Category: Drama and Theatre

Discuss, in an 1½ page essay,
Richard Serra’s 1976 film Railroad Turnbridge as an abstract
experimental film, and the manner in which Serra uses slowly changing pictorial
qualities of line, shape, tonalities, and movement.             (30 marks)
SECTION B
Contemporary
Auteurs &
Queer Cinema                                            (60 marks)
Question
3
In
“Off with Hollywood’s Head: Sofia Coppola as Feminine Auteur” (2010), Todd
Kennedy argues that Sofia Coppola’s status as a contemporary auteur stems from
a notable ‘feminine aesthetic’ across all of her films. Additionally, in class,
we explored Coppola’s work in relation to queer cinema.
Drawing on pertinent examples
from the film Lost in Translation (2003), discuss:
·        
five characteristics
of Coppola’s ‘feminine aesthetic’ as a contemporary auteur;
·        
the five elements of
queer cinema as they relate to auteur theory, characterisation and the notion
of ‘camp’.
Your response should be 4 pages in length (approximately 1800 words).
Please reference all sources used.

Find one example of a modern design that draws its inspiration from this historical era.  Include a picture of a modern design as well as a picture of the historical equivalent.  Describe the features of the modern design that are similar or the same as the historic design.
The purpose of the Modern Design Assignment is designed so that you recognize how often contemporary designers are inspired by historic fashions or certain features of garments.  You should become more proficient in identifying details of historic costumes while viewing modern films.
For each of the eras in which you viewed a film and wrote a report in a Film Journal, you are to find one example of a modern design that draws its inspiration from the historical era that you studied.  Include a picture of a modern design as well as a picture of the historical equivalent.  Describe the features of the modern design that are similar or the same as the historic design. 

As you answer the question about costume in the film, be sure to read the PowerPoint slides first so that you are able to describe the costumes using proper historic costume terms. These are your class notes.  I will be looking for information from the notes when I grade the assignments.  You can also do some outside research in the Library and/or on the Internet for additional information. 
In other words, your descriptions must be more than just your observations about the costumes and accessories from viewing the films.  Your answer requires research as well as observations. You should also be able to compare the costumes in the films to those shown in costume history references to assess whether or not the costumes in the films were historically accurate or whether they were more the creative imagination of the costume designer with a bit of history thrown in. Be sure to include details about the costume that identifies it as part of a certain historical costume era.  For example, men have been wearing suits with jackets, pants, and shirts for about 170 years.  What details of construction, style, fabric, colors, make a “suit” from 1850 distinguishable from a suit worn by men in the current year?
Also, the summary of the story in the film is more than a brief overview of the plot. It is a detailed act-by-act summary of the storyline in the film, not the Wiki overview.  You can take notes while you view the film or you can use one of the many complete summaries that can be found on-line.
Select the film that you wish to view in its entirety. These are not short film clips or trailers for films. Appropriate films will be listed each week. The list is not exhaustive and you can also search for films to use for each assignment. Films do not have to be Hollywood blockbuster films. They can be documentaries or films from the History Channel or National Geographic. Some are foreign films and may have subtitles. You can use films from YouTube, NetFlix, Hulu, rented films or films that you already own. AVOID animated films (cartoons) and comedies because these do not illustrate authentic historic costumes. The intent is to find a film that accurately depicts the historic costume of the era. The more recent films are usually more historically accurate as far as the costume designs are concerned. Be sure to check with me if you are not certain about the appropriateness of the film you are considering for each assignment.
Before you view the film, read the Power Point slides that pertain to each historical era. These are your notes for this class.  I will be looking for information from the slides such as the use of proper historic costume terms in your Film Journals and Modern Design assignments. Refer to other references from the library, Internet, books, or other films for additional information about the historic era and clothing. By reading about the historic costume first, you will know what to look for in the film.
The following is a list of suggested films for the assignment about the the Romantic Period.  It is not a complete list and you may include documentaries as well as films.  If you discover other appropriate films, please forward them to me so that they can be added to this list. Remember to avoid animated, fantasy, or comedy films because the costumes are not accurate.  It is up to you to find the source of the film that you choose. 
The Young Victoria
Victoria (BBC series –  started in January 2017 – excellent costumes from the Romantic Era)
Victoria and Albert
North and South (BBC series)
Little Dorritt (BBC series)
Great Expectations (1997 TV version NOT 1998 modern version with Gwyneth Paltrow)
Oliver Twist
The Old Curiosity Shop
A Christmas Carol (NOT the cartoon version)
Dickensian ( Romantic era to Bustle era) BBC series
Dombey and Son (BBC series)
Cranford (BBC series)
Return to Cranford (BBC series)
Middlemarch
Under the Greenwood Tree
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
The Governess
Jane Eyre
Copying Beethoven
Les Miserables (new version)
Include the following in your journal report:
FILM JOURNAL
Information about the film (film credits): (5 points)
The title of the film/appropriate for the era
The year the film was produced
The historic costume era in which the film took place
The name of the director
The names of the main actors and the characters they played.
Write a detailed 1 page summary (2 – 3 paragraphs) of the story from the film. This is a detailed summary of the storyline from the film.  It is NOT a brief Wikipedia overview of the plot of the film.  YES, you can use the summaries of the storyline in films found on Wiki or film reviews. I would rather that you took notes re: the clothing and accessories while you view the film rather than making notes about the story. (15 points)
Clothing and Accessories (hats, scarves, shawls, jewelry, shoes, canes, fans, watches, etc.)
Examples of research topics: 
Select one head-to-toe outfit of a man, woman, or child from the film that you viewed. Describe the elements of the ensemble including the clothing and accessories using historic costume terms. Be sure to identify the details that make this costume different than modern costumes.  See the PP slides for the specific details of the costume for the historic costume era. Use historic costume terms to describe the ensemble.  If all of the elements of one outfit are not shown in the film (hats, shoes, etc.), add them by doing outside research from the PP slides and/or the Internet or textbooks.
OR, select one article of clothing or one accessory such as men’s/women’s hats for the historic costume era.  Describe hats from the film. Research ALL hats from this era – see PP slides, the Internet, historic costume books, etc. for additional information. In this option you are adding to observations from the film.
OR, Select accessories such as jewelry, hairstyles, headpieces, shoes, etc. Describe accessories from the film. Research VARIOUS accessories from this era. See PP slides, the Internet, historic costume books, etc. for additional information.
OR, research the costume designer for the film. What is his/her background?  Where did he/she get training in costume design? What are some of the designer’s accomplishments/awards/other movies in which they designed the costumes. Some considerations: what challenges did the designer encounter in producing costumes for this film and how were they overcome?; were the costumes historically accurate or were they “modernized”?; were the costumes borrowed or made specifically for this film?;  describe and illustrate an example of one of the costumes; Other?
OR, select a topic of your choice that concerns historic costume such as military attire, religious attire, sportswear, textiles used in the clothing, embellishments used on the clothing, etc. *Check to make sure your topic is appropriate. (40 points)
Use appropriate historic costume terms – see PP slides and other sources of information. (10 points)
Download a picture(s) to illustrate your topic.  (10 points)
Include your references in a bibliography at the end of your report. You should always include the film and the PP slides in your references. (5 points)
The total report should be approximately 1 -2 pages in length.
Film Journal Points:
A.  Title, Year, Director, Era, Actors                5
B.  Summary of the story                              15  
C.  Clothing/Topic Summary                         40
D.  Historic Costume Terms                          10
D.  Illustration(s)                                              10
E.  References (film and PP slides)                5
TOTAL:                                                          85

select a theatre job that you would like to have for the 10-minute play The Red Coat by John Patrick Shanley (attached to this assignment) and write an essay about what you imagine that experience would be like. You can choose from the following theatre jobs:
Director
Actor (either role – John or Mary)
Scenic Designer
Costume Designer
Lighting Designer
Sound Designer
Your essay must be 2-3 pages and must include the following information:
Which position you have chosen and why
Describe the process that this position uses to create their final product (a design, a performance, etc) from the very beginning of the process to opening night of the show. The beginning of the process for each of these positions will be different from each other, so make sure you review the information we’ve covered over the past few weeks carefully.
1-2 things you would want to research to be prepared to do this job and why researching them would help you do this job

In your introductory paragraph, 
Explain auteur theory in your own words and why this is a useful approach to the study of film. 
Tip: review Chapter 8.3 in Film: From Watching to Seeing for a clear definition of auteur theory and why auteur theory is one useful approach to the study of film. Do you think the director is the sole owner of a film’s success or its failure?  
Describe, using Chapter 8 of the text as a reference, the criteria for what makes a director an auteur. 
Tip: review Chapter 8.3 in Film: From Watching to Seeing for a clear guide to Andrew Sarris’s criteria for auteur theory. Remember to evaluate specific examples from your chosen director’s films to decide whether or not they meet the criteria. 
Identify a director who meets the criteria posed by auteur theory. 
Example: you will identify one director and two of that director’s films: for instance, Sofia Coppola and her films The Virgin Suicides and Marie Antoinette.  
Summarize briefly the ways in which this director meets the criteria using examples from at least two of the director’s films.
Example: you have evaluated specific examples from your chosen director’s films to decide whether or not they meet the criteria. Now, name those examples: costuming, mise-en-scène, light and color, actors, and dialogue. 
Develop a thesis statement that focuses on how your chosen director and their films meet the criteria posed by auteur theory and advances the possibilities of storytelling through the medium of film. 
Tip: visit the Writing a Thesis StatementLinks to an external site. resource from the UAGC Writing Center. 
Example: In her films The Virgin Suicides and Marie Antoinette, Sofia Coppola demonstrates that she belongs among the list of auteurs for her elaborate costuming, consistent use of light and color, her reliance on actor Kirsten Dunst in the lead roles, and telling stories that focus on young women coming of age amidst formidable obstacles. 
In the body of your paper (at least three paragraphs), 
Apply the lens of auteur theory in breaking down the director’s technical competence, distinguishable personality, and interior meaning using specific examples of their work (e.g., particular scenes or plot components).
Tip: use at least one paragraph for each criteria (or two paragraphs for each criteria, one for your analysis of each of two films) to analyze specific techniques and themes that demonstrate how your director meets the three criteria of auteur theory.
Analyze the specific ways in which filmmaking techniques, consistent themes, and storytelling distinguish your chosen director as an auteur among their peers.
Example: the elaborate costumes in Coppola’s Marie Antoinette help to establish the period in which the film is set, and go beyond it by drawing particular attention to the extravagance and excess of Pre-revolutionary France. The ornate and colorful dresses worn by Kirsten Dunst’s Marie Antoinette allude to the equally colorful cakes, for which she is infamous, having said, “let them eat cake.” 
Evaluate your chosen director’s ethos, that is what they have to say about complex social and cultural issues.
Tip: the ethos is the director’s characteristic spirit, evidenced by their beliefs and aspirations. A director’s ethos is directly connected to the type of stories they tell and what they intend to communicate in telling those stories.
In the conclusion of your paper, 
Connect each element of your analysis to show how your chosen director meets the three criteria of auteur theory and what this director’s body of work has to say about social and cultural issues.
Tip: your conclusion should restate your thesis and remind the reader which specific examples demonstrate how your chosen director meets—or doesn’t meet—the criteria of auteur theory and remind us why auteur theory is a valuable tool for film analysis.
The Directors and Auteur Theory paper
Must be 900 to 1200 words in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA StyleLinks to an external site. as outlined in the Writing Center’s APA Formatting for Microsoft WordLinks to an external site.
Must include a separate title page with the following:
Title of paper in bold font
Space should appear between the title and the rest of the information on the title page.
Student’s name
Name of institution (The University of Arizona Global Campus)
Course name and number
Instructor’s name
Due date
Must utilize academic voice. See the Academic VoiceLinks to an external site. resource for additional guidance.
Must include an introduction and conclusion paragraph. Your introduction paragraph needs to end with a clear thesis statement that indicates the purpose of your paper.
For assistance on writing Introductions & ConclusionsLinks to an external site. and Writing a Thesis StatementLinks to an external site., refer to the Writing Center resources.
Must use at least two scholarly sources in addition to the course text.
The Scholarly, Peer-Reviewed, and Other Credible SourcesLinks to an external site. table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you have questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the final say about the appropriateness of a specific source.
To assist you in completing the research required for this assignment, view the Quick and Easy Library ResearchLinks to an external site. tutorial, which introduces the University of Arizona Global Campus Library and the research process, and provides some library search tips.
Must document any information used from sources in APA Style as outlined in the Writing Center’s APA: Citing Within Your Paper guide.Links to an external site.
Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA Style as outlined in the Writing Center. See the APA: Formatting Your References ListLinks to an external site. resource in the Writing Center for specifications.

Write a two-page essay (MLA format) that examines the themes of cultural identity, representation, and dreams as depicted in the films El Norte, La Bamba, and Selena. Analyze how these films portray characters navigating their cultural heritage, the challenges they face, and the significance of pursuing their dreams against the all odds.
Begin your essay by providing a brief overview of each film, highlighting the main characters, settings, and their cultural backgrounds.
Think about the theme of cultural identity in relation to dreams and aspirations in El Norte. Discuss how Rosa and Enrique, two indigenous siblings, pursue their dreams of a better life while preserving their cultural identity. Analyze the challenges they encounter and the importance of cultural heritage in shaping their aspirations.
Think about the theme of cultural identity and dreams in La Bamba. Consider Ritchie Valens’ journey, a young Mexican-American musician, as he pursues his dream of success in the music industry. Discuss how his cultural identity influenced his aspirations and the significance of representation in an industry that is not designed for individuals like him. 
Think about the theme of cultural identity, representation, and dreams in Selena. Discuss how Selena Quintanilla, a Tejano music artist, embraces her cultural heritage while pursuing her dream of becoming a successful musician. Analyze the challenges she faces and the impact of her representation as a Latina artist.
The topics I want to use is 
Reflect on the broader implications of these films in terms of cultural identity, representation, and dreams in today’s society. Discuss the importance of diverse representation and the pursuit of dreams within cultural contexts, and how these films contribute to a more inclusive understanding of these themes.
Conclude your essay by summarizing your analysis and highlighting the significance of cultural identity, representation, and dreams as portrayed in El Norte, La Bamba, and Selena. Discuss the potential lessons and inspiration these films offer in embracing one’s cultural heritage and pursuing aspirations.
Support your analysis with specific examples from the films, incorporating relevant research or scholarly perspectives to enhance your arguments.

Changing Theatre
Pick a modern show or film that could be categorized as a melodrama. Why did you pick this as your example, and how does it mimic the description in the text. Post a link to Hulu.com or youtube.com (or any other source) that shows at least a clip of the show. Watch two other student’s clips and comment on how there clip does or does not meet the requirements of a melodrama as defined by the book.

Write a 2500 word academic literature review on the topic of an African theatre aesthetic/theory. Your review must highlight what various scholars contribute to its construction. [80]
ii) Using Fatima Dike’s The Sacrifice of Kreli state and explain at least THREE attributes/elements/tenets of this African theatre aesthetic [20]

I am asking you to (1) read the assignment, (2) submit a professional paper including an APA professional title page. No more than 2 pages long. No extra sources needed, article is provided.

Answer the following question in essay format (3 to 5 pages each)
a. Define theatre of the oppressed identifying the context of its social importance for social change.
b. Using as an example from one of the plays we are reading this semester explain the ways in which the body, spaces and objects are used for social inquiry and critique in the work.
c. Using a theatrical or performance art example discussed in class or in readings answer the following question: why do you think it is important to always evaluate the relationship between audiences and performer?