ON ACTING: A Non-Definition of Acting

There is no such thing as acting; there is only life. Acting instruction is a jargon-filled reminder for actors to live everyday life within the following array of very narrow parameters: when acting/living onstage or onscreen, remember to (1) live excitingly, (2) on demand, (3) in front of people, and, while living in such a manner, (4) would you please say these words, move in this manner, and handle these props. The rest of acting becomes a series of variations on this theme.