Quantifying acting

[gategrrl]

In the arts, how "good" someone's work is strongly subjective. That's why some people think the Campbell Soup Can painting by Andy Warhol is the stupidist thing since the invention of Modernism, and others think it's the pinnacle of Modern Art, very sly and witty.

With actors and acting - it's apparent when someone is REALLY bad; they can't remember their lines, they feel like wood up on the stage/screen; their character doesn't *live*. It's also possible for a competent actor to move down a level, or a bad actor to improve.

So when two actors are compared, how is it possible to figure out who is the better/worse actor?

Are opinions based on Who I like Better? I like this actor's character better than that character's actor? I like what this one has done in the past better than what that person has done in the past? Or, I simply don't the fuck like this actor, and whatever he does is going to suck to me, cuz he's an ass and I'll never like him/her? or "My fandom politics dictate that I should hate this person's acting because."

How much Objectivity plays a role in your opinions? Or does it all?

So, when you say you don't like an actor/actress, WHY don't you like that actor/actress?

Comments

[aizjanika.livejournal.com]

I admit I like knowing the personal stuff about the actors. I don't think I know them, but it's like...knowing about Shakespeare's life and what was going on in the world. hehe Okay, not the same thing. I like knowing as much about the actors as they are willing to share, though. OTOH, if I don't like them that much, I probably wouldn't *not* watch their movies or TV shows, but I probably also wouldn't bother to read their interviews either.

Take Bing Crosby and Joan Crawford for instance. You might thing of them one way, and then hear about how they treated their kids and your thinking goes kerpoof!

I never liked Joan Crawford as an actress, really. It doesn't bother me too much to find out that an actor is human and makes mistakes or is a jerk or whatever. To me it's all a part of enjoying their performance, in a way. I know many people don't feel that way, but I do. :-)