Southern Methodist University Course Syllabus
Spectacle of Performance THEA 2321
An Introduction to the Theatre Steve Woods Professor and Head of Stage Design May Term 2016
[email protected] https://www.smu.edu/Meadows/AreasOfStudy/Theatre/Faculty/WoodsSteve Office 214-768-3816 Fax 214-768-3272
THEA 2321 Spectacle of Performance
Pillars/Creativity & Aesthetics (Level 1) Proficiencies & Experiences/Oral Communication Proficiencies & Experiences/Information Literacy
Office hours: call for appointment. I will available before and after class.
Course Objective: The intent of this class is to make the casual theatre audience member aware of the origins, developments, and purpose of theatre in our lives. When one attends a play whether on Broadway or in Dallas, the playwright, director, actors, and designers all collaborate to shape how we interpret the performed word. By the end of the semester you will be able to both analyze the design process from beginning to opening night.
Grading Class Participation………………………………………..…….…..10% Attendance and participation in class discussion are essential components of this course and represent a significant portion of your grade. You will be expected to discuss both the readings and the plays you see in class. Being able to voice your opinion is vital to developing your communication skills. Mid-Term Exam………………………………………………….……..50% There will be one mid-term exam that will consist of 3 essay questions of which you will pick 2 to respond. The take-home exam questions will be provided on the Friday prior to the exam date of the following Monday. The paper should be no less than 3 pages, no more than 5. Use standard MLA format, be sure to sight your sources. Final Project……………………………………………………………… 40% The project will consist of taking a work of theatre and presenting in class a design concept as part of a 3-person group/team, complete with: (1) Point of view/concept written one page statement. (2) Simple sketches or collage of scenery, costume, and lighting (3) oral presentation in class no longer than 30 minutes to present your ideas to the class, including PowerPoint plus final renderings. Spectacle of Performance: (Final Project detail)-Select, analyzes, and implement design considerations for The Rite of Spring. Students will utilize the design skills of staging and, spatial awareness, stage directions and physical needs. Each student will present a graphic representation of a basic design approach to the work, lead an oral discussion of the pros and cons to his/her approach and defend his /her choices. Projects will be made up of student groups of 3/4 working together. The ability to collaborate and take responsibility for your portion of the project is important. Teams should meet to divide research responsibilities and make decisions on which ream member will present which portion of the design to class. Teams will have class time to work on the project with the supervision of the teacher. This should be time spent on
focusing on problems encountered, research development and analysis, and viability of the design.
Attendance/participation: Prior to each class enrollment will be taken. I will permit 1 cut with no questions asked. Second absence with result in your grade being lowered by 1 full letter, the third cut will result in failure of class. If you have a good excuse for missing class (illness, family emergency) no damage will be done to your grade. Taking your dog to the vet or your roommate to the airport doesn’t count. If you foresee an attendance problem bring this to my attention on the first day of class. This is a class about communication and team work.
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Disability Accommodations: Students needing academic accommodations for a disability must first register with Disability Accommodations & Success Strategies (DASS). Students can call 214-768-1470 or visithttp://www.smu.edu/Provost/ALEC/DASS to begin the process. Once registered, students should then schedule an appointment with the professor as early in the semester as possible, present a DASS Accommodation Letter, and make appropriate arrangements. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive and require advance notice to implement.
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Religious Observance: Religiously observant students wishing to be absent on holidays that require missing class should notify their professors in writing at the beginning of the semester, and should discuss with them, in advance, acceptable ways of making up any work missed because of the absence. (See University Policy No. 1.9)
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Excused Absences for University Extracurricular Activities: Students participating in an officially sanctioned, scheduled University extracurricular activity should be given the opportunity to make up class assignments or other graded assignments missed as a result of their participation. It is the responsibility of the student to make arrangements with the instructor prior to any missed scheduled examinations or other missed assignment for making up the work. (University Undergraduate Catalogue)
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Student Learning Outcomes: Please include in your syllabi all student-learning outcomes, both those specific to your course, as well as those that satisfy major and general education requirements.
If you have any physical disability or other special situation that may make it difficult to meet the class requirements, please see me as soon as possible.
Outside events;; Students will be expected to see 1 Theatre Production. 80+ theatre companies operate in the Metroplex.
Readings/Required Texts: I have included various web-based readings (on Blackboard) and you are required to read the following: The Empty Space by Peter Brook The Tempest by William Shakespeare These are available on Amazon, at Half-Price Books and free online. There are four chapters (in The Empty Space) we will add into our discussion Chapter 1 and 2 at the end of Week 2 and Chapter 3 and 4 and the end of Week I will also post additional readings and YouTube videos on Blackboard. Student Learning Outcomes This is a level 1 course in Spectacle of Performance. As such, by the end of the course successful students will be able to demonstrate a familiarity with some of the basic origins of theatre, the design process, and the methodology of the creation and presentation of a successful stage design. The following areas will be emphasized over the course of the semester: Communication Critical thinking Problem Solving Creativity & Aesthetics • Responsibility • • • •
Student Learning Outcomes: Creativity and Aesthetics Level 1- 1. Students will be able to identify and/or employ methods, techniques, or languages of a particular art form, creative endeavor, innovation, or craft(s) and describe how those inform the creation, performance or analysis of creative work. 2. Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of concepts fundamental to creativity through explanation, analysis, performance, or creation. Information Literacy 1. Students will be able to select and use the appropriate research methods and search tools for needed information. 2. Students will be able to evaluate sources for quality of information for a given information need. Oral Communication 1. Students will be able to identify and/or employ methods, techniques, or languages of a particular art form, creative endeavor, innovation, or craft(s)
and describe how those inform the creation, performance or analysis of creative work. 2. Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of concepts fundamental to creativity through explanation, analysis, performance, or creation. Lectures 1 Do we need Theatre? The Rite of Spring: an overview to your project How to do Design Research The Internet is not your friend--that’s why we have a library! Developing a concept/point of view -How designers process information -How to start the design process The Design Process in 12 steps Processing The Rite of Spring Q & A The Rite of Spring The Russian Ballet History site http://www.russianballethistory.com/ contains valuable information, please be sure to read the articles on: -History of Ballets Russes -All “Diaghilev” entries -Costume & Set Designs -Photos of the Collection -Videos 4 Other approaches to The Rite of Spring 2 The Birth of Western Theatre http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/thtr/hd_thtr.htm http://www2.cnr.edu/home/bmcmanus/tragedy_theater.html -Why theatre exists? -The Greeks A word about readings, I have selected a few online sources so as not to tie you to a text but rather a series of short readings that can accomplished anywhere you have an internet connection. Readings should be done prior to class and expect some material from the readings to be included on tests. These 2 lectures are intended to provide a short introduction into the history of theatre, our roots. 4 Other approaches to The Rite of Spring
The Middle Ages -The role of the Catholic Church -Liturgical and Secular Drama -The foundation for Shakespeare http://www.shakespeare.sk/ -The Globe https://www.playshakespeare.com/study/elizabethan- theatres/2189-the-globe-theatre
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The role of the designer -Scenery -Costume -Lighting KA! (How designers work) The Tempest (read the play & view in class) The Complete Works of William Shakespeare http://shakespeare.mit.edu/ http://absoluteshakespeare.com/ http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/tempscenes.html
-Designing the World or “Why did the design team do THAT?”
Shakespeare continued (TBA) Forbidden Planet (watch film in class) -Available on Netfilx http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/1114/Forbidden-Planet/ Mid Term Exam handout Design Project Assignment – The Rite of Spring -Story- music - history -The Joffery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewOBXph0hP4 The Fabulous Beast Theatre-Dance Company: The Rite of Spring
The Joffery Ballet production (available online) will be your primary source for the music and choreography Censorship in the Arts Violence in the Arts 7. The Rite of Spring as a pagan ritual The Rite of Spring: Fabulous Beast http://www.npr.org/programs/specials/milestones/991110.motm.rite ofspring.html SMU Rite of Spring Putting the research to work (What is good research and how to put that to work? 8. Working on Project in class 9. Working on Project in class A word about working on project in class: you need to come with an idea. I do not expect you to have all the answers. This is not a project you can complete in class alone. Expect to put in about 8 to 12 hours outside of class. The best way to earn a poor grade is to do nothing and hope for mercy. What I am after is to see if you can develop the idea and argue that it is a good idea for an approach to the work. It does not need to be the approach, just an approach. This is an important rule to remember. You then need to stand before the class and argue your approach and field questions from the room and me on to why you went down your particular path. You cannot make it up as you go. Your idea may be goofy, but it is your idea, lay it out for us and defend your concept. You will need perhaps a power point, or sketches, rough thumbnail drawings, collage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collage) That is to say you will need a way to express your ideas, along the way we will explore different methods, but collage can be very effective. 10. Final touches on projects in class 11. Projects presented in class
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SMU production of The Rite of Spring -View film -Discussion of design choices Final Exam
