Visual Arts and Film Studies
How would a dalang create, produce, and perform The Pandawa’s Saga from the Mahabharata using wayang kulit puppetry?
Project description
The writer must undertake personal dramaturgical research into an unfamiliar theatrical practice for the production of a play or theatre piece. The writer should select a specific aspect of a play or theatre piece from the chosen theatrical practice to research, and then formulate a research question to answer. Students should collect, edit and present their research to contribute to a realization of the play/theatre piece from the chosen theatrical practice.The linguistic register of the written work should be formal in nature, and the work should be clearly set out as a research investigation (that is, titled, sourced and attributed).
Be Sure That:
There is a definite theater practice you are investigating
You have narrowed down the practice and found a particular aspect to look into
You have an idea of a particular theater piece
The research will stem from a look into the practical realization of the piece – no bland history or biography
IT CANNOT BE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF A THEATER OR A PARTICULAR ACTORS BIOGRAPHY
The work of a dramaturg can be utilized by a variety of people on the production team (actors, directors, designers, etc) so make sure your research isn’t myopic in focus
You need dynamic research (a variety of web sites, print, video, first person contact) – begin to show that research by finding great and relevant web links YOU MUST VENTURE BEYOND WIKIPEDIA – MAKE SURE YOUR INFO IS SUBSTANTIAL
INTRODUCTION
Use the introduction to restate the question and set out how you plan to answer it, paragraph by paragraph.
SYNOPSIS / HISTORICAL CONTEXT / GENERAL WAFFLE
Keep it short. Examiners do not need to be give a detailed history of Epic Theatre, the entire plot of the play and a resumé of Brecht’s life and times – none of these score marks. If in doubt go back and look at the question and ask yourself – am I actually answering it with this information or am I just filling up space that could be better used with more focussed discussion?
ESSAY STRUCTURE
However you decide to structure the essay, try to keep each paragraph focussed on one specific element – don’t ‘jump around’ with your research. At the end of every paragraph it can be worth including a sentence that summarises how this paragraph has helped answer the question.
STATEMENT ON THE CHOSEN PIECE
I think it’s hard to write this essay without stating somewhere in or directly after after the introduction why the chosen piece is a good example of the practice.
REFERENCING THE PLAY/THEATRE PIECE
Your essay needs to be littered with examples from the play or theatre piece you are discussing. Every paragraph should contain at least one direct quote.
Referencing the play itself should be done in one of two ways, both of which should refer to the Act, Scene and Line Number in parentheses, like this:
a) Short, one-line quotations:
When Beatrice says to Benedick ‘Speak Count, ‘tis your cue’ (2.1.268) she is filling the gap left by Claudio’s hesitation.
b) Longer, multiple line quotations:
The Friar reassures the audience that all will be revealed later when he says:
All this amazement I can qualify.
When after that the holy rites are ended,
I’ll tell you largely of fair Hero’s death.
(5.4.67-69)
Many books will indent this and put it in a different font, like this:
All this amazement I can qualify
When after that the holy rites are ended
I’ll tell you largely of fair Hero’s death.
(5.4.67-69)
CONCLUSION
The conclusion should only recap what has been discussed and summarise how an attempt has been made to answer to the question with appropriate evidence.