Fall out of the role

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Falling out of the role is a phrase that comes from the theater . It is used for sudden, unexpected behavior that often amounts to a loss of discipline. Either an actor who falls out of the role is overwhelmed with the “ role expectations ” (for example if he has forgotten his text), or he perceives these expectations as an imposition from which he wants to break out.

The theatrical role and the social role are often set in parallel. The sociologist Erving Goffman has examined this as social behavior: an actor or teacher can fall out of the role if he is disturbed by the audience or by the students. Women “lose their role” when they take up a job that is viewed as male ( emancipation ) and vice versa. Some people “fall out of place” when they feel unobserved.

Falling out of the role is intended and controlled in many scenic contexts, such as speaking aside in popular theater or the “ epic theater ” with alienation effects by Bertolt Brecht , in which the actor is basically supposed to stand next to the role.

Out of Character (OOC)

In computer and role-playing games , the term out of character is used for a similar matter .

In the field of fan fiction , the term out of character is mostly used derogatory and is the term for characters who do not behave as the reader is used to for reasons that are usually not explained by the author or even for no reason. For example, an otherwise withdrawn and calm person is suddenly quick-tempered and extroverted .

This type of writing is rejected by most other fan fiction writers and fans and corresponding stories are avoided, as the well-known personality of the character is often destroyed, making him seem implausible. If the author can credibly explain the reason for the character's behavior, the out of character is accepted in most cases.

literature

  • Erving Goffman: The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life (German as: We all play theater ), Anchor Books 1959, ISBN 978-0140135718

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