Learning outcomes

1. Demonstrate the independent ability to conceive, develop and implement an appropriate and cohesive scenographic design within a self-directed conceptual project.
2. Show a significant development in conceptual and methodological understanding of two specialist elements of scenography and the representation of these within a self-directed project
3. Conduct objective and critical analysis of a self-directed scenographic process.
4. Present documents of research and conceptual development to articulate and evaluate scenographic choices made.

Brief description

Aims

Specifically, this module:

• Develops conceptual and methodological understanding of specialist elements of scenography within the framework of an independently conceived project.
• Develops specialist skills required for the representation and communication of scenographic concepts.
• Provokes objective and critical evaluation of the employment of specific scenographic elements.
• Encourages the development of individual responsibility for achieving self determined goals in relation to an independent project.
• Extends effective and appropriate individual generation and collation of documents of research and concept development, pertinent to specific practices of scenography.

Content

Light:

1. Light and darkness, a possible beginning: key notions of light, focus and duration.
2. Colour temperature: primary structural and ambient principals (1).
3. Contrast: the primary structural and ambient principals (2).
4. Direction, intensity, reflection and diffusion: the qualities of light.
5. Theatre lanterns, their function and status: the construction, primary qualities and use of key lantern types.
6. General conventions of a venue based practice.
7. Form and style: light within the definition and animation of a sustained spatial and dramatic construct.
8. Structure, ambient and the dramatic quality of space: primary tasks in the creation of a credible and effective design.
9. Towards the construction of a design.
10. Towards the realisation and manipulation of a design.

Body:

1. Clothing and social context 1: the language of clothes.
2. Clothing and social context 2: the resonance of fabrics.
3. The biography of clothing: reading the history and body memory of clothing.
4. The body and place: extrapolating from abstracted and actual locations.
5. The body in performance: from street to stage and from page to stage.
6. The scenic figure 1: the notion of costume.
7. The scenic figure 2: dilating the performer.
8. The scenic figure 3: costume as scenery.
9. A period perspective: researching historical garments.
10.Case notes: contemporary costume designs.

Space:

1. objects in space 1: abstract form and structure
2. objects in space 2: resonant relationships
3. objects in context 1: inhabiting given perimeters
4. objects in context 2: defining/delineating place
5. space/place/location: the specifics of site - the appropriateness of choice
6. shaping space 1: the body and structure ? physical and temporal considerations
7. shaping space 2: scenographic text - physical and temporal considerations
8. mapping space: scale and the virtual site
9. conceiving space: tension, balance, juxtaposition, repetition, rhythm, viewpoint
10. case notes: 2/3 contemporary practitioners

Sound:

1. An analysis of the major functions of sound in relation to performance
2. Uses of sound in modern performance practice
3. Technical sound requirements within performance production
4. Requirements and intentions of sound design within modern performance
5. Assessing the needs, research and sources
6. Sound generation, manipulation and editing
7. Sound design: the underlying creative processes
8. Preparation of a soundscape
9. Structure and construction of a soundscape
10. Production and presentation

Module Skills

Reading Lists

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5