ABSTRACT
“Optimizing the Obstacle” focuses on how knowledge of flow and flow indicators can be used to help actors select, test, and bolster the effectiveness of obstacles. This chapter examines how Csíkszentmihályi’s nine flow indicators apply to Stanislavki’s teachings. Polanco and Bonfiglio introduce the use of “Obstacle Cards,” which teaches actors how properly calibrating the balance between the objective/task and the obstacle can lead to more dynamic and engaging performances.
