Cue Tears: On the Act of Crying

Crying is a complex and ambiguous emotion that is often used in conversations about emotions. Tears can signal positive and negative affects, be sincere or simulated, and have been extensively studied in the context of acting and spectatorship. Daniel Sacks' book "Cue Tears: On the Act of Crying" explores the mechanisms of tear production, internal and external techniques used by actors to weep, and the effects of tears in performance situations. The book draws on a range of instances from literature, theater, performance art, visual art, and cinema, and also incorporates the author's autobiographical and personal experiences with tears.

Format: Hardback
Length: 214 pages
Publication date: 31 July 2024
Publisher: The University of Michigan Press

Crying holds a privileged place in conversations around emotions as an expression of authentic feeling. And yet, tears are ambiguous: they might signal the most positive and negative of affects; they might present a sincere revelation of self or be simulated to manipulate others. Unsurprisingly, tears figure prominently on stage and on screen, where actors have experimented with the mechanics of making tears. Cue Tears: On the Act of Crying uses tears as a prism through which to see some of the foundational problems and paradoxes of acting and spectatorship anew, including matters of authenticity and sincerity, the ethics of the witness, the interaction between a speech act and its affective force, liveness and documentation.

Across seven semi-autonomous essays, Cue Tears looks at the mechanisms of tear production, internal and external techniques that actors use to weep, and the effects of tears in performance situations on the stage, in the gallery, and in the classroom. The writing moves with a light touch between theory and criticism of a broad range of instances from literature, theater, performance art, visual art, and cinema, while also embracing a strong autobiographical and personal slant. Author Daniel Sacks' father was a biochemist who studied tears and collected his son's tears for research during his childhood. These "reflex tears" were produced as a physical response to irritation—an eye stretched past the point of blinking, a cotton swab up the nose. This childhood occupation coincided with his first years taking acting classes, trying to learn how to cry "emotional tears" onstage through psychological stimulation and the recollection of memory. Cue Tears investigates these memories and methods, finding that tears both shore up and dissolve distinctions between acting and reality.

Crying is a complex and multifaceted emotional expression that has been the subject of much discussion and debate throughout history. On the one hand, tears are often seen as a genuine and authentic form of emotional communication, allowing individuals to express their deepest feelings and connect with others on a profound level. On the other hand, tears are also often seen as a sign of weakness or vulnerability, and can be used to manipulate or control others.

One of the key challenges in understanding the act of crying is the ambiguity of tears. They can signal a wide range of emotions, from joy and happiness to sadness and despair. This ambiguity can make it difficult for actors and spectators to interpret the meaning of a tearful performance.

In Cue Tears: On the Act of Crying, author Daniel Sacks explores the mechanisms of tear production, internal and external techniques that actors use to weep, and the effects of tears in performance situations on the stage, in the gallery, and in the classroom. The book moves with a light touch between theory and criticism of a broad range of instances from literature, theater, performance art, visual art, and cinema, while also embracing a strong autobiographical and personal slant.

Sacks' father was a biochemist who studied tears and collected his son's tears for research during his childhood. These "reflex tears" were produced as a physical response to irritation—an eye stretched past the point of blinking, a cotton swab up the nose. This childhood occupation coincided with his first years taking acting classes, trying to learn how to cry "emotional tears" onstage through psychological stimulation and the recollection of memory.

Cue Tears investigates these memories and methods, finding that tears both shore up and dissolve distinctions between acting and reality. Sacks argues that tears are not simply a physical response to emotion, but are also a cultural and social construct that plays a significant role in shaping our understanding of the world.

One of the key themes of Cue Tears is the idea of authenticity. Sacks argues that tears can be a powerful tool for creating authenticity in performance, but that they can also be manipulated to create a false sense of authenticity. He explores the ways in which actors use tears to convey their characters' emotions, and how these tears can be interpreted by the audience.

Sacks also explores the ethics of the witness in performance. He argues that tears can be a powerful tool for creating empathy and understanding between the audience and the performer, but that they can also be used to manipulate or control the audience. He explores the ways in which actors use tears to create a sense of intimacy and connection with the audience, and how these tears can be interpreted by the audience.

In addition to its theoretical and critical analysis, Cue Tears is also a richly personal and autobiographical work. Sacks shares his own experiences with tears, including his childhood memories of crying and his experiences as an actor and director. He explores the ways in which tears have shaped his understanding of the world and his own identity.

Overall, Cue Tears is a fascinating and thought-provoking book that offers a new perspective on the act of crying and its role in acting and spectatorship. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of emotion, performance, and culture.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780472076901