Principles of Design THR 230 Emory University Fall Semester, 2013 TR 11:30-12:45 Schwartz Design Studio SYLLABUS Prof. Brent Glenn Prof. Sara Ward 404.727.5099 404.727.6421 brent.glenn@emory.edu sward6@emory.edu Office Hours: TR 9:30-11:00am Office Hours: By Appointment or by appointment MGM Theatre Room 216, Rich Bldg. Required Readings: Reading Packets distributed in class. Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl Big Love by Charles Mee (http://www.charlesmee.org/big-love.shtml) Course Objectives: THEA 230 is designed to develop a theoretical and practical understanding of the process involved in conceiving and executing a stage design and the interrelationship of the various design disciplines. Principles of Design serves as an introduction to the theory and practice of set, costume, and lighting design. In a broader sense, it is aimed to educate students on the motives behind design and structure of the world around us. Class Materials: Attendance Policy: Most basic materials for class will be provided. There is a class fee of $40 - $50, which will cover supplies, books, handouts, etc... You are expected to supply pencils, materials for your emotional responses, your attention, your ideas, and your participation. Students are allowed two absences during the semester. After this, class participation grades will be lowered. Students should be on time for class. Being more than five minutes late to class three times will also constitute one absence. Toward this end, students should make every effort to be on time for class. Production Requirements: Students are required to attend two productions presented by Theater Emory this semester: I Am Not That I Play (9/26-10/6) and Macbeth (11/14-11/24). Students will write a response paper to the productions with an emphasis on the usage of scenic, lighting, sound and musical elements. Students may also see one professional production for additional credit. Instructors will provide a schedule of upcoming local productions. 1
The Honor Code: Upon every individual who is a part of Emory University falls the responsibility for maintaining in the life of Emory a standard of unimpeachable honor in all academic work. The Honor Code of Emory College is based on the fundamental assumption that every loyal person of the University not only will conduct his or her own life according to the dictates of the highest honor, but will also refuse to tolerate in others action which would sully the good name of the institution. Academic misconduct is an offense generally defined as any action or inaction which is offensive to the integrity and honesty of the members of the academic community. The Honor Code, a list of offenses and the Honor Council process may be found; http://college.emory.edu/home/academic/policy/honor_code.html Students with Disabilities or Special Needs: Emory University complies with the regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and offers accommodations to students with disabilities and/or special needs. Anyone in need of a classroom accommodation should make an appointment with the instructor to discuss this during the first week of class. All information will be held in the strictest confidence. University policy requires that you register with the Office of Disability Services (404-727-9877). The ODS will develop your individual accommodation plan and provide instructions for its implementation. Week 1 August 29 Week 2 3 5 Week 3 10 CLASS SCHEDULE Introduction and Discussion of Syllabus Assignment: 2 journal entries. 1) In your own words tell me what The purpose of the scenographer. 2) Draw your living space (dorm) with the charcoal pencil or regular pencil. Consider line weight, light and shadow (tone) and spatial relationships. Field trip to Carlos Museum. Bring your journal. Looking at subject, form and content, the basic components of a work of art, find a piece that you find interesting and do a blind contour line drawing (3x) and then a contour drawing. Intro to Scenic Design. Go through vocabulary and handouts. (ie: types of theatre spaces and periods) Subject : the What Content : the Why Form: the How. Discussions and instructions for Domain of One s Own. Assignment: Read Eurydice. Drafting essentials: vocabulary handouts. Basic concepts of drafting-ground plans, elevations and sections. Scenic Design: Elements relating to Grecian influences 2
Assignment: Research assignment. Elevation/section assignment. Imagine, design and draft a chair. 12 Week 17 ] 19 Week 5 24 26 Week 6 1 3 Week 7 8 10 Show and Tell where this will take us with our GP s and elevations for Eurydice. Assignment: Begin research. Find a piece of artwork that influences your vision that is directly related to Eurydice. Look at time period, color, mood and tone. Assignment: Emotional Responses to Eurydice. Build model boxes in class. Due Today: Emotional Response to Eurydice. Build the Chair that you designed. Layout theatre Ground plan in ½ scale drafting. Assignment: Back wall Backdrop. ***See I Am Not That I Play!!!**** Collaboration among the Design Team. Assignment: Layering and completing final look of your design for Eurydice. Scenic and Lighting Vocab Quiz. Color and Paint day Domain Showcase Day: Design for Domain complete, with representative images and assignment postings. Workshop day discussing and creating (form, shape, color and texture) Workshop day. Discussion of the nature of Collaboration. Due Today: Presentation of ½ painted model. Elevations, section and ½ ground plan. Read Big Love over Break. Week 8 15 17 Week 9 NO CLASS FALL BREAK!! Show and Tell of emotional responses. Discussion of Costumes. Assignment: Gather magazines and begin to build your costume collages. Color palette: a representation of who they are Guest Speaker, Marianne Martin. How does she approach and examine character 3
22 24 Week 10 29 31 Costume sketching and ground plans workday Vocabulary. Work on ½ scale ground plans for Big Love. Final Ground plans are due for Big Love. Week 11 5 7 Week 12 12 14 Week 13 19 21 Week 14 26 28 Week 15 December 3 December 5 MGM Theatre field trip. Discuss Macbeth collaboration. Introduction to Lighting. ***See Macbeth!!!*** Lighting- Physics of light, vision and optics; functions and properties of light; composition. Due: Lighting Reading 1 from Essig's Lighting and the Design Idea HW assignment: build model for Big Love Lighting color theory, different kinds of lighting instruments, lamps and lenses. Due: Lighting Reading 2 (also from Essig book) and Journal Entry- Pick 5 pictures (from magazines, internet, etc...) and write about the properties of light in the pictures. Reading and creating light plots. Talk about picture mini-plot project. Assignment: Big Love Scale Model. Discuss picture projects. Begin discussing script analysis as a lighting designer. Scene by scene breakdown. Due: Picture project mini-plots. Domain Check In, Discussion of Final Projects. NO CLASS THANKSGIVING!! Discuss scene breakdowns and research. Discuss final lighting plot and how to use the model box. Due: Scene by scene breakdown and at least 4 images of lighting research. 4
Week 16 December 10 Assignment: All model boxes and corrections to drafting must be completed today in class. Discussion of Final Exam Presentations. EXAMS! December 12-22, 2012 Allotted Time for Principles of Design Final: Wednesday, December 18, 3:00-5:30pm Project Descriptions: 1. Response papers- Response papers will be two typed pages in length and will offer the students critical analysis of the production. It is unnecessary to provide a plot summary; instead, focus should be placed on the various theatrical areas (design, directorial, acting) with an emphasis on sound design and execution. 2. Major Project Assignments: Students will have three unique design presentations in addition to their final exam, which will be a full production design. a. Building a Scale Model Box. b. Drafting a theatre and ground plan for Big Love. c. Lighting research and mini-plot design. d. Domain of your own design and content. 3. Final Exam: Students will present their fully realized design elements, including but not limited to research, a ½ color model, costume sketches, drafting and ground plans, and lighting research and design. 4. A Domain of One s Own: Theatre 230, Principles of Design, is a participant in the Domain of One s Own project at Theater Emory this semester. We will discuss in class all of the details surrounding this pilot program, but students may think of it as a public digital portfolio for the purpose of displaying thoughts, ideas and assignments this semester. That is correct: The World Wide Web will be looking at your work. In brief, students will create and maintain a website that will sync with social media platforms for the purpose of creating, communicating, and showcasing your many classroom efforts. Utilizing platforms such as Weebly, Wordpress, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and others. The purpose of our involvement in this program is threefold: To offer students the opportunity to showcase their work; to assist students in the creation and maintenance of online digital portfolios; and to emphasize the importance of having professional and creative control of your online identity in the hopes of fostering positive digital citizenship. Assignments in this project include the following: a. Creation of digital domain. 5
b. Weekly blog about research. c. Viewing of Gary Hustwits design trilogy Helvetica, Objectified, and Urbanized. Live Tweet responses. d. Two tracking assignments: Discovering one image found to be used redundantly (i.e., Green Man imagery in architecture) and track it through ten countries. Also, find one image used redundantly and track it through ten centuries. e. Photographic/Video assignments posting class designs, groundplans, research, and all other elements. f. Design Your Life landing page design Assignment of Grades: Final Grades: Class Participation 15% Show Attendance & Response Papers 10% Major Project Assignments (10% Each) 30% Homework Assignments 15% Full Production Design (Final) 30% A 94-100 A- 90-93 B+ 87-89 B 84-86 B- 80-83 C+ 77-79 C 74-76 C- 70-73 D+ 67-69 D 65-66 F 59 or Less 6
Office for Undergraduate Education Information for Syllabus Fall 2013 The Office for Undergraduate Education (OUE) central office is located in White Hall 300 Please visit or call 404.727.6069 with questions about academic affairs, concerns or policies. All Emory College of Arts and Sciences policies may be found in the College Catalog: http://college.emory.edu/home/academic/catalog/index.html For a full list of Religious Holidays can be found here: http://www.religiouslife.emory.edu/pdf/religious%20holidays%202013-14.pdf Important Fall 2013 Dates August 28: First day of classes 4: Add/Drop/Swap ends 11:59pm 11: Last day to change S/U or Grading option 14-15: Fall Break 18: Last day for withdrawal without penalty (all students) 15: Last day for withdrawal without penalty (1 st year, Transfer, Oxford ONLY) 28-29: Thanksgiving Holiday Break December 10: Last day of classes December 11: Reading Day(s) December 12-18: Final Exam Period Academic Advising and Class Deans If you have any academic concerns or questions about Emory College of Arts and Sciences policies, you should first meet with an OUE academic adviser. If an academic adviser is unavailable to meet with you, you may meet with an OUE dean during open hours. OUE Academic Adviser appointments: Visit White Hall 300 or call 404.727.6069 Deans Open Hours: http://college.emory.edu/home/administration/office/undergraduate/hours.html Academic Support There are a range of resources available to Emory undergraduates designed to enrich each student s educational experience. Visit http://college.emory.edu/advising for a list of support programs and appointment directions Access and Disability Resources Students with medical/health conditions that might impact academic success should visit Access, Disability Services and Resources (ADSR formerly the Office of Disability Services, ODS) to determine eligibility for appropriate accommodations. Students who receive accommodations must present the Accommodation Letter from ADSR to your professor at the beginning of the semester, or when the letter is received. Attendance Policies (Absences and Absences from Examinations) 7
Absences: Although students incur no administrative penalties for a reasonable number of absences from class or laboratory, they should understand that they are responsible for the academic consequences of absence and that instructors may set specific policies about absence for individual courses. Absences from Examinations: A student who fails to take any required midterm or final examination at the scheduled time may not make up the examination without written permission from a dean in the Office for Undergraduate Education. Permission will be granted only for illness or other compelling reasons, such as participation in scheduled events off- campus as an official representative of the University. A student who takes any part of a final examination ordinarily will not be allowed to defer or retake that final. Deferred examinations must be taken during the student s next semester of residence by the last date for deferred examinations in the academic calendar or within twelve months if the student does not re- enroll in the college. Failure to take a deferred examination by the appropriate deadline will result automatically in the grade IF or IU. 8