that he rose above his situation under what must have been tremendously stressful and challening circumstances, is really inspiring. I can't really think of a situation where I would want to re-enact anything, I don't like living in the past and I would prefer to just try and learn something from it, maybe subconsciously, instead of focusing deliberately on the actual memory. I greatly enjoyed the Pursuit of Happyness - it brought me to tears but knowing that he rose above his situation under what must have been tremendously stressful and challening circumstances, is really inspiring. I can’t really think of a situation where I would want to re-enact anything, I don’t like living in the past and I would prefer to just try and learn something from it, maybe subconsciously, instead of focusing deliberately on the actual memory.

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