New Art of Bodily Care in the Works of Lope de Vega and López Pinciano (2017)

In the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, a new style of play emerged in Spain, called the nueva comedia, that blended tragedy and comedy. This led to increased treatises on acting by Spanish rhetoricians, including Félix Lope de Vega and Alonso López Pinciano. They believed that the actor's inner state of mind profoundly impacted their physical performance, anticipating Richard Shusterman's concept of somaesthetics. These early modern acting treatises offered a groundbreaking approach to bodily care, blending physical movements with the actor's inner experience to create dynamic and engaging performances. By exploring the relationship between mind and body, these treatises provide an intriguing perspective on the art of acting that remains relevant today.

“New Art of Bodily Care in the Works of Lope de Vega and López Pinciano.” Journal of Somaesthetics, vol. 3, no. 1 & 2, 2017, pp. 129-39.