1. Identify the MAJOR CONFLICT of the play. This is between two characters or a character and a group of characters or force.
The major conflict is between Romeo & Juliet and their families' feud.
The feud between their parents had lead to the younger generations to hate each other as well, other wise the youth wouldn't have a reason to hate each other.
This feud is the only thing that could keep the young couple apart.
2. Identify what these characters REPRESENT.
Romeo and Juliet represent forgiveness and love.
The Families' Feud represent animosity and hatred.
3. Identify the CLIMAX of the major Conflict.
In my opinion, the climax of the major conflict takes place when Romeo finds Juliet in the Capulet tomb, believing her to be dead, poisons himself.
I feel this is the climax because the audience knows of Juliet's plan and are hoping that Juliet will wake in time to stop Romeo from committing suicide. It the one point that I felt puts you on the edge of your seat.
4. Identify the RESOLUTION of the conflict.
The resolution is when Juliet awakes to find Romeo dead laying by her side and as a result she stabs herself with Romeo's dagger.
5. Identify the FINAL ACTION of the two figures involved in the major conflict.
Obviously Romeo and Juliet's final action is the double suicide, but as far as the family feud, this takes place when the two families learn of the love that Romeo and Juliet shared and that they had killed themselves.
The significance of this is that both families had been feuding for so many years and that feud is the reason to the secrecy of Romeo and Juliet's love, and that same feud is that lead the way for their eventual deaths. Both families find themselves mourning over something that could have been avoided if they had just forgiven each other.
6. Identify each of the character's (in the major conflict) over all OBJECTIVES.
Romeo and Juliet's over all objective is to be together.
The Families' Feud's over all objective is to keep Romeo and Juliet apart.
7. Identify the SUBJECT of the play.
Love.
8. Identify the IDEA of the play.
The idea of the play is that love prevails over all. Two young people fall desperately and passionately in love with each other despite that they are expected to hate each other just because of their last names. And through the many obstacles made by their families feuding they manage to remain together, even if it is in death. It shows that neither one was willing to live in a world where the other doesn't exist, and I believe the double suicide expresses the degree of love they shared.
9. Write a short paragraph, 75 to 100 words that describes what the play is ABOUT to you and what it conveys.
The forcefulness of love, there is love at first sight between Romeo and Juliet. The two come from two families that hate each other and have been very violent towards each other for years, but even after learning of who the other was, Romeo and Juliet are unable to be apart. And we see these series of events that force the young couple to choose between their love and their families. And unfortunately all this decisions lead to tragedy, but still love won by them ending up together in death.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
All in the Timing; The Audience
Upon entering the theatre there was a sense of excitement. The people sitting in the rows in front of me were deep in conversation about what plays they have and have not seen. And everyone seemed to be talking to one another. As for myself, I had been out of town the entire weekend and went straight to the theatre when I got back, so I was pretty tired, but I brought my cousin with me because she is pretty hyper and I knew it would keep me awake just in case.
I had no idea what the play was about, except that it was a comedy, so when it started I was really surprised on what was going on with the "ding"-ing, which i am going to call changes. When the changes first started the audience seemed confused but eventually started laughing. And my cousin leaned over to tell me she wished this could happen in real life. At the end of "Sure Thing" the audience clapped, which follows the conventions of an audience but I feel everyone did really enjoy it.
One of my favorite acts was "Words, Words, Words" I thought that the actor who played Milton was awesome. He really knew how to use his facial expressions to completely bring the character to life. And during the whole act I heard the audience laughing, which goes to show you that a chimp is always amusing.
In “The Universal Language” I had to try really hard to figure out what was going on through most of it, and people seemed to laugh just because he was saying weird things, though I do admit it was funny how he used some words. During this act I decided to look around and my fellow audience members to watch there reactions, and on the right side of the stage about the 2nd row I saw a heavy set woman with her family who looked like she had fallen asleep. This really surprise me because the whole audience seemed to be really engaged in what was happening on stage, and with myself being as tired as I was, I was no where near falling asleep, but I guess she had a rougher weekend than I had.
One thing I really enjoyed about the production is how the cast would stay in there characters during scene changes, so even when the lights were dimmed and they were just moving props around people where still laughing because of the chimps running around and messing with people while also picking up props.
Over all I found the play really amusing. And by watching the audience, I feel I could say the same for them. While walking back to my car I could hear other audience members talking about the play and the characters. My cousin kept talking about the guy who played Ramon, because she said that was the kind of person she would hang out with, which I agree because he seems like he has A LOT of personality just like she does.
But once we were in the car we didn’t talk about the play anymore. I’m sure we would have, but because I had been in Gainesville all weekend and we hadn’t had a chance to talk about it before, she started asking me about the game and other homecoming events, so we talked about that. But we did talk about the play on the way to the play, so there was a reversal.
I had no idea what the play was about, except that it was a comedy, so when it started I was really surprised on what was going on with the "ding"-ing, which i am going to call changes. When the changes first started the audience seemed confused but eventually started laughing. And my cousin leaned over to tell me she wished this could happen in real life. At the end of "Sure Thing" the audience clapped, which follows the conventions of an audience but I feel everyone did really enjoy it.
One of my favorite acts was "Words, Words, Words" I thought that the actor who played Milton was awesome. He really knew how to use his facial expressions to completely bring the character to life. And during the whole act I heard the audience laughing, which goes to show you that a chimp is always amusing.
In “The Universal Language” I had to try really hard to figure out what was going on through most of it, and people seemed to laugh just because he was saying weird things, though I do admit it was funny how he used some words. During this act I decided to look around and my fellow audience members to watch there reactions, and on the right side of the stage about the 2nd row I saw a heavy set woman with her family who looked like she had fallen asleep. This really surprise me because the whole audience seemed to be really engaged in what was happening on stage, and with myself being as tired as I was, I was no where near falling asleep, but I guess she had a rougher weekend than I had.
One thing I really enjoyed about the production is how the cast would stay in there characters during scene changes, so even when the lights were dimmed and they were just moving props around people where still laughing because of the chimps running around and messing with people while also picking up props.
Over all I found the play really amusing. And by watching the audience, I feel I could say the same for them. While walking back to my car I could hear other audience members talking about the play and the characters. My cousin kept talking about the guy who played Ramon, because she said that was the kind of person she would hang out with, which I agree because he seems like he has A LOT of personality just like she does.
But once we were in the car we didn’t talk about the play anymore. I’m sure we would have, but because I had been in Gainesville all weekend and we hadn’t had a chance to talk about it before, she started asking me about the game and other homecoming events, so we talked about that. But we did talk about the play on the way to the play, so there was a reversal.
Monday, October 19, 2009
dance theatre pictures and work cited
Susan Stroman
Bob Fosse
Work Cited
"Choreography." Wikipedia (2009): n. pag. Web. 19 Oct 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choreography>.
Ellis-Christensen, Tricia. "What is Ballet?." WiseGEEK.com (2009): n. pag. Web. 19 Oct 2009. .
"Musical Theatre." Wikipedia (2009): n. pag. Web. 19 Oct 2009.
Dance Theatre
Choreography:
The art of designing sequences of movements and form. Choreography may also refer to the design itself, which is sometimes expressed by means of dance notion.
The choreographer is the one who creates the choreographies.
Bob Fosse is a Director-Choreographer who forever changed the way audiences around the world viewed dance on the stage and in the film industry in the late 20th century. One play he is most famous for choreographing is Broadway's "Chicago," a story depicting Chicago during prohibition and is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice, and the concept of the "celebrity criminal."
Susan Stroman is one of the new millennium brightest stars in theatre choreography, with four tony awards under her belt. One of the most popular/well known shows she has choreographed is "The Producers" which has won the most tony awards in broadway history.
There are different kinds of Dance Theatre.
In ballet, stories are told through dance choreography and instrumentals. Ballet performed today differs greatly from its origins. Originally the term ballet was applied to Renaissance dances of the Italian court. Only men performed, as any form of acting was considered disgraceful to women. Men dressed as women danced female parts. Though ballet is often considered French, the first ballets were danced in Italy.
Today ballet is seen in many different forms. One sees modern ballets choreographed to very modern music, but many still prefer the traditional type of footwork in ballets like “Swan Lake.” Ballet interprets music through a variety of accepted movements. More modern forms may incorporate elements from other dance traditions, but traditionalists see this as a denigration of this centuries old art form. However, from a historical point of view, ballet has always been in flux, and the current form is little over 100 years old.
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining music, songs, spoken dialogue and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an integrated whole. Since the early 20th century, musical theatre stage works have generally been called simply, "musicals". In Musical Theatre dance is used to emphasize the story that is being said/sang in the dialogue.
The art of designing sequences of movements and form. Choreography may also refer to the design itself, which is sometimes expressed by means of dance notion.
The choreographer is the one who creates the choreographies.
Bob Fosse is a Director-Choreographer who forever changed the way audiences around the world viewed dance on the stage and in the film industry in the late 20th century. One play he is most famous for choreographing is Broadway's "Chicago," a story depicting Chicago during prohibition and is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice, and the concept of the "celebrity criminal."
Susan Stroman is one of the new millennium brightest stars in theatre choreography, with four tony awards under her belt. One of the most popular/well known shows she has choreographed is "The Producers" which has won the most tony awards in broadway history.
There are different kinds of Dance Theatre.
In ballet, stories are told through dance choreography and instrumentals. Ballet performed today differs greatly from its origins. Originally the term ballet was applied to Renaissance dances of the Italian court. Only men performed, as any form of acting was considered disgraceful to women. Men dressed as women danced female parts. Though ballet is often considered French, the first ballets were danced in Italy.
Today ballet is seen in many different forms. One sees modern ballets choreographed to very modern music, but many still prefer the traditional type of footwork in ballets like “Swan Lake.” Ballet interprets music through a variety of accepted movements. More modern forms may incorporate elements from other dance traditions, but traditionalists see this as a denigration of this centuries old art form. However, from a historical point of view, ballet has always been in flux, and the current form is little over 100 years old.
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining music, songs, spoken dialogue and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an integrated whole. Since the early 20th century, musical theatre stage works have generally been called simply, "musicals". In Musical Theatre dance is used to emphasize the story that is being said/sang in the dialogue.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Chinese Shadow Puppets
I was assigned to the group Puppets Around the Globe. As a group we decided to each research a different country and how they use puppets in there culture. And then combine our findings and relate it to who it has meshed together in American Society. We used the four key points in our text book as guidelines in our research. History, Ritual, Popular Voice, and Today.
I chose to research Chinese Puppetry. In china many different types of puppetry is used, but I feel that the most unique form is Shadow Puppetry. Now both India and China claim to be the creators of Shadow Puppetry, but it is a documented art for centuries in China. Chinese Shadow Puppetry dates back to the song dynasty , 960-1279. "For 2,000 years, the puppets have brought to life Peking opera, Chinese folk tales and fantasies of Old China. Both young and old, rich and poor enjoyed watching this popular folk art." (Exhibits)
When you hear someone say "Shadow
Puppets" you may think of someone making a rabbit on the wall using their hand a flashlight, but Chinese Shadow puppets are a very artistically advanced. Chinese Shadow Puppets are crafted from translucent parchment. They are painted or stained multi-color, which create colored hues and shades in the shadows. Their bodies usually consist of eleven parts - the head, the upper body, the lower body, two hands, two feet, two upper arms, and two forearms. The head is usually portrayed in profile. The puppets are illuminated by light, which casts a shadow onto a screen of mulberry paper or white cloth. (Exhibits) Each region of China has a distinct style, identified by the intricacy of the cut designs and the size of the puppets. (Photo: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/211/454396838_3600782838.jpg)
Traditionally, scenery and props, such as furniture, pagodas, halls and plants are made of leather. There are three to five artists manipulating the 8-12 inch tall puppets, but although the puppets are small, the productions are anything but short of operatic, with musical scores, detailed backdrops, and highly involved-plot lines. (Okada)
In my research I have not been able to find anything that would suggest Shadow Puppetry being used in a form of ritual. But like what was stated above the stories portrayed are often on Chines Folk Tales and "fantasies" of old China. In some cases the story is based off of religious parables, but who is to say whether it could be a "ritual"? I feel it is just another form of entertainment.
(Photo: http://www1.chinaculture.org/created/att/20051202/xin_1812020215469862438630.jpg)
In the past, shadow puppet theater was a form of popular entertainment in busy night markets, where crowds of merchants, peasants and travelers would gather to see performances based on myths, local legends and religious parables. But today having developed tremendously over the years, Chinese Shadow puppetry has combined artistic expressions with detailed handicrafts, traditional Chinese Opera movements and music, well-engineered mechanical puppet parts and western technology to tell stories. And since the 1950s, Chinese puppet-show troupes, with government support, have toured Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa. In the early 1980s, the China Society of Shadow Plays and Puppetry Shows was founded, followed by the launch of a national week of puppet shows. (Okada)
Here are two video demostrating Chinese Shadow Puppetry. The first is what the audience sees and the second is behind the scenes showing the puppet operator and the light that creates the shadow effect.
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arrf8i_wkPY&feature=related
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_g1qNHfkHwI&feature=related
Work Cited:
I chose to research Chinese Puppetry. In china many different types of puppetry is used, but I feel that the most unique form is Shadow Puppetry. Now both India and China claim to be the creators of Shadow Puppetry, but it is a documented art for centuries in China. Chinese Shadow Puppetry dates back to the song dynasty , 960-1279. "For 2,000 years, the puppets have brought to life Peking opera, Chinese folk tales and fantasies of Old China. Both young and old, rich and poor enjoyed watching this popular folk art." (Exhibits)
When you hear someone say "Shadow
Puppets" you may think of someone making a rabbit on the wall using their hand a flashlight, but Chinese Shadow puppets are a very artistically advanced. Chinese Shadow Puppets are crafted from translucent parchment. They are painted or stained multi-color, which create colored hues and shades in the shadows. Their bodies usually consist of eleven parts - the head, the upper body, the lower body, two hands, two feet, two upper arms, and two forearms. The head is usually portrayed in profile. The puppets are illuminated by light, which casts a shadow onto a screen of mulberry paper or white cloth. (Exhibits) Each region of China has a distinct style, identified by the intricacy of the cut designs and the size of the puppets. (Photo: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/211/454396838_3600782838.jpg)
Traditionally, scenery and props, such as furniture, pagodas, halls and plants are made of leather. There are three to five artists manipulating the 8-12 inch tall puppets, but although the puppets are small, the productions are anything but short of operatic, with musical scores, detailed backdrops, and highly involved-plot lines. (Okada)
In my research I have not been able to find anything that would suggest Shadow Puppetry being used in a form of ritual. But like what was stated above the stories portrayed are often on Chines Folk Tales and "fantasies" of old China. In some cases the story is based off of religious parables, but who is to say whether it could be a "ritual"? I feel it is just another form of entertainment.
(Photo: http://www1.chinaculture.org/created/att/20051202/xin_1812020215469862438630.jpg)
In the past, shadow puppet theater was a form of popular entertainment in busy night markets, where crowds of merchants, peasants and travelers would gather to see performances based on myths, local legends and religious parables. But today having developed tremendously over the years, Chinese Shadow puppetry has combined artistic expressions with detailed handicrafts, traditional Chinese Opera movements and music, well-engineered mechanical puppet parts and western technology to tell stories. And since the 1950s, Chinese puppet-show troupes, with government support, have toured Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa. In the early 1980s, the China Society of Shadow Plays and Puppetry Shows was founded, followed by the launch of a national week of puppet shows. (Okada)
Here are two video demostrating Chinese Shadow Puppetry. The first is what the audience sees and the second is behind the scenes showing the puppet operator and the light that creates the shadow effect.
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arrf8i_wkPY&feature=related
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_g1qNHfkHwI&feature=related
Work Cited:
1. "Exhibits: Chinese Shadow Puppetry." www.sdchm.org. March 2004. San Diego Chinese
Historical Museum, Web. 4 Oct 2009.
2. Okada, Kyle, and Susan Olivier-Hirasawa. "The Art of Chinese Shadow Puppet Theater." Arts &
Activities Magazine January 2002: n. pag. Web. 4 Oct 2009.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)