Notes For Actors

Share this post

User's avatar
Notes For Actors
HUMAN FACES

HUMAN FACES

... and how we look at them

Miranda Harcourt's avatar
Miranda Harcourt
Feb 09, 2024
∙ Paid
8

Share this post

User's avatar
Notes For Actors
HUMAN FACES
1
Share

There is so much peace to be found in people's faces
— Kae Tempest

KAE TEMPEST

EYE-COLOUR

Here’s a quick, easy trick for you. The next person you find yourself talking to — notice their eye-colour. Just for yourself. They do not need to know what you are doing.

"What colour are those eyes?" Just for a moment, you are leaving behind your focus on yourself and are instead focussing on the other.

The other person will feel that you are giving them your full attention. The conversation will go better. They will feel seen.

And all you are doing is using your curiosity as a tool.

Practice this for a bit and you will find that you are effortlessly engaging with other people, with ease, flow and generosity.

It takes practice and courage to truly look at the other person — and to truly rest in the light of their gaze. Why? In his book ETHICS AND INFINITY (1985), philosopher Emmanuel Levinas says:

The face is what forbids us to kill.

Maybe we fear the vulnerability of being looked at? Of revealing ours…

This post is for paid subscribers

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Miranda Harcourt
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share