the.com/mime
the only performer who can lose an argument with an invisible wall and win.
means A mime is a performer who tells a story or expresses ideas using only body movements, gestures, and facial expressions — no words allowed.
from From Greek 'mimos,' meaning an imitator or actor, which passed through Latin 'mimus' on its way into the European languages. The same root quietly underlies 'mimic,' 'mimicry,' and 'pantomime' (literally 'all-imitating'). The silent white-faced performer we picture today is a much later refinement of a very old idea: that you can imitate the whole world without saying a single thing.
- ancient roots
- Romans staged mime shows before togas existed
- silent rebellion
- French mimes flourished under censorship that banned speaking onstage
- marcel marceau
- Smuggled Jewish children to safety during WWII
- the wall
- Étienne Decroux codified mime into rigorous physical science
- brain trick
- Audiences hallucinate objects that were never there
marcel marceau — french mime artist (1923-2007) who created the famous character bip and performed for 60+ years
charlie chaplin — silent film star who performed mime-like physical comedy in films like 'modern times' (1936)
jacques tati — french filmmaker and mime performer known for 'playtime' (1967) and physical comedy without dialogue