Since we cannot watch numerous live theatrical performances together as a class over the course of the term, we will instead watch filmed versions of these great plays. The objective of this assignment is to get you familiar with the terminology of the theatrical event and to learn how to watch a performance critically. This will be useful in both the performance analysis paper at the end of the term and the Director′s Concept assignment that we will be doing as the final exam. For each performance, you will asked to comment on various aspects of the play in performance and also to comment on a Big Picture Question, a theme that the play explores. (1) Before 11:59pm on Saturday (Initial Post), (a) post an answer addressing the FIVE aspects of the production and the Big-Picture Question (see below) and (b) post a question about one of the plays. You cannot delete or edit your post once it is submitted, so make sure you are happy with your entry before you hit the ″post″ button. (2) Before 11:59 pm on Monday (Replies), read the initial posts of the students in your group and post a reply to TWO of the posts that your classmates have posted. Your reply may be to anything in the post that will contribute to the discussion and help your group engage in a thoughtful and meaningful dialogue about the week′s plays and readings. ——————————————————————————————————— DBP The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari Acting: How does the acting style differ significantly from the previous productions we have seen? Does this seem naturalistic or realistic? How are the actors using their bodies in this style? Directing: How did the actors move around the set? Were they stationary for long periods of time? Did you feel the pacing of the show was too fast or too slow? Were there any elements that seemed out of place? Did all of the elements seem to work together? Scenic Design: In expressionism, the sets often act as forces beyond our control. In what way is the seen in Caligari? In what ways do these sets, which were almost exact replicas of what one would see in stages of this time, differ from sets seen in Oedipus and Ghosts? How do they contribute to the mood and atmosphere of the film? Lighting Design: The use of light and shadow is very important in this style. In what ways do these elements influence our mood? Is it important that we see the actors? Why do you think this style incorporates so much shadow? Costume Design: Did it seem as if the actors were able to move in the costumes? Did they seem restricting in any way? Do you think that could have contributed to their performances in any way? Does the absence of color influence the way we view these productions? Big Picture Question The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is considered to be one of the first horror films of all time along with Nosferatu. The expressionist movement was deeply concerned with how technology was impacting mankind. The endless repetition of people operating machines on an assembly line was mind numbing; the lack of safety protocols meant that fingers were often mangled in huge machines as people struggled to achieve their daly quotas necessitating eyes that remained fixed and unblinking on the job at hand. In other words, our work was literally robbing us of our humanity and turning us into ″monsters.″ The style also explicitly deals with a sole protagonist who is searching for meaning in his life, but due to oppressive nature of German society at the time, feels there is no way out of the nightmare. In light of this, in what ways do we still wrestle with our dependence on technology? In your opinion, what effect is this having on our lives? Does our service economy help or hinder our need to find fulfillment? Please note: Discussions may be submitted late, but no more than one week. Discussions submitted after the due date will only be eligible for half credit maximum.
