Summary of chapter 10
Designing the characters’ world
This article talks about how to design the set of a good piece. It states that a set design that is good should be aesthetically pleasing, interesting, evocative, functional, and to be connected deeply with the concept of production. This is achieved through the following explained below
Goals of set design
Facilitate dramatic action- set design should: create space for physical action, tell us the location of the action either outdoors or indoors, and time periods of the action.
Offers a surrounding that represents the lives of the characters- the set should relay information about the people who dwell there by representing their social, political, religious, and economic values.
It should also tell the characters story both emotionally or physically.
The set should capture abstract ideas in the work of the director in forms that are concrete. The set should also create the sets mood. It should also use conventions on stage to make a look or visual style. In addition, the designer should create a set that regulates spectator and performer relationship.
How discussion, research, and collaboration turn into stage set
Set designers need to research, discuss, and collaborate on what and what not to include in the set.
Creating a design- one has to consider the audience’s expectation, essentials of visual expression, theatre space, building time, and budget which all have to be translated into visual images that are concrete and conform to the designer’s ideas.
Prop lists- set designer in coordination stage manager and the director develop a lists of items needed for action on stage. This object or props assist the spectators to align themselves with the stages’ visual world.
Principles of design composition- focus: elements of design should direct concentration of the audiences towards stages’ parts that are practical, metaphorical, and practical in value.
Balance- it helps attain stability and avoid distortion therefore, both sides of the stage should be symmetrical with elements on both sides being equal.
Proportion- refers to the measure of elements in the set in relation to the actors and each of the elements. Proportion is a mirror of reality or alter metaphoric or stylistic purposes.
Rhythm- visual statements should have rhythm where they can recur in an irregular or regular way, convey frenzy or calmness.
Unity- all elements in a set should show that they united or connected as one.
Visual elements of set design- designers manipulate elements that objects have to deliver meaning. This properties include mass, line, color, and texture. This help in informing us general visual culture, and how we are associated and made to feel by these properties.
Set designer materials- set designers develop sets using flats, theatres’ architectural features, platforms, drops, drapes, furniture, scrims, new technologies, and properties.
Summary of chapter 11
Role of makeup, masks, and costume play in performance traditions
Costume- traditional costumes portray information that is important regarding the character’s temperament, social status, age, and relationship.
Masks and makeup- makeup is used for a number of reasons. It has been associated with religious rituals through facial patterns used. Facial designs of makeup are also used to lure the focus of the audience towards the face of the actor. Conventions of pattern and color enable the reading of ornamental and abstract designs by the audience. Masks are used to modify faces to extents of imagination making it possible to portray whole cosmos of existences.
Sound, lighting, and sets design in the performance tradition
Sets in performance traditions- they are used in a particular ways depending on the setting of the play. Tables, chairs, and rugs do not represent certain settings but the way in which they are utilized by actors defines various locations i.e. mountain and temples.
Lighting in performance traditions- traditional performances did not use electricity, they only used natural light i.e. lamps, candles for special effects and visibility.
Sound in performance- performance traditions’ sounds are used as icons just like visual elements. These sounds are used to alert spectators that the show is beginning, is an accompaniment for dancing and singing, creating effects that are aural which strengthens action on stage, and establishing a scenes mood. Moreover, vocal techniques aid actors differentiate and establish characters and projections that aid.
Traditions that characterized western stage design before the interpretive model
The normal designs for Europeans were featured by designs of theatre that represented specific periods. Like during the renaissance, theatre was conducted indoors with the Italian design of stages taking after artistic advances that people learned from experiments that were new in the drawing perspective. This is different from the middle ages where set and costume elements for religious related drama was based on imagery that is iconic from sculptures and paintings.
Conventions that characterize normal western stage design
Realistic design- this is where everything on stage is in close resemblance with the ordinary world. Elements that are three dimensional like trees and furniture are a portion of an environment that is habitable where characters act like they do in life.
Abstract design- it asserts that beauty lies beyond objects found in the daily world, and that there is a truth that is higher and which cannot be found in real life objects. This is the opposite of realistic design.
Modern design- today designers combine, juxtapose, and borrow elements from a variety of conceptual traditions, cultures, and movements. They work collaboratively to develop a world that will be inhibited by characters.
Summary of pg. 71-86
Genre and cultural context- genre which is our categorization of drama is a mere reflection of our cultural and social context, and our common human emotions. Categories of genre change over time and is dependent on the place, since it mirrors social values that are prevailing.
How European genre aids us to make sense of a play’s emotional impact and viewpoint
The categories suggest the type of attitude brought by the playwright to the issue and what the spectators expected attitude should be with regard to the experience. Plays express certain views that are shared and that is why they are divided into specific categories. An example of this is comedy and tragedy plays.
Evolution of tragedy through the history of western theatre
Neoclassical tragedy- in the 14th century neoclassical forms united place, action, and time that constrained tragedy to one location, a single day and climatic plot. This form of tragedy brought into light the notion of verisimilitude- which is the form of truth that involves idealized truth and not realism.
Jacobean and Elizabethan tragedy- Elizabethan tragedy (1558-1603) is a form that joined expansive forms of theatre and medieval ideas with the renaissance questioning on the human responsibility role. It continued to the Jacobean era (1603-1625). Elizabethan tragedy was more religious and secular.
Romantic and bourgeois drama- during the 18th century focus shifted from kings and queens to middle class people due to changes in the political, economic, and social changes that occurred.
Modern tragedy- they say modern cannot articulated since the value systems are not fixed against which human action is measured. Miller (1915-2005) proposed expression of tragedy in plays can be as attitudes aimed at personal experiences in human beings daily lives and who speak the normal language.
Genres of medieval and Spanish golden age reflection of their eras.
European medieval theatre and its genres- during this time theatrical activity was banned by the Catholic Church since they associated it with paganism. This was a representation of iron rule by the Catholic Church.
Genres of Spanish golden age drama- theatre was mainly secular with short pieces as plays that later developed into full-length comedias or dramatic work that is secular. During this time plays fused comic and serious subject matter. They involved love, adventure, and intrigue.
Social function of comedy
Comedy encourages merry gloating and laughter among people. It also helps in reknitting social fabric through it unravelling. Tools of comedy- they must vary from the intellectual or subtle to the largely physical in order to entertain everybody.
Comic forms- particular theatrical forms represent key divisions while approaching material that is comic and they are distinct. These forms include satire, farce, situation comedy, comedy of manners, and romantic comedy,
Design concept of trifles
Costume choice
The sheriff’s costume should be a uniform that represents presence of county law authority in the area. The other people should be in official wear since they are associated with court work, this can be in form of suits for men and skirt suits for women. Additionally heavy coats and trench coats will be designed to keep one warm since the climate is said to be cold. In the part of the play that the two women say is warm light clothes are required, with things like shorts being worn. The costume design should be that of a new world.
Light
During day bright light should be used while during night dark colors should be used. Yellow light should be used to depict day while colors such as grey and dull white to depict darkness. The light also influences the mood. Since the mood is sad light should be dim in the play which helps justify sadness.
Color
Color aids in setting in the mood of the play. Since the mood is sad I prefer dull colors to be used in the background like grey and a little bit of black. Brown should be the color of the props which helps give the play a more serious face. Bright and screaming colors are not supposed to be used at any point since this is not a fun event.
Music
The music played should be modern to represent a new time era. Furthermore, the music should be exhilarating to help show the audience that the series of events in the play are frightening in a way where it involves death of the farmer to the investigation which leads to the discovery of the truth behind the murder, and the process in the court room. At the same time the music should be emotional which will help in catching of the spectator’s attention.
Props
The props should include full courtroom furniture that includes chairs, seats, tables, and stands to depict the courtroom part. Prison and house furniture should also be included to depict both house and prison scenes. Their designs should be of the modern western type. They should also be 3-dimensional props which are arranged symmetrically on the stage to show balance. Most of the props should be wooden which is familiar with what most people have in their homes thus helping to create an environment that the spectators are aware of.
