The Ethical Considerations of Method Acting: Balancing Personal Experience and Imagination

Stella Adler’s Method
Discussion Question
So my question to you is this–is method acting ethical? That is, method acting according to Meisner and Strasberg. Do you think it’s a good idea to expect actors to draw on their painful pasts, and does that create a better performance? Is it worth it? Or do you think an actor’s imagination can do the job if they work on it enough? What if they don’t have a painful past?
Which is the sign of a better actor–one who can imagine them self into an emotional state or one who draws on their own personal pain? Is one more ethical or moral?
Please also remember that when you sign up for an acting class, you may not get advanced notice that the method that is being taught will require you to draw on your own past in this way.
Please think about this question for a while before you answer. Don’t just give your gut response.