Professional Documents
Culture Documents
WESTERN UNIVERSITY
LONDON
CANADA
Department of English and Writing Studies
REQUIRED TEXT:
Theatre and Performance Design: A Reader in Scenography. Ed. Jane Collins and Andrew
Nisbet. London: Routledge, 2010. Print.
ASSIGNMENTS AND EXAMS:
Seminar: on a Set Designer (20%) (see dates below)
Essay 1: on one aspect of Scenography (1000 words) (10%) Due Oct. 23
Essay 2: Research Essay (2500 words) (30%) Due Dec. 2
Attendance and Participation (5%) (whole course)
Final Examination (35%) (Dec. exam period, date TBA)
Seminar on Set Designer (20%) see dates below:
In the first two weeks of class, we will divide up the seminar topics. Once you have your topic, you will
be responsible for researching and developing a 20-minute presentation/seminar on your designer. In
your research, use as much archival material as possible, and consult library books, scholarly journal
articles, newspapers, and other media. In your presentation, include as much media as you can: power
point slides, set models or maquettes, practical demonstrations, and short film clips. The goal is to
engage the class and to present a clear and focused argument about this designer in terms of his or
her impact on scenography. You must hand in a paper copy of your seminar: use standard MLA format
for style and documentation. All sources must be meticulously and correctly cited.
Schedule:
Week
Sept. 9-11
Introduction: Intro to Part I: Looking: The Experience of Seeing (510); Herbert Blau, The Most Concealed Object (51-55)
Sept. 16-19
Sept. 23-25
Space: Scott Palmer and Sita Popat, Dancing in the Streets: The
Sensuous Manifold as a Concept for Designing Experience (107-116);
Andrew Todd, Grounding (117-122); Thurs Sept. 25: possible tour of
Stratford Archives (10:45 am) ($6 + bus fare)
Sept. 30-Oct. 2
Oct.
7-9
Oct.
14
Oct.
21-23
Oct.
28
Nov.
4-6
Nov.
11-13
Nov.
18-20
Nov.
25-27
Dec.
Final examination