Contemporary Scenography 2

Display Schedule

Subject guarantor

Name of lecturer(s)

Jan ŠTĚPÁNEK

Contents

This course is a continuation of Contemporary Scenography. It focuses on developments and topics in scenography of the last 50 years. Building on and expanding your knowledge from the previous semester, we will continue examining practices, styles, and artistic and ideological principles of theater makers in Europe and beyond who have used performance space and design in new, unconventional ways to contest the aesthetic, and sometimes political, norms of their communities. An important source will be Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space in its transformations. Through analyses of visual and audiovisual materials, and occasionally readings, we will discuss topics, such as scenographic (re)interpretations of the ‘classics’ (Wagner, Chekhov, Ibsen); digital scenography on stage, and what it means to decolonize scenography.

4. 4. 2024

Introductions; review of names and concepts from last semester; Digital Archive of Prague Quadrennial

11. 4. 2024

Re)interpretations of the ‘classics’ I: Wagner (R. Lepage; F. Castorff and A. Denic)

18. 4. 2024

Re)interpretations of the ‘classics’ II: Chekhov (T. Osteimeier and Pappelbaum; Wooster Group)

25. 4. 2024

Re)interpretations of the ‘classics’ III: Ibsen (Katie Mitchell and Alex Eales)

2. 5. 2024

Digital scenography on stage (Troika Ranch; Chunky Move)

9. 5. 2024

Towards decolonizing scenography

Learning outcomes

As a result of this course, you will be able to

•Identify some of the key personalities, themes, and concepts of recent and contemporary performance design in Europe, the U.S., and beyond

•Discuss different approaches to space and design in performance, and their relation to cultural and socio-political environments

•Discuss artistic works using basic critical language from theater and performance design, and scenography studies

•Demonstrate critical thinking and cultural sensitivity when approaching different scenographic practices

Prerequisites and other requirements

None.

Literature

Aronson, Arnold (ed.): The Routledge Companion to Scenography. Routledge, 2020.

Barbieri, Donatella. Costume in Performance: Materiality, Culture, and the Body. Bloomsbury, 2017.

Hann, Rachel: Beyond Scenography. Routledge, 2019.

Hannah, Dorita and Harsløf Olav: Performance Design. Museum Tusculanum Press, 2008.

McKinney, Joslin and Phillip Butterworth: The Cambridge Introduction to Scenography. Cambridge University Press, 2015.

McKinney, Joslin and Scott Palmer: Scenography Expanded: An Introduction to Contemporary Performance Design. Methuen/Bloomsbury, 2017.

Wiens, Birgit E. Contemporary Scenography: Practices in German Theatre, Arts and Design. Methuen/Bloomsbury, 2019.

PQ Catalogues and on-line PQ Archive.

Additional materials will be shared in class.

Evaluation methods and criteria

Participation in 4 lectures out of 6 is a condition for the credit.

Further information

This course is an elective for all students of this school

Schedule for winter semester 2023/2024:

The schedule has not yet been prepared

Schedule for summer semester 2023/2024:

The subject is a part of the following study plans