Introduction to Aesthetics of the Puppet Theatre 1

Tutor:

Karel MAKONJ

Synopsis:

Puppet theatre as the relationship between object and subject, analysis of the waves of popularity for the puppet and puppet theatre in various artistic movements and periods. Theoretical attempts to discern the puppet?s place in history.

Prerequisites:

1. Creative ability.

2. Capacity for analysis and synthesis.

3. Capavity for reflection and deduction.

4. General knowledge of theatre history and the history of puppet theatre.

5. General knowledge of aesthetics, philosophy and theatrology.

Study Objectives:

1. Familiarising the student with the possibilities of the puppet and puppet theatre in today?s theatre.

2. Perceiving puppet theatre as an aesthetic relationship between the object and subject and understanding the possibilities resulting from this.

3. A historical perspective on the aesthetics of the puppet and puppet theatre.

4. Analysis of current trends in the development of world puppetry and the possibilities of inspiration for students? own artistic work.

Outline and Syllabus:

Curriculum:

1. Defining the basic terms puppet, thing, subject-matter, object/subject, sign, material, substance. Theoretical discussion O.Zich - P.Bogatyrev - O.Zich - P.Bogatyrev - E.Kolár.

2. The puppet as a theatrical function.

3. Illusive puppet theatre, theatre of the puppet and actor and the stage figure.

4. Mimesis and puppet theatre.

5. Semantics of the material.

6. The principle of manipulating an object.

7. The question of acting with a puppet.

Syllabus:

Defining the term puppet is by no means as simple as it would seem at first glance. Neither is the terminology regarding puppet theatre itself any easier. Puppet theatre at present is a term which covers many different currents and trends that are difficult to assemble under just one term. This process probably began with the puppet actor?s presence on the stage, which released the latent energy of this artistic genre (although this obviously existed beforehand). The actor?s presence on stage meant that the autonomy of the puppet?s material was perceived far more strongly and caused the distinction that applies in today?s puppet theatre between two basic types of theatre: figurative and non-figurative. Each chiefly addresses the question of mimesis. The definition of puppet theatre acting is thus divided between „acting with the puppet“ and „acting to the puppet“ and both possibilities place different and new demands on acting as such. As is probably already evident, the subject doesn?t aim to educate new theatrologists but rather to create space in the imagination with which the Department?s students can work creatively in puppet theatre.

Study materials:

František Sokol: The World of Puppet Theatre

Henryk Jurkowski: The Magic of the Puppet

Jan Císař: Theory of puppet theatre acting

S.M.Ejzenštejn: Camera, pencil and pen

Jan Mukařovský: Aesthetic Studies

Jiří Veltruský: Contributions to Theatre Theory

Miroslav Česal: The Live Actor in Puppet Theatre

Rio Presiner: J.N. Nestroy

Paul Pörtner: Experimental Theatre

E. G. Craig: The Actor and the Uber-Marionette

Miloslav Klíma - Karel Makonj et al.: Josef Krofta - production workinscenační dílo

Mircea Eliade: Mephisto and the hermaphrodite a androgyn

Časopisy Divadlo, Čs. Loutkář, Loutkář, Disk

Note:

Further information:

This course is an elective for all students of this school

Schedule for winter semester 2009/2010:

	06:00–08:0008:00–10:0010:00–12:0012:00–14:0014:00–16:0016:00–18:0018:00–20:0020:00–22:0022:00–24:00
Mon	místnost R210 Učebna (Karlova 26, Praha 1) MAKONJ K. 13:30–15:00 (paralelka 1)
Tue
Fri
Thu
Fri

Schedule for summer semester 2009/2010:

The schedule has not yet been prepared

The subject is a part of the following study plans:

• Doporučený bakalářský produkce (optional subject)
• Doporučený bakalářský režie a dramaturgie ČD (optional subject)
• Doporučený magisterský dramaturgie ČD (optional subject)
• Doporučený magisterský dramaturgie ALD (optional subject)
• Doporučený magisterský režie ALD (optional subject)
• Doporučený magisterský scénografie ALD (optional subject)
• Doporučený bakalářský scénografie (optional subject)
• Doporučený magisterský scénografie - kostým a maska (optional subject)
• Doporučený bakalářský teorie a kritika (compulsory subject, optional subject)
• Doporučený magisterský teorie a kritika (optional subject)
• Doporučený magisterský herectví ČD (optional subject)
• Doporučený magisterský režie ČD (optional subject)
• Doporučený magisterský herectví ATP (optional subject)
• Doporučený magisterský scénografie - film a televize (optional subject)
• Doporučený magisterský scénografie (optional subject)
• Doporučený magisterský herectví ALD (optional subject)
• Doporučený bakalářský režie a dramaturgie ALD (compulsory subject, optional subject)
• Doporučený bakalářský scénografie ALD (optional subject)
• Doporučený bakalářský dramatická výchova - komb. (optional subject)
• Doporučený magisterský dramatická výchova (optional subject)
• Doporučený magisterský dramatická výchova - dvouleté komb. (optional subject)
• Doporučený magisterský produkce (optional subject)
• Doporučený bakalářský herectví ATP (optional subject)
• Doporučený magisterský dramatická výchova - tříleté komb. (optional subject)
• Doporučený magisterský scénografie v anglickém jazyce (optional subject)