Status

The English acting coach and founder of the modern improvisation theatre (theatresports) Keith Johnstone has influenced this term significantly.
What is status?
You can say that the status has something to do with the "self-esteem" of a character in a scene. Status is something you have, but also something you do, something you pretend and play. Keith Johnstone understands status as something you do, regardless of your social status.
What is status?
You can say that the status has something to do with the "self-esteem" of a character in a scene. Status is something you have, but also something you do, something you pretend and play. Keith Johnstone understands status as something you do, regardless of your social status.
The social status is indicated by status symbols such as titles, positions, property and money. Every society has a hierarchy in which every person finds his place.
Status according to Johnstone, in contrast to social status, results from the behavior of the characters in a specific encounter. He emphasizes that there is no neutral status, but that there is always a gradient. Just as sociologist Paul Watzlawick emphasizes that two people cannot not communicate, the status cannot not exist either. People always have a status ratio to each other, which is expressed by body language, way of speaking and actions.
The status of a person varies within different groups such as job, family, circle of friends or club. It also changes in everyday situations and on stage, because status is a dynamic process.
«The term status can be confusing if you don't understand status as something you do. You can have a low social status, but you can play a high one and vice versa. For example:
The tramp: Hey! Where are you going?
The Duchess: Excuse me, I did not quite understand....
The tramp: I suppose you're blind and deaf too?
The audience enjoys it when there is a contrast between the played and the social status.»[1]
Status according to Johnstone, in contrast to social status, results from the behavior of the characters in a specific encounter. He emphasizes that there is no neutral status, but that there is always a gradient. Just as sociologist Paul Watzlawick emphasizes that two people cannot not communicate, the status cannot not exist either. People always have a status ratio to each other, which is expressed by body language, way of speaking and actions.
The status of a person varies within different groups such as job, family, circle of friends or club. It also changes in everyday situations and on stage, because status is a dynamic process.
«The term status can be confusing if you don't understand status as something you do. You can have a low social status, but you can play a high one and vice versa. For example:
The tramp: Hey! Where are you going?
The Duchess: Excuse me, I did not quite understand....
The tramp: I suppose you're blind and deaf too?
The audience enjoys it when there is a contrast between the played and the social status.»[1]

«One could also speak of dominance and submission. (...) It is easier to replace these terms with "raise or lower status". You can never really be neutral. A "good morning" can be spoken downsizing or status lifting. Every movement and every voice expression conveys status (...) It's like sitting on a seesaw. If one goes up, the other goes down. You can lift your own character or lower your partner.»[2]
There are of course many gradations between the two extremes "high status" and "low status". Normally, it is "forbidden" to observe status actions in everyday life, except for disputes.
«If you can't get rid of status, what happens between friends? Many will claim that we are not playing status actions with our friends, and yet every movement and every raising and lowering of the voice expresses status. My answer to this question is that acquaintances become friends when they agree to play status games with each other.»[3]
There are of course many gradations between the two extremes "high status" and "low status". Normally, it is "forbidden" to observe status actions in everyday life, except for disputes.
«If you can't get rid of status, what happens between friends? Many will claim that we are not playing status actions with our friends, and yet every movement and every raising and lowering of the voice expresses status. My answer to this question is that acquaintances become friends when they agree to play status games with each other.»[3]

Ausführliche Status-Merkmale (PDF) - German | |
File Size: | 47 kb |
File Type: |
[1] Keith Johnstone, "Improvisation und Theater", Alexander Verlag Berlin
[2] Eva-Maria Admiral, Eric Wehrlin, "Vorhang auf!", Bundes-Verlag Witten
[3] Keith Johnstone, "Improvisation und Theater", Alexander Verlag Berlin
[2] Eva-Maria Admiral, Eric Wehrlin, "Vorhang auf!", Bundes-Verlag Witten
[3] Keith Johnstone, "Improvisation und Theater", Alexander Verlag Berlin