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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Peter Beech

Caught in the act: the soap opera as art – in pictures

Soap Sample : Julian Rosefeldt, Soap Sample, 2000-2001
1) The first tool in any soap actor's armoury: the facepalm. Can be used to express anything from a mild headache (left) to the sudden return of lost memory (middle) to distress over a bad Changing Rooms makeover (right) Photograph: Saatchi gallery/Julian Rosefeldt
Soap Sample : Julian Rosefeldt, Soap Sample, 2000-2001
The prayer. A position favoured by football fans all over the world when their team is 1-0 down with five minutes to go – and also by the housewives of California, it seems Photograph: Saatchi gallery/Julian Rosefeldt
Soap Sample : Julian Rosefeldt, Soap Sample, 2000-2001
The head-tilt can indicate rumination (left) or a simple sulk (right). Or it can be used to draw attention to your unnaturally shiny hair (middle) Photograph: Saatchi gallery/Julian Rosefeldt
Soap Sample : Julian Rosefeldt, Soap Sample, 2000-2001
Pens out, it's time for some intermediate level acting. The OK circle can be used to convey a point, to distract attention from a disastrous scarf, or to check whether it's fine to wear a cravat to parents' evening Photograph: Saatchi gallery/Julian Rosefeldt
Soap Sample : Julian Rosefeldt, Soap Sample, 2000-2001
You can get lots of mileage out of this one. In fact, entire soap episodes are sometimes conducted using only the most basic hand gestures. Maybe Photograph: Saatchi gallery/Julian Rosefeldt
Soap Sample : Julian Rosefeldt, Soap Sample, 2000-2001
We're moving into advanced acting terrain here. This expression is called the 'annoying fly in the room'. Don't watch it for too long or you'll end up losing your mind like actor one here Photograph: Saatchi gallery/Julian Rosefeldt
Soap Sample : Julian Rosefeldt, Soap Sample, 2000-2001
This classic demonstration of distress is also a handy opportunity to show off your nails and your cocktail ring collection. Liza Minnelli, Jack Lemmon and Sarah Jessica Parker have duly blinged up for the occasion Photograph: Saatchi gallery/Julian Rosefeldt
Soap Sample : Julian Rosefeldt, Soap Sample, 2000-2001
And here are the also-rans. Call those rings? Try harder Photograph: Saatchi gallery/Julian Rosefeldt
Soap Sample : Julian Rosefeldt, Soap Sample, 2000-2001
Better luck next year people, move along now Photograph: Saatchi gallery/Julian Rosefeldt
Soap Sample : Julian Rosefeldt, Soap Sample, 2000-2001
It's part of a soap star's basic training to learn the hand gestures to the Spice Girls' 2 Become 1 Photograph: Saatchi gallery/Julian Rosefeldt
Soap Sample : Julian Rosefeldt, Soap Sample, 2000-2001
… and to Westlife's World of Our Own Photograph: Saatchi gallery/Julian Rosefeldt
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