SIMPLE MAGAZINE #14

THE ART OF
MIME
Source: BARRON'S ESSENTIAL WORDS FOR THE IELTS
Compiled by: facebook.com/simpleIELTS
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Miming dates back to the theaters of ancient Greece

and Rome. Mimes use movements, gestures, and
facial expressions to portray a character or an
emotion or tell a story – all without words. Over the
centuries the art off miming grew to include
acrobatics, props and costumes, culminating in the
fine-tuned art form that people recognize today.
Miming can be abstract, literal, or a combination of
the two. Abstract miming usually has no plot or
central character but simply expresses a feeling such
as sorrow or desire. Literal miming, on the other
hand, tells a story and is often comedic, using body
gestures and facial expressions to present a main
character facing some type of conflict in a
humourous way, for example, acting out a tug-of-
war without the aid of rope or other props.

mime (n, v): kịch câm

date back to: có từ
ancient (adj): cổ đại
gesture (n): cử chỉ
facial expression: biểu cảm gương mặt
portray a character: mô tả một nhân vật
emotion (n): cảm xúc
include (v): bao gồm
prop (n): đạo cụ
costume (n): trang phục
culminate in/with ST: dẫn đến, kết thúc là
fine-tuned art form: loại hình nghệ thuật đã được
tinh chỉnh 
abstract (adj): trừu tượng
literal (adj): hiện thực, nghĩa đen
comedic (adj): có tính hài hước
plot (n): cốt truyện
conflict (n) mâu thuẫn
humourous (adj): hài hước
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The twentieth-century style of miming reflects outside influences of the period,

most notably silent films, in which actors relied on their ability to communicate
thoughts and stories through facial expressions and exaggerated gestures. Two
superstars of the silent movie era, Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin, sharpened
their miming skills in the theater before using them in movies. Both were so
successful that they have continued to influence mimes and other live performers
long after their deaths. People still consider Chaplin a master of the miming
technique, in particular his tragicomic “little tramp” character, who so effectively
portrays human frailty through physical comedy, also known as slapstick.

reflect (v): phản ánh

influence (n): sự tác động
notably (adv): đặc biệt là
communicate thought: truyền đạt suy nghĩ 
exaggerate (v): phóng đại => exaggerated gesture: cử chỉ phóng đại
era (n): kỷ nguyên
sharpen _____ skill: mài dũa kỹ năng ______
technique (n): kỹ thuật 
effectively (adv): hiệu quả
human frailty: sự yếu đuối của con người
 Another twentieth-century
influence on modern miming
involves a renowned French mime
and acting teacher named Etienne
Decroux, who developed what was
known as corporeal mime. This art
form focused on the body,
showing thought through
movement, and became the
prominent form of the modern
mime era.

Marceau added his personal

touch to the art of miming and
presented it to the world for half
a century on television and in
theaters. Among his well-known
illusions are portrayals of a man
walking against the wind and a
man trapped inside a shrinking
box.

influence on: ảnh hưởng lên

involve (v): bao gồm
renowned = well-known: nổi
tiếng
focus on: tập trung vào
prominent (adj): nổi bật
present (v): trình bày, đưa ra
portrayal (n): sự mô tả
illusion (n): ảo ảnh
trapped (adj): bị bẫy, bị kẹt
Marceau also created his own special be reminiscent of ST:
character, Bip the clown. White-faced and gợi lên cái gì
dressed in a striped shirt and floppy top hat change considerably:
with a red flower, Bip is reminiscent of both thay đổi một cách
Chaplin’s little tramp and Pierrot, the đáng kể
traditional downtrodden mime character solo performance:
from centuries earlier. Miming is still taught màn trình diễn một
in dance, drama, and acting schools mình
worldwide, although it has changed in fashion: hợp thời
considerably since the ancient Greek plays effect (n): hiệu ứng
and even since the solo performances of desired atmosphere:
Marceau. Group miming is now in fashion, bầu không khí mong
and sounds, lighting, and other special muốn
effects are included to help create the merge (v): kết hợp
desired atmosphere. Current examples elaborate (adj): tỉ mỉ,
include the U.S. dance troupe Pilobolus, phức tạp
which merges modern dance, acrobatics, spectacular (adj): ấn
gymnastics, and mime to create elaborate tượng
geometric shapes with their bodies, and the striking: thu hút, nổi
Canadian Cirque du Soleil, which uses bật
lighting, spectacular costumes, and special
effects to produce striking illusions.