THEA 2214 Concepts in Theatre Design

Fall 2004

T R 12:30 – 1:45pm

Martha Munro Room 111

Instructor: Alan Yeong

Office Room: Martha Munro Room 204A

Office Hours: 9am – 11am (MWF); 10:00am – 12:00pm (TR)

Costume Shop Hours: 2:30 – 5:30 pm (MTWRF) -- by appointment only

Office Phone # (770) 838-3068

Scene/Costume Shop Phone # (770) 838-3144

Email: ayeong@westga.edu

Course Description:

Visual images have become an integral part of our daily routines and technological advancements in the 21^st century. All modern professions incorporate visual images to communicate literal or conceptual ideas to audiences. This course, Concepts in Theatre Design is a study of visual literacy, and visual and verbal communication. We will study a variety of designs found in theatre, film, and other fine arts media. This course is designed to be a general introduction to stage design for theatre and non-theatre majors. Emphasis will be on the theatre design process from inception to performance, play analysis, visual arts analysis, research skills, and the application of principles and elements of design.

Required Texts:

Jones, Robert Edmund. The Dramatic Imagination Theatre Arts Books

Anouilh, Jean. Antigone

Required Article Readings:

Handout #1 Who Needs Theatre?

Handout #2 Living Art/Dead Nature

Handout #3 The Art of Living Theatre

Handout #4 The Work of Living Art

Handout #5 The Art of Theatre: The First Dialogue

Handout #6 Principles and Elements of Design

Handout #7 They Got Look

Handout #8 Action Design

Handout #9 Art Direction/Production Designer

Note: Please refer to class schedule for the availability of the required handout readings.

Recommended Text:

Maimon, Elaine P. and Janice H. Peritz. A Writer’s Resource: A Handbook For Writing And Research UWG Edition

Course Learning Outcomes:

1. Students will recognize the importance of play analysis in designing.
2. Students will develop analytical and conceptual thinking in designing.
3. Students will apply the dynamics of good design through the works of established designers.
4. Students will identify the fundamentals of design process.
5. Students will identify and synthesize points of view and design approaches.
6. Students will recognize the role of individual design areas such as scenic, costumes, and lighting designer.
7. Students will develop and apply visual literacy skills to fine arts, mass media, film, theatre, and everyday life.

Learning Degree Outcomes:

Corresponding to B.A. in Theatre degree:

1. Students will be able to critically understand basic knowledge of theatre history, theory, and criticism, as well as research sources and methodology.
2. Students will develop skill in analyzing plays, using theatre technology, and conducting research.
3. Students will express through performance, writing, speaking, and other modes of communication the results of research and critical judgment, indicated by a demonstrable ability to reach an audience effectively through at least one of the components of theatrical art (acting, directing, designing, playwriting, etc.).
4. Students will have the ability to apply skills they learned in courses to a variety of work and social environments.

Course Requirements/Expectations:

1. There will a midterm and one pop quiz in this course.
2. You are allowed two excused absences. You are required to support your third or future unexcused absences with valid documentation or with the consent of the instructor. However, the third and future absences will result in grade reduction, 5% of the attendance points per absences.
3. There will be a series of small class projects assigned to support class lectures.
4. All class projects must be turned in on the agreed deadline. All late projects will be reduced one letter grade per day after the assigned deadline.
5. You are required to attend all departmental productions. You are required to write one production critique paper of the two attended productions.
6. Attend at least one production meeting, technical rehearsal, or dress rehearsal or all three. You will be awarded extra credit for this requirement. Please check with instructor for specific meeting/tech rehearsal dates.

****Note: Syllabus schedule is subject to change. It is the student’s responsibility to get the changes.

Department Performance Dates:

Noises Off Oct. 6 – 9, 7:30pm & Oct.10, 2:30pm

Dimly Perceived Threats To The System Nov. 17 – 20, 7:30pm & Nov. 21, 2:30pm

Grading:

Attendance and Participation	30 points	Grading Scale A 900 -- 801 B 800 -- 701 C 700 -- 601 D 600 -- 501 F 500 -- 000 Extra credit +5% Overall Final Grade
Project #1 – Typography Exercise	50 points
Project #2 – Which Ad Pulled Best?	50 points
Project #3 – Concept Statement	50 points
Project #4 – Emotion Collage	50 points
Project #5 – Black Squares	50 points
Project #6 – Composition	50 points
Project #7 – Road Signs	50 points
Project #8 – Designer profile	100 points
Pop Quiz	20 points
Midterm	100 points
Critique paper	100 points
Final Project	200 points

Class Projects:

Project #1

Unconscious Emotions—Typography Exercise

1. You are to associate a list of words with typeface that would illustrate the mood of the given words.
2. Refer class schedule for project deadline.

Project #2

Which Ad Pulled Best?

1. This is an in-class project. If you are absent during this project, you will not be allowed to retake it.
2. You will be given two nationally advertised magazine advertisements to analyze.
3. You will have to analyze the effectiveness of the advertisements based on its visual concept and targeted audience.

Project #3

Concept Statement

1. Read and analyze Antigone.
2. A typed single-spaced, one page paper detailing your design ideas.
3. Font size between 11 to 12 fonts. Typeface Times Roman or Garamond or Palatino.
4. You are to support your design ideas with your play analysis based on historical or evocative research materials.
5. Refer class schedule for project deadline.

Project #4

Emotion Collage

1. You are to choose a character from Antigone and display the chosen character’s emotion.
2. Then create a pictorial collage to depict the chosen emotion.
3. Examples of emotions—anger, joy, sad, anxiety, frustration, depression, and so forth.
4. The collage must be mounted on an 18”X24(minimal size) foam core.
5. Refer class schedule for project deadline.

Project #5

Black Squares

1. You will have to use four black squares of the same dimensions to create a graphic image that best expresses the meaning of each of the following given words.
2. You are to make four preliminary sketches for each word in the areas indicated.
3. Then select the most effective solution and execute it in the larger designated area.
4. A handout will be provided in class to assist you in this project.
5. Refer class schedule for project deadline.

Project #6

Composition

1. You will create a composition using three objects – a triangle, a rectangular, and a circle.
2. You are not to repeat any of the above-mentioned objects to aide your composition.
3. The composition can be a three dimensional or two dimensional compositions. Therefore, you have freedom to use any media for your composition.
4. You are not allowed to render any texture on the object’s surface. However, you are allowed to use any objects that have textures.
5. You must name your composition.
6. Refer class schedule for project deadline.

Project #7

Road Signs

1. The primary function of road signs is practical communication and road safety.
2. With this in mind, graphically depict the subject indicated for each of the six road signs on the assignment sheet.
3. Execute each solution as a finished piece in black. If your concept permits, you are allowed to use one additional color.
4. Refer class schedule for project deadline.

Project #8

Designer Profile

1. Choose a designer from the list provided below.
2. You are to research the designer’s contributions and/or innovations to the artiste’s field of work.
3. You must make an in-class PowerPoint© presentation.
4. You must provides copies of PowerPoint© presentation to your classmates.
5. Please focus your PowerPoint presentation to images rather than narratives.
6. Please have at least 6 visual slides in your presentation.
7. You are to support your class handouts with a detailed bibliography.
8. You are allotted 10 minutes for the presentation.
9. The following is a list of established designers. Please choose ONE designer listed here. You must have approval from the instructor before you can start the project.
10. You will have to sign up for a time slot for the presentation.
11. Refer class schedule for project deadline.

Possible Designer profile/contributions:

Inigo Jones, Adolphe Appia, Edward Gordon Craig, Boris Aronson, Norman Bel Geddes, Mordecai Gorelik, Robert Edmond Jones, Jo Mielziner, Donald Oenslager, Lee Simonson, William Cameron Menzies, Ming Cho Lee, Santo Loquasto, Tony Walton, John Lee Beatty, Joseph Svoboda, Julie Taymore, Vivienne Westwood, Betsy Johnson, Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Jean Paul Gaultier, Issey Miyake, Eiko Ishioka, Jaroslav Malina

Final Project

1. This is an oral and written project.
2. This is a group project.
3. This project consists of 2 or more students per group (will be determined by class enrollment).
4. You are to divide designer roles with your partner(s) and create a design concept of the play by Jean Anouilh, Antigone.
5. Each group will hand in a typed, singled-spaced, minimal 2 pages paper on the group’s design process and other related issues.
6. This project is graded in two parts, (1) Peer Grading. Your classmates will rank your presentation from a scale of 1(excellent) to 5(very poor); (2) Overall Grading. This grade is based on your group’s overall project quality.
7. The goal of this final project is to gauge your visual and conceptual ideas based on your play analysis, researching skills, and marketing skills.
8. This project is not graded on how well you can draw.

THEA 2214 Class Schedule Fall 2004

Date	Lecture	Assign	Due
T 08/24	Course Introduction What Is Visual Literacy?	Read DI – Chap. 1,2,3 Project #1, #2
R 08/26	Conceptual Thinking – Theatre, Film, Fine Arts Discuss: Project #2 Presentation: Project #1	Read Antigone Project #3 Handout #1, #2, #3, #4	Project #1 Project #2
T 08/31	Discuss Handout #1, #2, #3, #4	Handout #5
R 09/02	Discuss Handout #5– The Art of the Theatre, The First Dialogue	Read What Is—Chap.2
T 09/07	Play Analysis – Words as Visual Images	Project #4
R 09/09	Play Analysis Discuss Antigone Movie: Antigone Presentation: Project #3	Read What Is—Chap.3,5,6	Project #3
T 09/14	Design Process Research – The Voyage Of Discovery
R 09/16	Research – The Voyage Of Discovery Movie: The Tempest Presentation: Project #4	Read What Is—Chap.1 Handout #6	Project #4 Project #8 approval deadline!
T 09/28	Dynamic of good design – Principles and elements of design	Project #5
R 09/30	Dynamic of good design – Principles and elements of design	Project #6
T 10/05	Understanding Physical Space—Types of Theatre Space	Concept Statement revisited; Noises Off
R 10/07	Final Project In-Class Discussion #1 Concept Statement Revisited		Assign Final Project Groups
T 10/12	Presentation: Project #5		Project #5
R 10/14	Midterm Review		Critique paper #1
T 10/19	Midterm	Read DI—Chap. 4
R 10/21	Scenic Design & Properties Design Presentation: Project #6	Read DI—Chap.5	Project #6 Designer Profile
T 10/26	Costume Design & Makeup Design	Read DI—Chap.7	Designer Profile
R 10/28	Lighting and Sound Design	Handout #7	Designer Profile
T 11/02	Final Project In-Class Discussion #2 Discuss Handout #7—They Got The Look	Project #7	Designer Profile
R 11/04	Design Theory—Realism vs. Expressionism Movie: The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari	Handout #8	Designer Profile
T 11/09	Design Theory—Minimalism vs. Action Design	Handout #9	Designer Profile
R 11/11	Design In Film: Art Direction Movies: Crouching Tiger; Gosford Park; Far From Heaven; Topsy-Turvy; Amelie		Designer Profile
T 11/16	Movies: Angel & Insects; The Cook, The Husband…..; Moulin Rouge	Dimly Perceived...
R 11/18	Final Project In-Class Discussion #3
T 11/23	Movies: Titus; The Cell; Edward Scissorhands; Prospero’s Book		Project #7; Critique paper #2
R 11/25	THANKSGIVING BREAK
T 11/30	Fine Art Media Presentation: Project #7
R 12/02	TV Media—Those Darn Commercials! Which Ad Pulled Best?
T 12/07	Final Project Presentation
R 11/27	Final Project Presentation
T 12/02	Review & Evaluation		Pop Quiz
Thursday 12/16/02 Post Mortem 11:00am – 1:00pm