October 29

Today we will discuss which designer you have chosen for your research assignment.  We will also discuss the upcoming mask project and view a presentation about masks.

Here is the LINK to the designer research assignment.

Here is the LINK to the mask assignment.

The dates for the mask assignment are NOT accurate and will be discussed in class.

We will discuss both assignments and designers tomorrow.  Thursday we will meet at the library and have an in-class research day.

Designer research presentations will begin next Tuesday November 5 and continue on Thursday.

October 24--New Projects and Design Concepts

Today we will be discussing two new projects and attempting to come to consensus on due dates.  We will also be discussing design conceptualization and further exploring the design process.

I will also be returning your graded materials.

In the links menus I'll be attempting to add links to the current assignments and my grading rubric.

10-17

I have not finished grading your binders.  I will be done with them by tomorrow and moving on to your collages and papers.  I apologize for this, circumstances beyond my control intervened and changed my plans for me.  

Today we will discuss set design and the impact of the scene designer on the production.  We will also be discussing the next two projects and preparing for that.  

October 1 and 3rd

Last week we discussed and finalized plans for your Dramatic Imagination essay and your poetry collage.

On Thursday we selected images and began to explore the design process through collage making.

This week we will continue to explore the creative process as we address the concept of "place" in visual design.  We will have two work days this week.  Tuesday we will revisit our work from Thursday of last week.

Thursday we will have an in-class collage work day.  You should bring all of your collage making supplies with you to class on Thursday and we will discuss some techniques and proper presentation of a collage.

September 24 and 26

The Due Date for The Dramatic Imagination Essay is October 10th.  Please make a note of this date.
The Due Date for your design concepts binder is October 3.  Please make a note of this.
NEITHER of these assignments will be accepted late!  You must turn them in on the due date or your will not receive credit.

Last week we discussed color theory and The Dramatic Imagination.  At this point you should be finished reading the book and preparing notes for your essay.  My suggestion last week was to ask and answer a series of questions about the book and Robert Edmond Jones' views:

How have Mr. Jones' views impacted your understanding of the design process?
What about the way theatre works has changed since Mr. Jones wrote?
What has remained the same?
How can you apply his views on design to your craft?
Can you compare and contrast the world of theatre that Mr. Jones describes with your own?  How? Be specific.

Jason Foreman has provided me with a framework for the assignment as well it is as follows:

The Dramatic Imagination essay

Your essay must be typed, double spaced, stapled together, and 3 to 4 pages in length.

Select a theatrical design area (scenery, lighting, or costumes) and discuss three of the (scenic/lighting/costume) designer’s important roles and functions in the creation of theatre. 

Include your interpretation of Robert Edmond Jones’ writing of the design area you select.  Address these questions:

·        What did Jones think was the importance of scenic/lighting/costume design in the process of creating theatrical design? 

·        How did Jones think the 3 design areas worked into creating the art of theatre. 

·        What was innovative about Jones’ writings?

·        What does Jones think is important about live theatre?

Your paper should be concise, well written, meaningful and supported by details.  The expectation is that you will be writing using one of the accepted college style manuals.  My preferences are the MLA Manual, the Chicago Style Manual or the APA Manual.  MLA is more geared to the fine and applied arts.

This week we will finish covering the principles of design.  I know I said that I would try not to cover new material on matinee days, but I'm realizing this is not really possible.  I am making the prezis available in the links menu.  

Finally, on Thursday we will discuss the design process and talk about the poem collage project:

POEM COLLAGES (PROJECT #2)

Objective: To express mood and emotion using the elements of design; to increase awareness of your intuitive abilities.  This project is intended to be a creative exploration that focuses on uncovering design possibilities through accidental and undirected experimentation.  This is an example of the type of conceptual, preliminary experiments that designers will create during the design process.

You may select your own poem, some suggested poets include: Kenneth Patchen, E. A. Robinson, Langston Hughes, Emily Dickenson or E.E. Cummings.  You need to have your poem approved before you begin.

Spend some uninterrupted time thinking about the poem that you have selected.  Try to visualize the world of the poem and allow your imagination free reign.  Note the emotions that your poem evokes. Take note of any shapes, forms, textures, colors, smells, lines, space, value, quality of light, and the like that are evoked by your poem.  Write some brief associative notes about the environment of your poem; try to be as descriptive as possible.  Create a list at least 10 adjectives describing the world of your poem.

You will create a collage, an abstract composition using found images and objects that represent your visual interpretation of the poem. The collage can have as many 3D elements as you wish; this shouldn’t be a simple “cut-and-paste-pictures” onto paper project.  The more descriptive your selected elements are, the more successful the collage will likely be.  Carefully consider the use of each of the elements of design: LINE, SPACE, SHAPE, FORM, TEXTURE, COLOR and LIGHT in the selection of your collage elements and the creation of your composition.  Each collage piece should be “designed” so that your choice of elements supports the “environment” within your poem.

Written Analysis: you will also turn in a ½ - 1 page written analysis explaining how your collage is evocative of your poem; describe how your composition (and your choice of elements and use of principles) is reflective of the “environment” from your poem, describe how your collage communicates the 10 adjectives

Deliverables: List of 10 adjectives, your written analysis, and your collage

Schedule

Thurdsay 9/27        Discuss collage project

Tues 10/2               Select poems, work on collages, and bring 2 adjectives

Thur 10/4               Work on collages 10 Adjectives Due;

Tuesday 10/8          Work on collages in class, work day.                                   

Thursday 10/10      Collages and Written Analysis due, collage presentation

September 17 and 19--Principles of Design

Last week we discussed the principles of light and unity.  Unity is the concept in design that dictates how themes or motifs are developed.  Light defines form and creates shadow, which helps delineate our designs.

We visited the kuler.adobe.com website and discussed color rules:
complimentary
analogous
triad
shades

This week we will continue to review your color "vis" assignment.
We will look at your color wheels.
We will begin to discuss contrast and balance.
We will discuss the Dramatic Imagination assignment and evaluate the need for a mid term comprehension check.  (test)