The motivations and truths beneath our words and actions.
“Keep in mind that a person says only ten percent of what lies in his head, ninety percent remains unspoken”
— Constantin Stanislavski
This lesson is for actors to understand what their character is thinking and feeling. Same as well for writers.
In other words, subtext is all about what’s left unsaid.
How subtext is created?
Text + Context = Subtext
Text is the words or actions in question. Its the spoken dialogue or it is the action performed. By themselves these words and actions have meaning. But there can also be a secondary meaning underneath it.
Context is everything around the text. The external circumstances or situations that also inform the ultimate meaning of the subtext.
Drinking tea is text. But since each scene has a different context they have a different subtext. Ex: Conformity, Romance, Danger.
Why is subtext so important?
If everything is surface level, there is no depth to the material. Nothing to explore or discover. Subtext creates layered and complicated characters and gives the audience something to decode. The chance to read between the lines keeps them engaged with the characters.